Search Engines Not Working

[Larry]

I am running Internet Explorer 6.0 on a Windows 98
system. For some reason, the search engines that I
normally use have stopped working: MSN, Yahoo, Ask
Jeeves. When I enter a search it comes back with a "Page
Cannot Be Displayed" error. Other search engines such as
WebCrawler are working. I have also found that I cannot
even access the web sites for some search engines such as
Google or Alta Vista. I have verified that the SSL 2.0
and SSL 3.0 security protocols are enabled, and the TSL
1.0 is disabled. (I have not found anyplace to turn the
PCT 1.0 protocol on or off.) Can you tell me what settings
need to be changed to fix this problem?

 

[MW]

I have the exact same problem which I just discovered
today! If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'm
at a loss.

Thanks!

 

[Mike]

Same problem under Windows 2000. Can't access any search
sites including Google and others. Ran Spybot and Adaware
with latest reference files and problem persists. Also
ran latest virus scan. Suspect a malicious registry entry
that is hijacking my browser. Result is usually a time-
out but one instance found me at www.com.net. Need more
help.

 

[Jamie]

i third this complaint , someone has to know what is
causing this problem . i downloaded netscape and it
searches perfectly but we prefer I/E
Jamie

 

[mark]

Ive got the same problem, both on my Win2000 box as well
as on my XP box. Ive checked through the Registry entries
and did not see anything unusual. If i try to get to
google.com it defaults to a CPanel error page? Ive got no
idea what this means.

 

[Graham]

Yep, I have the exact same problem here.
I dont know if yous have this aswell, but Ive noticed on
most webpages I visit, the text font is slightly bigger
than it shound be, then it resets to normal size. Im not
sure if its conected to this problem tho.
Its funny that it happend to us all on the same day.

 

[Kev McGinnigle]

well its happend to me aswell, i already posted b4 i
found out there was already people out there in my
position, im lost on this one

 

[Mark]

This is a virus that weve all picked up. Its called
Trojan.QHosts, and the fix is up at Symantecs website.

 

[Michael Howarth]

I had the same problem and sorted it out with help from suggestions from
this board.

This link was most helpful: http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

It's probably your hosts file that needs editing or replacing with the
example on this site. Very easy thing to do.

 

[Jill Finkelstein]

I am having the same problem. I have tried various
fixes, with no luck. Can you tell me if you have
resolved the problem

 

[Mike Burgess]

Jill,
Trojan Qhosts hijacks the HOSTS file, however unlike normal redirectors,
this one hides the HOSTS file in the "Windows\Help" folder. It then
creates entries that redirects *all* major search engines to a website.
Note: this website has now been removed, thus the DNS errors.
[more info]
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm (bottom of page)

Microsoft has released a cumulative patch for this vulnerability:
Simply go to Windows Update [hotfix 828750]
[more info]
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-040.asp

If your AV did not detect or you simply don't have an AV (bad idea)
Free Removal Tool:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.qhosts.removal.tool.html
[manual method]
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.qhosts.html

You can detect "Qhosts" via a new beta version of HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/beta/hijackthis.zip
[more info]
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=12127

For instruction on using HijackThis!
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
_______________________________________
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]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
_______________________________________
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]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
--

 

[Penna Elabi]

I am running Internet Explorer 6.0 on a Windows 98
system. For some reason, the search engines that I
normally use have stopped working: MSN, Yahoo, Ask
Jeeves. When I enter a search it comes back with a "Page
Cannot Be Displayed" error.

See these threads:

http://groups.google.com/groups?&[email protected]
http://groups.google.com/groups?&[email protected]
http://groups.google.com/groups?&[email protected]