search engines - error message

[Karen]

Can somebody help.The search facilities were fine until a
couple of days ago. No matter which search engine I try
and access now, I am receiving a message stating "a
malicious file has been downloaded... etc" and it gives
advice to delete the "host file" in the setup to fix it.
Any advice would be helpfule. I have since downloaded ad-
aware. Thanks.

 

[Arnold]

-----Original Message-----
Can somebody help.The search facilities were fine until a
couple of days ago. No matter which search engine I try
and access now, I am receiving a message stating "a
malicious file has been downloaded... etc" and it gives
advice to delete the "host file" in the setup to fix it.
Any advice would be helpfule. I have since downloaded ad-
aware. Thanks.
.

http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_100719.htm

the patch from M$
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?
url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-040.asp

 

[Mike Burgess]

Karen,
Sounds like "TrojanQhost" ........ however your AV should have detected
this!
Also your Firewall should have alerted you this Trojan was connecting!

Trojan Qhosts hijacks the HOSTS file, however unlike normal redirectors,
this one hides the HOSTS file in the "Windows\Help" folder.

See: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Download: either "RenHelpHostXP.bat" or RenHelpHostME.bat"
Follow up with the link provided instructions .......
_______________________________________
Mike Burgess http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 9-30-03]
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