new virus?

[Guest]

Hello everyone,
I'm experiencing a problem with internet explorer that I've never seen before. I have internet access through a modem provided by Earthlink. Up until two days ago I was able to access everything on the internet with no problems. I was browsing and came across a porn site which showed a screen "downloading" software into my system (in http format as opposed to the standard windows download interface), then asking if I wanted to download the software, choices "OK" and "Cancel". Of course I pressed 'cancel' but I'm concerned it made it into my system. I've run into this same site before (always an unwanted popup) and it has a habit of changing my home page as well as adding links to it. My biggest concern is that I'm on the internet being redirected to some international porn number without knowing it.

What the heart of the problem is that when I try to access a search engine like google, yahoo or msn I am redirected to another search site (Search-dot.com) immediately. Even if I type www.msn.com in my address bar it will actually read www.msn.com while showing this other search page. Another issue is that I can't access my hotmail account (I've tried and can't get through. I assume it has something to do with MSN being blocked). I can access Google using it through Earthlink on the Earthlink web site but can't access it directly.

I have tried Spy Nuker and Norton Anti-virus to try and get rid of this thing and I still have the same problem. I also tried a clean reboot with no luck. I've also tried updating my security on the browser itself by disabling all options including Java.

My guess is that some form of software was downloaded (especially since the search page is permanently redirected to the one that I would get by accidently getting the pop up earlier), but if it's not spyware or a known virus and resetting my explorer doesn't work (forgot to mention I removed and reinstalled my Earthlink software) then what might it be and how do I fix it? Although I'm tempted to spew epiteths at Microsoft, Earthlink, Dell, McCaffey (switched anti-virus software after this incident) for not being able to help without charging an arm and a leg I do admit that if I browsed safely to start this probably wouldn't have happened. I'm a big idiot but either way I've still got to fix this problem and hope it's not a virus that hasn't been discovered. Any suggestions?

By the way, I'd check my e-mail for any advice but as I mentioned, I can't with this thing on my system. I might try to access it through the library this afternoon though.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
-Chris

 

[5738]

Could be. Could also be someone playing with your files.
Not really a virus, but a site changed you registry file.
Can't remember exactly what file it is. Even if there was
a virus and it is clean now you may need to go in and
reset the registry file. There is a setting that directs
interenet settings. So check about registry settings.

-----Original Message-----
Hello everyone,
I'm experiencing a problem with internet explorer that

I've never seen before. I have internet access through a
modem provided by Earthlink. Up until two days ago I was
able to access everything on the internet with no
problems. I was browsing and came across a porn site
which showed a screen "downloading" software into my
system (in http format as opposed to the standard windows
download interface), then asking if I wanted to download
the software, choices "OK" and "Cancel". Of course I
pressed 'cancel' but I'm concerned it made it into my
system. I've run into this same site before (always an
unwanted popup) and it has a habit of changing my home
page as well as adding links to it. My biggest concern is
that I'm on the internet being redirected to some
international porn number without knowing it.

What the heart of the problem is that when I try to

access a search engine like google, yahoo or msn I am
redirected to another search site (Search-dot.com)
immediately. Even if I type www.msn.com in my address bar
it will actually read www.msn.com while showing this other
search page. Another issue is that I can't access my
hotmail account (I've tried and can't get through. I
assume it has something to do with MSN being blocked). I
can access Google using it through Earthlink on the
Earthlink web site but can't access it directly.

I have tried Spy Nuker and Norton Anti-virus to try and

get rid of this thing and I still have the same problem.
I also tried a clean reboot with no luck. I've also tried
updating my security on the browser itself by disabling
all options including Java.

My guess is that some form of software was downloaded

(especially since the search page is permanently
redirected to the one that I would get by accidently
getting the pop up earlier), but if it's not spyware or a
known virus and resetting my explorer doesn't work (forgot
to mention I removed and reinstalled my Earthlink
software) then what might it be and how do I fix it?
Although I'm tempted to spew epiteths at Microsoft,
Earthlink, Dell, McCaffey (switched anti-virus software
after this incident) for not being able to help without
charging an arm and a leg I do admit that if I browsed
safely to start this probably wouldn't have happened. I'm
a big idiot but either way I've still got to fix this
problem and hope it's not a virus that hasn't been
discovered. Any suggestions?

By the way, I'd check my e-mail for any advice but as I

mentioned, I can't with this thing on my system. I might
try to access it through the library this afternoon though.

 

[JR]

This is caused by a third-party program (adware, spyware,
parasite)

Download, install, *update* and run these two programs:
Ad-aware from http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
Spybot from http://security.kolla.de/ (Remove items
listed in red.)

Additional information at:

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
Note the security recommendations.

-----Original Message-----
Hello everyone,
I'm experiencing a problem with internet explorer that

I've never seen before. I have internet access through a
modem provided by Earthlink. Up until two days ago I was
able to access everything on the internet with no
problems. I was browsing and came across a porn site
which showed a screen "downloading" software into my
system (in http format as opposed to the standard windows
download interface), then asking if I wanted to download
the software, choices "OK" and "Cancel". Of course I
pressed 'cancel' but I'm concerned it made it into my
system. I've run into this same site before (always an
unwanted popup) and it has a habit of changing my home
page as well as adding links to it. My biggest concern
is that I'm on the internet being redirected to some
international porn number without knowing it.

What the heart of the problem is that when I try to

access a search engine like google, yahoo or msn I am
redirected to another search site (Search-dot.com)
immediately. Even if I type www.msn.com in my address
bar it will actually read www.msn.com while showing this
other search page. Another issue is that I can't access
my hotmail account (I've tried and can't get through. I
assume it has something to do with MSN being blocked). I
can access Google using it through Earthlink on the
Earthlink web site but can't access it directly.

I have tried Spy Nuker and Norton Anti-virus to try and

get rid of this thing and I still have the same problem.
I also tried a clean reboot with no luck. I've also
tried updating my security on the browser itself by
disabling all options including Java.

My guess is that some form of software was downloaded

(especially since the search page is permanently
redirected to the one that I would get by accidently
getting the pop up earlier), but if it's not spyware or a
known virus and resetting my explorer doesn't work
(forgot to mention I removed and reinstalled my Earthlink
software) then what might it be and how do I fix it?
Although I'm tempted to spew epiteths at Microsoft,
Earthlink, Dell, McCaffey (switched anti-virus software
after this incident) for not being able to help without
charging an arm and a leg I do admit that if I browsed
safely to start this probably wouldn't have happened.
I'm a big idiot but either way I've still got to fix this
problem and hope it's not a virus that hasn't been
discovered. Any suggestions?

By the way, I'd check my e-mail for any advice but as I

mentioned, I can't with this thing on my system. I might
try to access it through the library this afternoon
though.

 

[Guest]

Sounmds like it edited your registry.
Look through these archives to find hijack this website
link and search your system.
Had a similar prob recently and this showed me all the
registers.
I deleted it and its fine now.
good luck
B

-----Original Message-----
Hello everyone,
I'm experiencing a problem with internet explorer that

I've never seen before. I have internet access through a
modem provided by Earthlink. Up until two days ago I was
able to access everything on the internet with no
problems. I was browsing and came across a porn site
which showed a screen "downloading" software into my
system (in http format as opposed to the standard windows
download interface), then asking if I wanted to download
the software, choices "OK" and "Cancel". Of course I
pressed 'cancel' but I'm concerned it made it into my
system. I've run into this same site before (always an
unwanted popup) and it has a habit of changing my home
page as well as adding links to it. My biggest concern is
that I'm on the internet being redirected to some
international porn number without knowing it.

What the heart of the problem is that when I try to

access a search engine like google, yahoo or msn I am
redirected to another search site (Search-dot.com)
immediately. Even if I type www.msn.com in my address bar
it will actually read www.msn.com while showing this other
search page. Another issue is that I can't access my
hotmail account (I've tried and can't get through. I
assume it has something to do with MSN being blocked). I
can access Google using it through Earthlink on the
Earthlink web site but can't access it directly.

I have tried Spy Nuker and Norton Anti-virus to try and

get rid of this thing and I still have the same problem.
I also tried a clean reboot with no luck. I've also tried
updating my security on the browser itself by disabling
all options including Java.

My guess is that some form of software was downloaded

(especially since the search page is permanently
redirected to the one that I would get by accidently
getting the pop up earlier), but if it's not spyware or a
known virus and resetting my explorer doesn't work (forgot
to mention I removed and reinstalled my Earthlink
software) then what might it be and how do I fix it?
Although I'm tempted to spew epiteths at Microsoft,
Earthlink, Dell, McCaffey (switched anti-virus software
after this incident) for not being able to help without
charging an arm and a leg I do admit that if I browsed
safely to start this probably wouldn't have happened. I'm
a big idiot but either way I've still got to fix this
problem and hope it's not a virus that hasn't been
discovered. Any suggestions?

By the way, I'd check my e-mail for any advice but as I

mentioned, I can't with this thing on my system. I might
try to access it through the library this afternoon though.