Google Hijacked

74-911 · 12-30-2008, 03:54 AM

DAy before yesterday we started getting strange AD screens popping up at random. Later noticed that when doing a Google search, sometimes when I clicked on the url I wanted, an ad/search screen having nothing to do with what I selected was displayed. As the day went on google became totally useless.

Ran the AVG scan which found 5 Trojan Horses. After deleting them, everything returned to normal. This google hijack apparently started showing up just in the past few weeks.

Our 3 teenage granddaughters are here visiting and using the computer constantly so I assume some site one of them went to loaded the trojan horses.

Just something to watch out for. Makes you want to strangle (or worse) the person doing this crap.

masraum · 12-30-2008, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74-911

Makes you want to strangle (or worse) the person doing this crap.

Makes you want to download Firefox right before you strangle the guy doing it so you have less to worry about.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

do a search for removing antivirus 2009.

Quit visiting the free porn sites.

IDGAF27 · IDGAF27's Garage

Get NOD32 antivirus program ............

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Firefox is awesome. I like the interfaces of both Chrome and Safari too, but I'm not sure how their resistance to infiltration is. With products like those on the market now I honestly wonder why anyone in their right mind would use IE.

74-911 · 12-30-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

Quit visiting the free porn sites.

Fortunately or unfortunately as the case may be, am to the point in life where the only "porn site" I visit is the Chest Thread on PPOT...

Probably would be better off switching to Firefox ... will have to check it out.

gprsh924 · 12-30-2008, 08:27 AM

Don't worry you can still get all of that using firefox...ask me how I know.

gtc · gtc's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Makes you want to download Firefox right before you strangle the guy doing it so you have less to worry about.

Nope. I was runnning firefox when my home computer caught something over the weekend. I think it came from one of those free image hosting sites like photobucket.
Firefox and Symantec Corporate Antivirus didn't stop it. I'll be switching to NOD32.

kycarguy 935 · 12-30-2008, 04:33 PM

I use Firefox and and something prompted my IE to open. Then I kept getting messages that we can fix this for you for $49.99. Pop up after pop up. Yeah right, pay ransom and give them my CC number. No way.

I backup everything every few days so I won't lose much to reload the system. Just the time it takes. I have been messing with computers, not professionally however, since 1981 and haven't seen anything like this before.

It removed my McAfee and Adaware and all of that. I found an open door through and older version of MusicMatch I had on the system to move my files to an external hard drive before I reload windows.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kycarguy 935

I use Firefox and and something prompted my IE to open. Then I kept getting messages that we can fix this for you for $49.99. Pop up after pop up. Yeah right, pay ransom and give them my CC number. No way.

I backup everything every few days so I won't lose much to reload the system. Just the time it takes. I have been messing with computers, not professionally however, since 1981 and haven't seen anything like this before.

It removed my McAfee and Adaware and all of that. I found an open door through and older version of MusicMatch I had on the system to move my files to an external hard drive before I reload windows.

Exactly, it keeps opening IE explorer regardless of Firefox.

I had this, and I even tried to go in and delete the registry entries, the damn thing kept putting the registry lines back.

There is some messed up process using this program and then that program, it sucks.

Easier just to back up your important stuff and just do a clean sheet reinstall.

rjp

9dreizig · 12-30-2008, 04:56 PM

the key here is "kids" there is a trojan/worm going around from Facebook..

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

...I honestly wonder why anyone in their right mind would use IE.

Because you have to use it to download Firefox, which - for some odd reason - is not supplied with Windoze...

89911 · 12-30-2008, 07:39 PM

Just had my IT guy spend half a day($$$$$

) at my office correcting a similar bug. It seems whenever you would try to open any address to secure sites, it would deny access. It didn't do this to all the computers in my office, just the ones most often used. The only common item loaded was a 3rd party program recommended here called CCleaner that I used to help clean up some of the slower computers. I'm not sure if it was to blame for the problem, but I since removed it from all the stations I used. Its funny how a "free" program can cost you hundreds of dollars.

TimT · 12-30-2008, 07:49 PM

Slodave will chuckle at this.... mueler? mueler? mule see this lol

Quote:

The only common item loaded was a 3rd party program recommended here called CCleaner that I used to help clean up some of the slower computers. I'm not sure if it was to blame for the problem, but I since removed it from all the stations I used. Its funny how a "free" program can cost you hundreds of dollars.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

I use CCleaner all the time with no problems whatsoever. I doubt that was the problem.

and...
Firefox tops list of 12 most vulnerable apps
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2304

slodave · slodave's Garage

I saw this today as well. I didn't realize the computer had an issue and I was looking up some answers on Google, but when I opened a new tab, an I.P. address would flash and redirect to some other sight that had nothing to do with what I searching for.

74-911 · 12-31-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

the key here is "kids" there is a trojan/worm going around from Facebook..

Bingo....

kids were on the computer half the night, when I came in this morning this was a warning from AVG that a trojan horse tried to open....

adrian jaye · 12-31-2008, 06:58 AM

its not to hard to get rid.

Its a known bug

only effects when you try to google then everyother click takes you to 1 of 2 sites.
Nortons and Stinger ddnt remove,
you need a freebie software call Malware or Malbytesware, I have details at home
if you e me I'll get full details and fix for you

its a pain but easy to fix

adrian at playback DOT demon DOt com

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74-911

DAy before yesterday we started getting strange AD screens popping up at random. Later noticed that when doing a Google search, sometimes when I clicked on the url I wanted, an ad/search screen having nothing to do with what I selected was displayed. As the day went on google became totally useless.

Ran the AVG scan which found 5 Trojan Horses. After deleting them, everything returned to normal. This google hijack apparently started showing up just in the past few weeks.

Our 3 teenage granddaughters are here visiting and using the computer constantly so I assume some site one of them went to loaded the trojan horses.

Just something to watch out for. Makes you want to strangle (or worse) the person doing this crap.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74-911

Fortunately or unfortunately as the case may be, am to the point in life where the only "porn site" I visit is the Chest Thread on PPOT...

Probably would be better off switching to Firefox ... will have to check it out.

Better porn at the bimmerforums site BFCOT. Look for NWS in the heading.

kycarguy 935 · 12-31-2008, 08:58 AM

Adrian do you mind sending it to me. I will try it before I re-install the system. Thanks!

ky car guy1 at yahoo dot com