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Search Engine / IE 8 / Virus Problems

alfredgerald
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Posted July 19, 2011 at 6:32PM

Running Windows XP Service Pack 3 with IE 8. When my search engines (Google and Yahoo) locate the site I require and I click one I am redirected to other sites completely unconnected to my request. I have also lost sound from sites like You Tube. My Favourites have disappeared. My Word Custom Dictionary has disappeared as well. Have tried System Restore and reinstallation, any thoughts. Had a virus earlier today but my security suit says that all is now OK.

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buteman

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Posted July 19, 2011 at 6:36PM

Download and run malwarebytes and see if it finds any problems.

You get a fortnights trial of the Pro version so use that if you do not already have it downloaded.

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Secret-Squirrel

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Posted July 19, 2011 at 7:50PM

"When my search engines (Google and Yahoo) locate the site I require and I click one I am redirected to other sites completely unconnected to my request"

Here's something else to try:

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Internet Options -> "Connections" tab -> "LAN Settings" button. Make sure the "Use Proxy Server" option is not ticked.

"Have tried System Restore and reinstallation"

When you say "reinstallation", do you mean you wiped the drive and reloaded XP from scratch - or did you do something different?

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alfredgerald

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Posted July 19, 2011 at 7:55PM

Proxy Server option is not ticked. Have reinstalled Google and Yahoo only

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Secret-Squirrel

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Posted July 19, 2011 at 8:02PM

Thanks for that Alfred.

Try Buteman's suggestion and if that doesn't fix your search-engine redirect problem then it could be caused by a compromised Windows Hosts file which we can investigate if need be.

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alfredgerald

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Posted July 20, 2011 at 8:33AM

Buteman's suggestion found nothing. I have reinstalled IE 8 but problem still there. When I turn the PC on my Mcafee finds a Trojan (xcpt-hook1) and deletes it but it reappears every time. Are they combined?

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onthelimit1

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Posted July 20, 2011 at 8:37AM

Sounds as though you need to run the TDSSKiller - I had the same problem as you and it took ages to find this solution. Free download from Kaspersky here

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buteman

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Posted July 20, 2011 at 9:10AM

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic404669.html

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-tdss-tdl3-alureon-rootkit-using-tdsskiller

Having a look at both of them I think onthelimit1 is on the right track.

Maybe posting on one of those Malware removal sites may be your best bet as the infection is hard to remove if you have it.

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alfredgerald

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Posted July 21, 2011 at 8:23AM

Thanks all. It turns out that it was a Root kit at the heart of it. I would never have found it. It took the experts at Mcafee four and a half hours to rectify. They downloaded various programmes to identify it, kill it and reinstall the missing components.

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onthelimit1

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Posted July 22, 2011 at 7:13AM

'It took the experts at Mcafee four and a half hours to rectify'

for the benefit of others, did you try the Kaspersky download I suggested?

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alfredgerald

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Posted July 22, 2011 at 12:00PM

Yes without success. Thanks for your help.

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