Stopping automatic redirects

[Roy]

I am running Windows 2000 version 5.0 SP4 and Internet Explorer 6 SP1. I
also have Norton Internet Security updated with the latest updates. When I
try to go to some web sites, I am automatically redirected to advertising
sites, or I get the message that the web site cannot be found. In fact, if I
click on the Microsoft update web site, I get the "cannot be found error 404"
message, but I can get to these web sites with another computer. I'm sure I
picked up something that is forcing the redirects but I don't know what to
look for or what to do to remove it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Roy Seifert

 

[oops!!]

Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Update and perform a full scan, clean whatever it finds, reboot and test.

Good luck.

Zee

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.

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

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
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://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the 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.