Stupid symbols instead of webpages

by fin
19 replies
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Does anyone know what this is?

It happens to me all the time. This time it has happened to Google and Twitter.

Just a big page full of little symbols with question marks in the middle of diamonds.

I know it's something to do with encoding.

I've installed different versions of Firefox and it is still crap.

My Google chrome doesn't work and my IE is very slow.

My computer hates me, lol.

How can I fix it, please?
  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Fin, have you run any virus/spyware/malware scans?
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  • Profile picture of the author fin
    No, I hope it's not a virus. I'll try now and see.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Malwarebytes and SpyBot Search and Destroy are 2 programs I would suggest you run, if able to do so.

    Good luck,
    Jody
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      I don't know if it will fix the websites, but I think you are right.

      Before you gave me S+D I downloaded AVG and it detected a trojan horse.

      I'm crap with this side of computers, lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Fin download Malwarebytes, it's free and it's a great piece of software to have. Just make sure you update the data base after downloading and executing the program. Here is the link for it:

    Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO removes malware including viruses, spyware, worms and trojans, plus it protects your computer

    Run a full scan. It will show a pop-up asking you what drive to scan - just check C.
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  • Profile picture of the author fin
    Thanks.

    I'm running S&D now and just downloaded Malwarebytes.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Fin, by the sounds of your computer, you're lucky to be able to download and run the programs!

    It's amazing how much malware/spyware etc. that we accumulate over time.
    Once you get it cleaned up, update and run those programs once a week or so. It might save you an even bigger headache in the future.

    I remember many yeas ago when spyware and malware literally disabled my computer. I thought for sure it was a virus, but it wasn't.

    Back then, we didn't have all these great programs available to us. The only solution was to take the computer to the local Computer Repair Tech.
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  • Profile picture of the author fin
    Haha, yeah I've been guessing my computer was about to go for its final sleep, but I've just been ignoring it. Bad mistake.

    I just hope it lasts until I get a new one.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Lol, I think it stands a chance! Let me know the results of your scans please, I'm curious now!
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

      Lol, I think it stands a chance! Let me know the results of your scans please, I'm curious now!
      Lots of stuff is coming up and I have to keep clicking for it to be removed. S+D deleted about 7 stuff and needs to wait for a restart to get rid of 5.

      MD has been running for an hour and not got anything yet.

      AVG is the one I have to keep approving when it finds something it wants to get rid off.

      I think one of them also deleted lots of temporary files.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Fin, with S&D, you should just be able to click on the "fix all" button once it has completed the scan. Also immunize after fixing the problems.

    If the numbers at the top right hand side of the screen are not equal after immunizing, click on the "immunize again" button.

    Malwarebytes provides a report upon completion. I have let it run before I go to bed, then fix any problems the following morning.

    These programs won't take as long to run once you run them on a regular basis. The first time always takes much longer.

    Another 2 things you can do after the scans are finished and the problems fixed is to do a "disk cleanup" and then a "disk defragmenter".

    These 2 are found under Windows "system tools".

    I may be off in a bit, but will check this tomorrow!

    Best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Hey Fin! How did you make out? Is the computer running better now?
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Hey,

      Not that I can see, though I imagine it will be better behind the scenes.

      Unfortunately my Google and Twitter are still knackered. I can use my super slow IE but it just takes longer.

      I hope the problem gets fixed. I haven't been able to view Mashable on Firefox for months. Viperchill was like that for a few days. Hopefully Google and Twitter are just a few days too.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    I sent a message to someone, so hope he can advise something for you, if he has time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    The aliens. They've arrived. You will either be the first to be anal probed, the ambassador for all humanity, or the vessel they use to destroy the world.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    First,most of the information should be helpful,but I always run the programs in safe mode with networking.
    Also,and this was a tip I learned from Sal, download and run tdsskiller,you might have a root kit virus.

    Also check the sites in IE,either if you don't normally use it. Mainly trying to find out if there is at least one brower that functions properly.
    I'll check back with you later...
    I almost forgot,make sure after you downlaod and install the programs waterotto told you about that the first thing you do is update them. Seems like an obvious thing to me but a lot of people don't do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    So,any luck Fin?
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      So,any luck Fin?
      Kim,

      They're working today. I had to install an old version of Firefox. Thanks for the help you everyone.

      At least my laptop is now virus free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
    If it still hasn't been fixed, then the virus must've messed with some of the files. Happened to one of my friends the other day. The college PC was so screwed up that when he ran a virus scan on it, the Start button and all the icons disappeared. He had to restore the files from quarantine to get the thing functional again.

    I'd uninstall the browsers with something like Revo Installer so that the registry keys get deleted and do a reinstall. It does work sometimes. Also, I'd get a good AV. I have sworn by ESET since my computer got messed up last year. If you don't want to pay then have a look at Avast. One of my friends uses it and it works fine for him.

    Sumit.
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