Internet Explorer diverted to wrong site

[Charlie3110]

When I google a site and find a link that suits me I click on it but find
myself on a totally unrelated site. Have I got some sort of virus as this has
only just started happening. It is not with all sites but the sites I am
taken away from are reputable sites and i seem to be taken to other reputable
sites?

 

[HeyBub]

When I google a site and find a link that suits me I click on it but
find myself on a totally unrelated site. Have I got some sort of
virus as this has only just started happening. It is not with all
sites but the sites I am taken away from are reputable sites and i
seem to be taken to other reputable sites?

Yes, you have a virus.

 

[Don Phillipson]

When I google a site and find a link that suits me I click on it but find
myself on a totally unrelated site. Have I got some sort of virus as this has
only just started happening. It is not with all sites but the sites I am
taken away from are reputable sites and i seem to be taken to other reputable
sites?

Yes, you have acquired (or been taken over by) "hijackware."

 

[Malke]

When I google a site and find a link that suits me I click on it but find
myself on a totally unrelated site. Have I got some sort of virus as this
has only just started happening. It is not with all sites but the sites I
am taken away from are reputable sites and i seem to be taken to other
reputable sites?

Yes, you are infected. Go through these general malware removal steps
systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using
Multi_AV in Vista.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT
POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair
shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be
aware that not all local shops are skilled at removing malware and even if
they are, your computer may be so infested that Windows will need to be
clean-installed. If possible, have all your data backed up before you take
the machine into a shop.

Malke

 

[Charlie3110]

thanks Malke I will get onto this right away. So much for my Norton!

 

[Charlie3110]

Thanks for that PC I have used your stuff before ans it has been great so i
trust your judgement. I will run your Remove It asap.

 

[HeyBub]

thanks Malke I will get onto this right away. So much for my Norton!

Uh, by the way, what technique did you use to "remove" Norton?

 

[Leythos]

*WARNING* Do NOT follow any advice given by the people listed below.
They do NOT have the expertise or knowledge to fix your issue. Do not waste
your time.
David H Lipman, Malke, PA Bear, Beauregard T. Shagnasty, Leythos.

Chris, Stalking on the internet is a crime, your signature indicates you
are a sick individual stalking myself as well as others, you have
warned, again.

 

[Leythos]

Thanks for that PC I have used your stuff before ans it has been great so i
trust your judgement. I will run your Remove It asap.

You should thank the real author of the tool that Butts pirated the code
from.

 

[Kenny]

Try Malwarebytes, it found Vundo variants which AVG missed.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/index.php

Kenny Cargill

 

[Charlie3110]

I haven't removed Norton I was commenting that it is supposed to stop this
malware from infecting my PC and obviously didn't. Heard that Norton is crap
and now I think I must agree?

 

[Daave]

I haven't removed Norton I was commenting that it is supposed to stop
this
malware from infecting my PC and obviously didn't. Heard that Norton
is crap
and now I think I must agree?

Which Norton product are you referring to?

Some Norton products only handle viruses, worms, etc. But they don't
address other forms of malware (like spyware). Other Norton products do
handle more, however, there does nor exist one program that can handle
everything all the time. Best practice is to run several anti-malware
apps. Just make sure that only one is running real-time, and use the
others only to scan. An example:

1. For anti-virus, run NOD 32 (highly regarded and light on resources)
or Avast or AntiVir (these last two are free).

2. For other malware (e.g., spyware), run Malwarebytes' AntiMalware and
SuperAntiSpyware (the free versions are fine).

3. Also run SpywareBlaster to help make sure malware doesn't make it to
your PC in the first place.

Another reason Norton has a bad reputation is how it can cripple a
system just by using so many resources and/or conflicting with other
programs.

When you decide you do want to remove Norton, it is important to run
their special removal tool:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Finally, you have to make sure you keep installing your Windows Update
patches. Included in them are monthly MRTs (malware removal tool).

Malke's page is a nust-read!:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Viruses_Malware

 

[Charlie3110]

Thanks Daave.

I am running Norton Internet Security 2008 which i would have thought would
have provided me with some sort of Malware and Spyware blocking. I think this
will be my last year with Norton as I have run AVG on my laptop without
problems for a couple of years now. I have several Mal and Spyware blasters
and I will rely on them. I did get rid of my viruses but in doing so I lost
the colour on my taskbar so I downloaded luna.theme but even though it
restored my task bar to blue I now get an error message telling me that
Luna.theme is not a valid theme every time I right click on the desktop. One
thing after another. Please help me again now? Thanks