Help -- Browser Hijack

[Track Collector]

Somehow I have encountered some type of browser hijacker. It re-directs to various other sites whether I use IE or Firefox. I have McAfee and this security program does not find anything in the scan. I have tried to download the free version of AVG but have been unsuccessful.

Any suggestions, or do I have to take it to a computer store to see what they can do?

NOTE: When re-directed, the resulting page does not let me search the general internet.

[HUSKER55]

Only thought I have is to reload your software. Sometimes things go awry simply because they do.

You could open the task manager and hunt for files that don't fit.

I am not a guru. just a couple thoughts.

good luck

[xfile]

I've had good results from
http://www.cyberdefender.com/

[Track Collector]

Originally Posted by xfile

I've had good results from
http://www.cyberdefender.com/

Hello xfile,

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately, and after purchasing the program and running all the scan options, the selected websites still "re-direct" or "jump" to other webpages. In the address line, it shows the sites to places such as Forless.com and "asklots.com". The latter one showed web page as "Tazinga!".

[BillW]

Originally Posted by Track Collector

Hello xfile,

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately, and after purchasing the program and running all the scan options, the selected websites still "re-direct" or "jump" to other webpages. In the address line, it shows the sites to places such as Forless.com and "asklots.com". The latter one showed web page as "Tazinga!".

Do a google search for those sites. There are quite a few hits with people complaining about your same issue. You may find your answer there.

[JustRalph]

http://www.fixya.com/support/t281707...nga_highjacker

doing a restore seems to fix it for some

[johnhannibalsmith]

Since I have been playing a perpetual game of cat and mouse with this AntiSpy Soft piece of shit for months, I've learned how to "manage" it since I'm too scared to learn how to do a clean install and then actually look for the system discs and do it.

Among those new skills that I've learned is that anytime my browsers seem to be out of my control - I go to the properties -> connections -> LAN settings and make sure that there is no check mark telling the browser to use a proxy server. Pretty much any time things get screwed up, I can count on the browser being set to a proxy server that commandeers it to and fro.

Just a thought that takes literally seconds and doesn't require a trip anywhere on the off chance it helps resolve the problem at least temporarily until you can get to the bottom of what is causing it.

[PaceAdvantage]

I had some luck with http://www.malwarebytes.org during a recent attack a few months ago...

[Dick Schmidt]

I had this infection a while ago. Spybot Search and Destroy got it on the first pass and took it all the way out. I sent them money I was so pleased.


Dick

I would like to live in a world where a chicken can cross a road without anybody questioning his motives.

[judd]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

I had some luck with http://www.malwarebytes.org during a recent attack a few months ago...

hows that new computor pace ?

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by judd

hows that new computor pace ?

it's doing the job...

[Track Collector]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I ended up taking it to a local computer professional. Long story made short, he was able to get rid of several infections, but he thinks some corruption has taken place and that my laptop system is unstable. It works ok now, but he believes the only way to get back to a stable system is a complete wipe out and to re-install everything.

He removed McAfee and a few other programs I tried and installed Norton. For now it seems to be working as Norton continues to block access by other programs/computers.

It is interesting to note that these things happen even when you are using some of the better known programs.

[kitts]

"webroot" software has defeated three hijack attempts for me in recent weeks plus detecting/blocking suspicious items. I got it through Amazon.

[Hanover1]

I run a free version of Malwarebytes that tackles these types of problems quite well. I have also felt that Norton is hands down, less intrusive, and more effective than Macaffee. Running Windows Defender in the background is a good idea as well........it alerts you to potential system config changes before they happen, and gives you the options. Do not load emoticon or cursor toolbars either, or any other type of toolbar for that matter, unless you are aware that they frequently change your default browser. There are also ways to configure your browser settings, but I leave that for others to explain.

[Hammerhead]

I had a big srew up Saturday night. While on this site I got a pop up that would not let me go anywhere except buy there product. I could not open any programs or any web pages.

I contacted MS and In safemode was able to download a program that took about 5 hours to clean up puter. Works fine now. The program that infected my puter was from England and was called something like AntiSpyware. They wanted from 49.00 to 69.00 for the stuff. It came on with every key stroke and startup.