Computer Virus Help! Every time I try to use any search engine it directs me to "spam" websites!?

jibbarjabar Said:

Malware has been known to modify your Windows HOSTS file to redirect you to their own servers or block access to a web-site totally.. Perhaps this will help.

First check your HOSTS file located at:

Windows XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Win 98/ME = C:\WINDOWS
Be sure and check-mark "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and uncheck-mark "Hide Protected Operating System Files" in your Folder Options first.

Open HOSTS with notepad. A ’standard" MS HOSTS file will look like this:

# Copyright © 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a "#" symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
#
127.0.0.1 localhost

____________________________________________

There should be no entries or IP addresses on the lines below "127.0.0.1 localhost". If there are other entries, with an address other than 127.0.0.1 delete them, close notepad, and answer ‘Yes" if prompted.

You should no longer get re-directed now.

But you are not done just quite yet. Now to fix the root cause of your problem. Do a complete scan with both your anti-virus and your anti-spyware. If you don’t have them or if they are not current and updated you can use the procedure here:

Do both of these free online scans and remove what they find:

1. Scan for virus and remove (free online scan, no download) with BitDefender.
http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/

2. Scan for trojans and spyware and remove (free online scan, no download) with Ewido.
http://www.ewido.net/en/

Hope this works for you.
References :

Comment made on June 9th, 2010 at 5:14 am

Dennis Said:

It sounds like you may have some adware. There are tons of ways to remove it, you can see a variety of solutions just by googling "adware". I recommend getting Spybot. It’s what I personally use to get rid of any I may pick up while browsing and is very efficient and effective.
Spybot – http://www-spybot.net/
Download Spybot: S&D and scan your computer.

Also, you should raise your internet security.
If you use Internet Explorer, go to Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy -> Advanced -> Override automatic cookie handling and put third party cookies on prompt or block and first party cookies on prompt.
If you use Firefox, go to Tools -> Options -> Privacy and under the "Keep until" part of Cookies, choose ask me every time.
Generally, accept cookies from sites you directly choose to go to, not ones you’ve heard of. Those may be from banners on the page.

If you feel a little extra paranoid, you could also do a full virus scan. Use Trend Micro if you don’t have an updated virus scanner.
Trend Micro – http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Good luck with your problem. Once you free your computer of unwanted adware, you should be able to browse smoother and faster.
References :

Comment made on June 9th, 2010 at 6:38 am

titokhan Said:

it may not be a virus per se, but malware that loads itself every time you start the computer..

get a spyware/malware scanner or 2 (i use ad-aware and spybot search and destroy myself, both of which you can download at download.com)

I’d also recommend startup control panel (linked below), which is a somewhat easier to understand version of msconfig.. pretty much everything that starts up when you turn your computer can you can see in this handy little app
References :
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Comment made on June 9th, 2010 at 7:11 am