7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Needing Technical Assistance in Firefox!

by REHughes
6 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
Hi all!

I hope I placed this post in the proper area.

Anyway, for the last several weeks, I have been having problems doing searches in Google ONLY on Firefox.

When I type in my keyword and enter, I get the typical top 10 listings.
However, as I click on those links, I am getting redirected to some sort of Ad Sites or Local Listings, or anything else.

They are random sites, and I get them no matter what link I click on.
Sometimes I can click on 5 sites, and then i will actually start getting the site I actually want to browse, sometimes 10 clicks, and sometimes I cannot get to the site I am trying to get to.

I have tried everything I can think of to clear this problem up, to no avail.
I have run my antivirus, I have cleared everything - i.e. cache, cookies, recent history, etc.

Does anyone have any idea what I need to look for, or have you had this problem?

I am sure it is SOMETHING such as adware or something, just can't find it.

Again, it only does it on Firefox, not Chrome or I.E.

Any help would be appreciated.

I want my FIREFOX BACK!:confused:

Thanks,
Robert
  • Profile picture of the author JamesJeffery
    Hi Robert,

    You have a virus. You can actually purchase this type of PPC/CPM for pennies.

    I wouldn't say you have a virus that will harm your computer, but malware. Have you installed any free software recently? Some free software providers make you click agree, in their agreement you allow them to do this.

    Remove anything you have recently installed. Run your AV and spyware/malware scanner.

    Hope that helps.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3306392].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
    Run ccleaner, then run spybot in safe mode.

    I found spybot works better than avast at finding rootkits in safe mode.

    If that doesnt work you can completely delete firefox and start over, sounds like it is in those files.

    You can can save your user profile directory in FF if your reasonably sure (by running antivirus, etc...) that your free of spyware on that one directory



    It's a beginning



    Jim
    Signature
    KimW a Fellow Warrior Who Really Needs Help
    Ken Strong Cancer Donation | Keep Ken Strong WSO





    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3306431].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author REHughes
      Hey Guys,
      Thanks for the input.
      Sorry for the delay getting back to you, but I've just finished running my 3rd malware scan, and I finally HOPE I got my problem solved!
      I think it wound up being a Search Hijacker!
      I actually had to run three different programs before I got it.
      Well, actually, I tried STOPzilla first, which I think found it, then I realized I had to pay to clean the files.
      I then ran Malware Bytes and it didn't find the bug.
      I finally ran Spybot Search & Destroy, and am keeping my fingers crossed that it is gone.
      No problems yet.

      Guess I learned also that most anti-virus software don't always catch malware or spyware. They're sneaky little devils!
      Thanks for your help.

      Just for the record, if anyone needs a good malware cleaner, I really believe STOPzilla would be a good one. It was only like $9 for a year or $69 lifetime subscription, but it seemed really strong. I would have bought it, but I really didn't want to buy just to see if it would solve my problem, and then still have to go another route if it didn't.

      It really looked promising though. Any more problems and I may get it.
      Just a thought!

      Anyway, now back to my FOXY browsing!
      Robert
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3309697].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
        I'm glad you think you found it.

        If you didn't do it you need to run (update first)
        spybot s&d in safe mode.
        It may be free, but is still one of the best out there.


        Your right they are getting sneakier.
        Safe mode won't allow it to hide itself.
        As most programs will not be able to run.

        You may be surprised at what is still there
        if you haven't done it.

        Jim
        Signature
        KimW a Fellow Warrior Who Really Needs Help
        Ken Strong Cancer Donation | Keep Ken Strong WSO





        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3309789].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author REHughes
          Hey, Jim
          Thanks for the heads up. I haven't tried the safe mode yet, but will look into that. You are right, there is no telling what is still there.

          After running STOPzilla, then running Malware Bytes, I got an update from STOPzilla again that there were still 107 instances there! Of course, some of those are cookies I am sure.

          Then I ran Spybot and am still going ok right now.
          But, I will try safe mode. I really want all that junk outta there!

          Thanks again,
          Robert
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3310344].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author webpromoterservice
    You have a trojan and it has probably infected your system registry files.

    I'd recommend you use Trend Micro Housecall - the free version.

    I tried removing a similar threat with AVG in the past and it failed. It found the threats but failed to actually removed them.

    Trend Micro was surprisingly for me, the most effective here.

    And I would stay away from Malwarebytes and similar programs. They are free yes, but they don't provide the total protection you need from malware
    Signature
    Buy Antivirus| Antivirus Reviews|BitDefender Antivirus|Kaspersky Antivirus|Norton Antivirus
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3335069].message }}

Trending Topics