Computer Help

[New Manvir]

I know I've made a few of these threads but I really need some help. I've got a problem with my computer, basically every time I search for something on Google (or any search engine for that matter) when I click on the links on the results page I keep getting redirected to advertisements. My ability to use search engines and click on links has essentially been crippled.

Help me NSG you're my only hope.

[Tekania]

I know I've made a few of these threads but I really need some help. I've got a problem with my computer, basically every time I search for something on Google (or any search engine for that matter) when I click on the links on the results page I keep getting redirected to advertisements. My ability to use search engines and click on links has essentially been crippled.

Help me NSG you're my only hope.

I would suggest getting/running malwarebytes... Soundsl ike you have some ad-ware hijacker on your system.

[Moral Libertarians]

Yes, have you got some sort of security suite like McAfee or Norton? If so, I'd disconnect your Internet connection and run some full scans of your computer and delete any viruses etc. you find.

[Utopia FTW]

Pr0n [background=] [/background]

[The Floridian Coast]

Also, if you're infected, here is a quick fix.

Restart. Type in "Msconfig", go to Startup, and uncheck any execution that looks foreign. Restart again, then you can scan safely.

[Gawdzendia]

I know I've made a few of these threads but I really need some help. I've got a problem with my computer, basically every time I search for something on Google (or any search engine for that matter) when I click on the links on the results page I keep getting redirected to advertisements. My ability to use search engines and click on links has essentially been crippled.

Help me NSG you're my only hope.

I would suggest getting/running malwarebytes... Soundsl ike you have some ad-ware hijacker on your system.

My recommendation as well, I may not have any certificates or whatnot, but I got a good five years of running as Local IT For my "Computer Illiterate" friends.

[Forum Seven]

Also, if you're infected, here is a quick fix.

Restart. Type in "Msconfig", go to Startup, and uncheck any execution that looks foreign. Restart again, then you can scan safely.

Shit, don't do that.

You may or may not end up working yourself into a hole if you try that, especially if you do something wrong. Go through with the anti-virus.

A free one is Avast!, I can vouch for it, and it is very popular. It has two commercial versions on its website, but also a free download that will do everything you need, probably.

[Meowfoundland]

I know I've made a few of these threads but I really need some help. I've got a problem with my computer, basically every time I search for something on Google (or any search engine for that matter) when I click on the links on the results page I keep getting redirected to advertisements. My ability to use search engines and click on links has essentially been crippled.

Help me NSG you're my only hope.

Hey, that happened to me a while back!

I ran Avast! (I think) and the problem was fixed.

[JuNii]

I know I've made a few of these threads but I really need some help. I've got a problem with my computer, basically every time I search for something on Google (or any search engine for that matter) when I click on the links on the results page I keep getting redirected to advertisements. My ability to use search engines and click on links has essentially been crippled.

Help me NSG you're my only hope.

run a virus/malware scanner. if possible, restore your computer to a point before this started. there are malware that does this.

[Norstal]

I know I've made a few of these threads but I really need some help. I've got a problem with my computer, basically every time I search for something on Google (or any search engine for that matter) when I click on the links on the results page I keep getting redirected to advertisements. My ability to use search engines and click on links has essentially been crippled.

Help me NSG you're my only hope.

I thought you're Indian. What a shameful display to your family.

Shit, don't do that.

Why not? I done that once. Unchecked everything at startup. Kept the viruses at bay.

New Manvir, do what Floridian Coast said as a quick fix. Remember, this is a quick fix. You'll need to reenable the stuff again (and get an AV obviously).

[Mongolian Khanate]

Format the C: drive.

Start again like if the computer was new.

That's my solution anyway

[Wilgrove]

Format the C: drive.

Start again like if the computer was new.

That's my solution anyway

DON'T format the C drive, unless you want to lose EVERYTHING. Get Malware and virus protection.

[Norstal]

Format the C: drive.

Start again like if the computer was new.

That's my solution anyway

Silly economists, go back to studying money or something.

[RhynoD]

Download Comodo (it's free).

Disconnect from the internet.

Uninstall your firewall/antivirus.

Install Comodo.

Reconnect.

Run scan (which will automatically update Comodo).

Download CCleaner.

Install CCleaner.

Run the "Cleaner" tool in CCleaner.

And, if you want to make your computer run faster, also run the "Registry" tool.


And if none of that works, pull up the DOS command gooey and type /fdisk. Then reinstall windows.

[RhynoD]

Also, pull up the task manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL, or CTRL+ALT+ESC for Win7). Go to the Processes tab and google everything you see there. Right click and end the ones Google tells you aren't something good, find the folder they're in, and delete them.

Also also, if you're using a mac, don't.

[Paranoia XP]

Also, pull up the task manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL, or CTRL+ALT+ESC for Win7). Go to the Processes tab and google everything you see there. Right click and end the ones Google tells you aren't something good, find the folder they're in, and delete them.

Also also, if you're using a mac, don't.

Careful with that one. There are a couple of scams out there that tell you to End vital tasks.

If it's on a forum thread or something, read the posts and expect some sarcasm.

[Sosruko]

Personally, I reinstall windows when it does that.

Comodo is one of, if not the, best firewalls/antivirus on the market, and it's free for home users. Also, CCleaner is an amazing tool. Install and use Malwarebytes as well, but don't use it as an active antivirus like Comodo will do. That way, if nothing else, you can always start up in safe mode and run a full scan with an uncompromised Malwarebytes.

Alternatly, if you don't need windows, then there are several distributions of linux, which is both free and fast. Ubuntu is a great place to start there as it's very Windows/Mac-like. Also, you can install wine on it and it'll run most windows programs. The only real problem there is that it sometimes doesn't like games depending on your hardware.

Using msconfig and going to the startup tab can be a great way to stop things that want to start on machine boot that you don't want, just be sure to check what something is before you disable it. Disabling logon.exe is a great way to not be able to get back onto your machine... The same goes for stopping processes in the task manager (which is actually ctrl + alt + del or ctrl + shift + esc).

If you have a Mac, then take it in to the Mac shop, they finally will support malware removal, though you'll still be pointed to the mac store for finding an antivirus solution. Much luck with that, none of them will help you, though that is not the subject of this discussion.

If you need any more help, feel free to post and we'll see what can be seen, although, if it has been seen then it can not be unseen, but it shall be seen regardless...

[Sibirsky]

It took you guys 7 months to find this thread?

[Sosruko]

It took you guys 7 months to find this thread?

Hmm... I just looked at the date now that you mentioned that, interesting that someone necroed this particular thread... Oh well, my advice stands.

[Meowfoundland]

It took you guys 7 months to find this thread?

Oh, whoops.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

Yes, have you got some sort of security suite like McAfee or Norton? If so, I'd disconnect your Internet connection and run some full scans of your computer and delete any viruses etc. you find.

Isn't Norton the one that /b/ made an add-on for that identified System 32 as a virus?

Avast! is better. It's free, and when I first installed it it picked up 4 viruses that McAffee and AVG both missed.

[Sosruko]

Yes, have you got some sort of security suite like McAfee or Norton? If so, I'd disconnect your Internet connection and run some full scans of your computer and delete any viruses etc. you find.

Isn't Norton the one that /b/ made an add-on for that identified System 32 as a virus?

I won't say that they didn't. I also won't say that it was the only one. You might be amazed what the few black hats on /b/ might do when bored...

[Dagnia]

It took you guys 7 months to find this thread?

Yeah, guess it's a little late now.

As for the problem, sounds like adware. Best case scenario is you just got some bundled adware and can remove it by uninstalling a "free" toolbar or game or something else you downloaded.

Worst case scenario (which is much more common than the best) is the adware is deeply rooted in your system and includes spyware, keyloggers and other nasty stuff, sending valuable information on you to Russia or China. In this case, your best bet is to just back up your data and reformat and reinstall the system. If you get that stuff without antivirus or it manages to bypass the antivirus by not being discovered, it will try to make it impossible for the antivirus or its updates to correctly install to remove it.

Of course, I could only really be of help if I had access to the computer. Performing some types of IT services is how I am putting myself through college. Probably too late now, but maybe this will help someone.