Can anybody help with a computer tech problem, please?

Run a cleaner and clear your cache.

Such as free download from ccleaner.com - (crap cleaner)

Do applications/windows - delete all files
Then Sweep the registry - fix all issues

If that doesn't help:

Go to Start
Go to Run
Type 'regedit' (without ' and ')

Go to HKEY__LOCALMACHINE/
Go to Software

Search for a folder with the name of the program you want to nix.

CAREFULLY delete the folder - if you can't, then click on it to open it and delete the files in there, then go back and delete the folder. (careful not to delete any other folder as this may cause a program you do want, not to work)

Reboot your PC.

(if you don't find the folder there search the other H_KEY directories)


The 'damn thing kept reinstalling itself' is indicative that there is some remnant or fragment in the Registry. (that is if it isn't a real malicious worm and more than adware)

Go here and download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware program.

Malwarebytes.org

It's free and is the best program I have found for detecting and removing all sorts of Trojans etc you never knew you had. That should really clean up your system.

Jeff

Jeff is right, malwarebyte is one of the tools I tell people about in that report I offered to send you.

My mac is running so slow, it reminds me of the day when I first started using computers. I would go to lunch while waiting for a letter to send to the printer. I've cleaned out my cache, cookies, etc, and it's still painfully slow. Need to upgrade or get a new computer.

dot

Another recommendation for malwarebytes and also you should turn off system restore and run a program like CleanUp first before running th malware scanner.
Oh and try to uninstall the program System Suite or whatever it is called, first.

You may need to uninstall, reinstall or upgrade Internet Explorer.

if it comes to that

uninstall explorer and then install a decent browser /firefox/chrome/safari

i think you should not assume it is malware first, until you rule out the normal possibilities.

worst case scenario then you take action for malware.

knock on wood big time, i can't believe all the crap with security/malware issues so many suffer. i never get that stuff. and all i use is the much maligned mcafee security suite and do regular maintenance on files - for 20+years, now with an added router; like i said knock on wood knock on wood.

It's already been determined it's malware. He's also been given the tools to fix it.
So Art, are you still having a problem?
I see no reason to uninstall internet explorer, it's a browser that does what it is suppose to do and like MaCafee, much maligned.

One thing that has completely saved my bacon once, is Avast. When you download it and first install it, you have the option of running a boot time scan when you first start it. If you select that option, it stops your computer half way through the restart (needed to complete the install) and does a scan when nothing else is moving. It found 2 files when I was under attack and I was happy to allow it to delete (or whatever) them and everything was back to normal.

I've suggested to them by their feedback form that it would be nice if this boot time scan was available any time but so far they haven't listened to me (!)

The only way I've been able to do it again is uninstall Avast, download and install it again, and select that scan again. Since it is the only thing that is moving at that time, it does the scan really fast. I didn't have a huge load on the puter at that time, probably around 100 gb, but it took less than half an hour.

Hi,

Thanks for the great help and ideas.

I have been able to remove Windows Security Suite so I do not have that problem but the removal which took the combined efforts of Spybot S & D and Malwarebytes has left me with a very shaky I.E. 7.

I cannot access any of my Google accounts - IE 7 says the web siite does not exist - nor can I always click on a link in search results and be taken to the site I selected. Often I am taken to a .com generic page or another search engine log in page.

The problem is duplicated on Firefox so it isn't a unique IE problem but none of my browser settings seems to provide a solution. If worst comes to worst, I might try to upgrade to I.E. 8 and hope the latest updates have improved it and re-install Firefox.

My very old computer can still access my Google accounts and I have compared browser settings between them but there are no differences.

You might need to try something else then Art.
Download and run this program:
WinSock XP Fix Freeware download and review - fix XP internet connectivity from SnapFiles

you have what is called a redirect virus.

you might try pulling a copy of firefox and see if you can access with that.

Michael,he said:
"The problem is duplicated on Firefox so it isn't a unique IE problem but none of my browser settings seems to provide a solution. If worst comes to worst, I might try to upgrade to I.E. 8 and hope the latest updates have improved it and re-install Firefox."

BUt you might also add this to your arsenal Art:
Ad-Aware Free - Download security software for spyware removal - Lavasoft

I have tried just about everything and nothing changed the results. I have now upgraded to IE8 but the problem persists with the added information that there is a DNS error when I try to access Google accounts.

My search results are now mainly Spanish and French sites so I am wondering if there is a setting where I can opt for English/American search results.

IE 8 is running excruciating slowly - it is almost as though my machine goes into hibernation mode.

Did you update malwarebyte and the do athrough scan in safe mode?
It sounds like you are still infected like Michael said.

try a program called 'hijack this'

its made specifically for hijack virus.

if you added firefox, then told it to import your i.e. settings during installation then all you did was move the problem to firefox.

Did you try the registry cleaning process at all? Either the crap cleaner or the manual process?

Whether or not if it is "cleaned" malware, if you still have fragments from the program it can cause issues.

Then again you may have to reinstall Windows unless that snap thingy Kim gave you works or the hijack one from Michael.

You poor man - this does sound like something serious and so many people telling you different things to do...

I cannot use IE at all - I have deleted 7 and reinstalled it, etc several times - wouldn't dare even try IE8 because of all the problems I have had with IE 6 and 7.

It is completely slowed down and locks up my computer if I use it.

Firefox is a nag but it works and Chrome is ok too.

I have used every malware and antivirus programme I can lay my hands on as well as all those suggested in these responses. The Firefox browser (which was installed a year ago) was affected even though I did not use it while Windows Security Suite was trying to blackmail me.

It seems strange that IE8 is indicating a DNS error.

As for MS Windows being the worst possible virus - it never created this problem before so I don't know how to answer that assertion.

nolol - the 'latest and greatest' or 'most horrible ever'...

microsoft just announced the last week or so that it has yet another off-cycle PATCH. they are always BEHIND the fricking 8-ball.

these security breaches are exactly why Firefox is anything right now.

but like i say they are a horrible nag and i have most of the security disabled in order to be able to function using FF (why i also use Chrome simultaneously)

Malicious Software (malware) can wreak havoc - they can destroy your hard drive/hardware, destroy your Windows System Configuration, corrupt applications, or just mess with you and make your life a nightmare for a while.

(plugin here: my vision of malware makers hanging by their fingernails in the Arabian desert)

MICROSOFT IS THE ONE WITH THE VULNERABILITIES THAT EXPOSE US TO THESE VULNERABILITIES.

EXPLORER IS TIED TO WINDOWS SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT BROWSER YOU ARE USING EVEN AS THE DEFAULT.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHY A MALICIOUS ATTACK ON WINDOWS CAN USUALLY ONLY BE FIXED BY A COMPLETE REINSTALLATION IF THE MALWARE REMOVER DID NOT MOP UP THE BLOOD.

been there. (not from a virus) from BOTH hardware failure and to my antics (back in the day) blowing up my FAT once, by opening the control panel, while wide open with PacBel trying to install their internet service, way down in the guts. Mess with DOS* which fried segments on my hard drive permanently.

lol - DOS - Disk Operating System*

nowadays speaking of the devil, DOS stands for Denial of Service.

Did you try winsock fix?

might also want to try rebuildig the ip stack, or could just be as simple as rebooting the modem.

After a dramatic day at the hospital yesterday I have finally managed to get connected to my Google accounts but don't know which particular item fixed it.

IE8 seems to be running OK but Fire Fox is its usual old granny self - questioning everything I try to do.

The only remaining problem is that my computer appears to be using alot of RAM even when the indications are that there is nothing trying to use it. I have noticed that the computer seems to go to sleep in the middle of opening some web pages - very frustrating but it gets there eventually (37 seconds to open WF!)

Thanks for all the help.