Search Engine problems after installing IE8

[dandclsmom]

I installed IE8 which I hated immediately, but even more so once I
found that when I do a search, and apparently it doesn't matter which
search engine, Google, Yahoo!, when I click on a website that was
offered in the search results, something other than that website
opens. Usually it's some type of advertisement. I uninstalled IE8
and reinstalled IE7 thinking this would fix the problem, but it has
not. I have even gotten pornography when I've tried to open a website
from a search result. I can't let my grandkids use that computer
now. I don't know what to do to resolve this problem. Has anyone
else experienced this?

 

[smlunatick]

I installed IE8 which I hated immediately, but even more so once I
found that when I do a search, and apparently it doesn't matter which
search engine, Google, Yahoo!,  when I click on a website that was
offered in the search results, something other than that website
opens.  Usually it's some type of advertisement.  I uninstalled IE8
and reinstalled IE7 thinking this would fix the problem, but it has
not.  I have even gotten pornography when I've tried to open a website
from a search result.  I can't let my grandkids use that computer
now.  I don't know what to do to resolve this problem.  Has anyone
else experienced this?

This is not a result of either IE 8 or IE 7. You need to check the PC
and clean up any spywares that might be installed, especially any ones
that might redirect the browsers to a "suspect" web site.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You are seeing the effects of a hijackware infection which predates the
install of IE8!

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan
(only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum, not here.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
or other appropriate forums.**

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.