<p>Google Chrome: a new web browser for Windows.
[Google</a> Chrome - Download a new browser](<a href=“http://www.google.com/chrome]Google”>Google Chrome - The Fast & Secure Web Browser Built to be Yours)</p>
<p>I think my search engine browser has been hijacked!! </p>
<p>I try to search for say…Sidney Crosby…I get bizrate.com, couponsaver.com…Some days I reallllllly don’t like the internet! Doesn’t matter if it’s Google or Yahoo…</p>
<p>^ It might be a good idea to run MalwareBytes on it - I know there’s some programs that can hijack your browser like that.</p>
<p>laxmom, see my post # 17. That was exactly my problem. Very frustrating. And malwarebytes did fix it.</p>
<p>Ok, I’m back. Since installing AVG, my computer has ground to a halt. I feel like I’m running on a dial up connection. Is there any setting I can adjust or should I just remove the program? Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Turn off AVG . down load and run the paid version of the malware program mentioned above and have it remove any infestations. then turn AVG back on and run it again. Be sure to update the avg program before you run it again. If you are trying to use your computer to do other things while a malware/ AVG type program is running in the background it will slow things down. best to start them and then let them run when you are doing something else.</p>
<p>yes, AVG will S L O W your computer down when it runs. I schedule it at night.</p>
<p>I work for a company that ONLY uses IE. </p>
<p>I have so many levels of security on my laptop, I’m surprised I can get any work done. </p>
<p>My employer, the Dept of Defense! </p>
<p>As far as Google Chrome… I like to treat all new software (browsers, operating systems) in the following way. I let others wear them in. I guarantee there will be lotsa updates and fixes on the new release of ANY product, no matter how much beta testing has been done. </p>
<p>As much as I love new software, I just can’t bring myself to be the first to get it.
OTOH, before I knew better, when I got my first home computer in July 1995, I eagerly installed Netscape 1.0 and Eudora email.</p>
<p>Another excellent free virus scan is Avast! (automatic updates, etc.).</p>
<p>If this only happens when you’re browsing it’s more likely to be spyware or other malware (browser redirection adware) than a virus.</p>
<p>Download and try Firefox to see if it runs significantly faster. If it does, then it confirms what I just stated above. </p>
<p>Even if you plan to use Firefox from now on you should try to clean up the IE. You can start by going to IE’s Tools->Internet Options and delete your temporary files, cookies, etc. then run some good anti-spyware app like Ad-Aware (free). [Ad-Aware</a> 2008 Free - Lavasoft](<a href=“http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php]Ad-Aware”>Free Antivirus Download for PC | Adaware Virus Protection Software)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. We tried several things last night - including downloading Firefox, but google searches were still a no-go. Seems like such an odd thing to NOT be able to do. We can go to websites using the address bar and go to anything out of favorites, but get error messages whenever we try to “search”.</p>
<p>I’m planning on taking it in later this week to get it checked out - I’d rather pay a few bucks and get the thing straightened out and get it a good once over.</p>
<p>SUPERAntiSpyware free version has worked for us pretty well. Just remember to occasionally download the updates.</p>
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<p>Me too. I haven’t had any troubles since ditching IE for Firefox and having the AVG anti-virus and anti-malware protection (I use the paid version, not the free). I used to run Zone Alarm, but it slowed browsing down quite a bit and the firewall on my new computer (which runs Windows Vista) seems to be doing the trick.</p>
<p>I owe you people a big thanks!!!</p>
<p>Had planned on bringing my computer into a shop later this week after my son didn’t need it so crucially for school. </p>
<p>Today, after seeing so many of you say that Malwarebytes worked for you, I figured “what the heck, I"m going to take it in anyway” - well, it seemed to have worked! We can now search with no problems! </p>
<p>We’ll see if any other problems pop up or persist, but I’m thrilled to avoid a computer shop bill for the time being - thank you SO much!</p>
<p>Now, a question - why did Malware catch stuff that Spysweeper and Avast didn’t??? Sorry to be unsavvy, but do they do/check different things??? And do most of you just run the free version every once in awhile or did you spring for the $$$ version?</p>
<p>^^ The different apps can check different things. Every day there are new threats to systems due to people trying to exploit them. The apps (or the files they use to determine the threats) need to be constantly updated to seek out the new exploits. This is a lot of work and takes time so the different apps won’t be a complete overlap of each other. If you have problems with a system it’s good to try out at least a few of them to correct it.</p>
<p>I’m glad you corrected the problem. In addition to being annoying you never know when it might have been trying to send personal data from your computer elsewhere. </p>
<p>A couple of pointers - don’t open email attachments you’re not certain of. This especially includes those ‘advice’ or ‘cutesy’ attachments that women love to forward to each other and everyone they can think of and also includes emails that were mass-emailed essentially doing some ‘phishing’ trying to get you to open the attachments. Also be wary of downloading ‘free games’ etc. that often times (but not always) has fine print that states that in exchange for using the app you agree to let it redirect your browser to other sites or otherwise monkey with your browser. Just avoiding these two categories will prevent most of the potential exploits.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who recommended Malwarebytes. It worked miracles on my computer. I also was having spyware/malware issues on my computer. I tried a bunch of programs I have used in the past, but none of them helped much. Malwarebytes picked up 51 infections and eliminated them all. Now I’m surfing the web without any annoying popups (that aren’t generated from websites themselves…firefox takes care of those). :)</p>
<p>for a free online scan you can try a few sites:</p>
<p>[Trend</a> Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro USA](<a href=“Free Online Virus Scan | Trend Micro HouseCall”>http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)</p>
<p>[BitDefender</a> Online Scanner - Free Online Virus Scan](<a href=“Bitdefender Free Antivirus for Windows - Download Software”>Bitdefender Free Antivirus for Windows - Download Software)</p>
<p>[Free</a> Virus Scan - Kaspersky Lab](<a href=“http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner]Free”>Kaspersky Free & Trial Downloads | Kaspersky)</p>
<p>[Free</a> online antivirus. Download ActiveScan 2.0 and clean your PC. Panda Security](<a href=“Free online antivirus for your devices - Panda Security”>Free online antivirus for your devices - Panda Security)</p>
<p>now if you want to install actual free anti-virus software any of the programs mentioned in this thread will do. what i find to be pretty good is [SUPERAntiSpyware.com</a> - AntiAdware, AntiSpyware, AntiMalware!](<a href=“Remove Malware & Spyware with Anti-Malware Software | SUPERAntiSpyware”>http://www.superantispyware.com/), [The</a> home of Spybot-S&D!](<a href=“http://spybot.com/en/index.html]The”>Home of Spybot, Your Digital Identity Protection - Spybot Anti-Malware and Antivirus : Spybot Anti-Malware and Antivirus), [SpywareBlaster</a> | Prevent spyware and malware. Free download.](<a href=“http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html]SpywareBlaster”>SpywareBlaster® | Prevent spyware and malware. Free download.), and [SSL</a> Free Firewall Two Factor Authentication Products from Comodo](<a href=“http://www.comodo.com/]SSL”>http://www.comodo.com/) for a free firewall. i used to use Zone Alarm but it used to slow down my XP machine and I didn’t like how it worked on Vista. but if you like it more power to you. i don’t use Adware anymore as they’ve apparently sold themselves out to companies by taking spyware out of their spyware definitions, not to mention the software itself has gotten more bloated.</p>
<p>any choice of anti-virus software will usually do like [AVG</a> Antivirus and Security Software - Real-time protection against viruses, spyware and malicious websites](<a href=“http://www.avg.com/]AVG”>http://www.avg.com/) or [avast</a>! - Download antivirus software for spyware and virus protection](<a href=“http://avast.com/]avast”>http://avast.com/). you should of course only have one anti-virus program installed on your computer. having more will cause more problems.</p>
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<p>EEK!! 51 infections?!</p>
<p>I ran the Malwarebytes and it picked up one infection. I then ran my AVG (paid license version). It picked up the same infection. So Malwarebytes looks to be pretty good.</p>
<p>Make sure you update your Malware programs frequently including checking for new definitions files after you first download the program. My daughter was having major problems with her computer. I had her down load adaware. She ran it but was still having problems. Then I told her to update the definitions file (she thought it would be already up to date as she had just downloaded it). Ran it again and had over 120 infections. Now he computer is back running and the multiple pop ups (even when not on the internet) are gone.</p>
<p>Good point, swimcatsmom. The writers of this bad stuff are not standing still by any means.</p>
<p>Maybe a dumb question, but–</p>
<p>We usually use Firefox, but still run IE on rare occasions.
Does that mean that, when we run one of theses anti-malware/anti-virus scans, that we should run it on Firefox, then click on Internet Explorer and run it again on that? Or does running it on one or the other take care of everything?</p>