What the H*ll is up with Google?

[Shammrog]

Hello -

The last few days, every time I search Google, I get the normal list of search results. However, EVERY link I try to click leads me to some ad, or one of those other search summary sites??? Any idea what the deal is???

[juise]

Hello -

The last few days, every time I search Google, I get the normal list of search results. However, EVERY link I try to click leads me to some ad, or one of those other search summary sites??? Any idea what the deal is???

Sounds like Spyware to me... I'll have to Google it. :p


Edit: This sounds similar. (http://groups.google.com/group/Google_Web_Search_Help-UsingWS/browse_thread/thread/81da3482345b32f0/f9ad28e8c0dc0704?pli=1)

[jacone21]

Yeah sounds like malware. There has been some real nastiness going around lately. Rootkits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit)can hijack your browser, prevent you from accessing antivirus sites like symantec and avg, and prevent your virus software from updating, among other things.

I have a utility at home that was the only thing that would get rid of one that I picked up last week (probably the same one you have). Malwarebytes wouldn't run. AVG couldn't update. I couldn't get to any sites to download other tools. Ugly stuff. But I was able to find something to get rid of it. I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but I'll post it when I get home.

I never did figure out how it was doing everything that it was doing, but I was happy to be rid of it. I'll post again in a few hours.

[alteran]

Hello -

The last few days, every time I search Google, I get the normal list of search results. However, EVERY link I try to click leads me to some ad, or one of those other search summary sites??? Any idea what the deal is???

Agreed with above-- sounds like malware. Have you solved this yet?

If not:

1) What's your OS? (Which MS variant, I mean. I'll be impressed if OSX got infected)
2) Is it in ALL your browsers or just one? (If you only have one, download Firefox and try that. If it's Firefox, try IE.)

[Shammrog]

Hi - Thanks.

I am running Windows XP Professional; on a network at work. Which is why I am surprised anything would have gotten through.

No idea where it would have come from, either.

It turns out that this does what it does in both IE and Firefox. Likewise, it does the same thing to both Google search results, and Yahoo...

HELP!!!

[allenmurray]

Hi - Thanks.

I am running Windows XP Professional; on a network at work. Which is why I am surprised anything would have gotten through.

No idea where it would have come from, either.

It turns out that this does what it does in both IE and Firefox. Likewise, it does the same thing to both Google search results, and Yahoo...

HELP!!!

My network at work has incredibly good IT security, yet malware still gets through on occassion. These things can come from anywhere, including very innocent looking places.

Unfortunately I have no help to offer. The last time it happened to me it took our IT guy a couple of hours to find and fix the problem, and he is really good at that kind of thing. I would suggest getting somebody who really knows their way around the dark side to work on it, rather than trying to do it yourself.

[hc5duke]

and i thought this thread was going to be about their new god-awful icon
http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/picture.php?pictureid=331&albumid=19&dl=1231884455&thumb=1

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/googles-new-favicon.html

[Lord Ash]

Hi - Thanks.

I am running Windows XP Professional; on a network at work. Which is why I am surprised anything would have gotten through.

No idea where it would have come from, either.

It turns out that this does what it does in both IE and Firefox. Likewise, it does the same thing to both Google search results, and Yahoo...

HELP!!!

Could it be the buckets'o'porn?

[Shammrog]

Could it be the buckets'o'porn?

Naw. I do that at home!!!

[jacone21]

Okay. The software is called Trojan Remover and I downloaded it from here...

http://www.simplysup.com/tremover/download.html


When you install and run a scan, it should locate the source of your problem. Hopefully, it'll do the trick for you. When you're done, update your virus definitions for any anti-virus software that you have, and make sure all your Windows updates are current.

I would also recommend fairly regular scans with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which you can find here...

http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol

**disclaimer: I'm just a guy who uses computers... use at your own risk... blah blah blah.

Good luck!!!

[alteran]

jacone's advice is sound. If, after running a few malware scanners, you're still having trouble:

1) hit alt-ctl-delete.
2) click the processes tab

write down everything you see under the "image name" column and either a) post it here, or b) shoot it to me via pm. I can't think of a reason why listing your processes would be a big deal, but maybe someone else will think of something.

Some bad stuff can hide from even the process listing, but generally the bad guys don't bother-- there's just too much low hanging fruit.

If typing that is too onerous, shoot me a PM and I'll explain how to do a screen shot.

[riverside6]

I would also recommend fairly regular scans with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which you can find here...

http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol


Just wanted to second Malwarebytes, as it cleaned my machine of some nasty stuff.