internet problem

[iain]

i had this problem about a year ago and to fix it i had
to reinstall windows.the problem is when i click on some
links within a site the page commences as if i`m gonna go
there but nothing else happens even if i leave it for
hours.its happened again and i don`t know why.this time i
updated my browser to aol 9 and the problem has gone when
i use aol which is my default browser but if i try to get
windows update it uses internet explorer(which still has
the problem) which works ok up to the point where i click
install then the download page(or small box)comes up but
goes no further and doesn`t download.another example of
the type of link that wont work is the links along the
top right corner in black...all
products/support/search/microsoft uk guide.
i thought this may be a java or another setting so
enabled all java i could find i also tried setting my
security and privacy to low in internet options then
restoring defaults but nothing fixed it.if anyone is
familiar with this problem and can tell me how to fix it
i would be grateful.thank you

 

[Chuck]

i had this problem about a year ago and to fix it i had
to reinstall windows.the problem is when i click on some
links within a site the page commences as if i`m gonna go
there but nothing else happens even if i leave it for
hours.its happened again and i don`t know why.this time i
updated my browser to aol 9 and the problem has gone when
i use aol which is my default browser but if i try to get
windows update it uses internet explorer(which still has
the problem) which works ok up to the point where i click
install then the download page(or small box)comes up but
goes no further and doesn`t download.another example of
the type of link that wont work is the links along the
top right corner in black...all
products/support/search/microsoft uk guide.
i thought this may be a java or another setting so
enabled all java i could find i also tried setting my
security and privacy to low in internet options then
restoring defaults but nothing fixed it.if anyone is
familiar with this problem and can tell me how to fix it
i would be grateful.thank you

Iain,

Could be a browser or dns hijack.

Search your entire system drive, including hidden and system folders, for file
"hosts". There is one legit copy, in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\. The
others are bogus, and part (but just part) of the problem. Also, examine the
contents of the legit copy, using Notepad, too.

How current is your virus protection? Try these free online virus scans:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional carriers of infection.

First, download LSP-Fix and WinsockXPFIx from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>,
and CWShredder from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. All are
free.

Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, then run CWShredder.
Have it fix all variants.

Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>. Both free.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Finally, improve your chances for the future.

Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).

Maintain your Hosts file with:
eDexter <http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
Hostess <http://accs-net.com/hostess/>
HostsFileReader <http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/HostsFileReader.exe>

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.