[library user]

I know how to fix this. Check your FReepmail in a few minutes.

[Castigar]

Sonds like a bad infection of malware.

Try malwarebytes. It’s free and good.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

[kingu]

First and foremost, consider reinstalling XP. Likely been years since you've used a clean system and the updates can download overnight. Use the restore option if you've a Compaq or similar.

Absent that, download and install Spybot Search & Destroy and also get Malwarebytes. Run Spybot, use inoculate, and in a few hours when it is done, update MalwareBytes and run it.

[Eldon Tyrell]

Do as advised asap - while you still have some control.

Run and re-run the malware cleanups - sometimes it takes 2-3 times.

[mnehring]

My Friend, it sounds like you have one of the worst pieces of malware out there and it is a bugger to get rid of.

If possible, go to download.com and get Malware Bytes and run that. If this is the malware/virus I believe it is, it may block you from downloading anti-virus or anti-malware software. You may need to download these from another computer onto a portable drive and install them into the infected computer while it is in safe mode.

[Camel Joe]

Sounds like you have some tracking software running in the background with a redirector bringing up the web page for the work at home stuff. Do a search for ccleaner and download the free version, be careful to only download ccleaner and any of the other stuff running as adds on the page. Ccleaner wipes your temp internet folder when or while you are surfing. Run it each time you go online, afterwords, to keep a low e-profile.

[ShadowAce]

[ken in texas]

Yep... you got nailed by something pretty ugly. I don’t know what “library user” is sending to you; hopefully it will be of some assistance. Keep us posted.

[Joe 6-pack]

Call these two ladies; they're experts at restoring icons...

[Retired Greyhound]

Looks like you have a bit of malware FRiend.

Try this

This product works well too

And this.

[kidd]

I had similar symptoms about 4 months ago.

I had a rootkit virus. Really nasty virus.

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

for fix.

[Revolting cat!]

INAYLIP (In Before Are You Logged In Posts)

[Retired Greyhound]

CCLeaner is great, too.

Also, forget about Explorer. Stick with FireFox. Get the AdBlock Plus addon.

I haven't had ad ware or malware in years.

[ntmxx]

Other than, at any given time, any one of the AV/FW apps can be by-passed by malicious coding.

Classic indicator of the following five items:

1. Anti-Virus and Firewall paid version not up to date
2. Not having a secondary pop-up blocker such as 12Ghosts
3. Not using a paid version of Malwarebytes
4. Opening up junk which may be infected, without thinking about it first
5. Going to sites which have questionable programming attached to it

Here is a general rule, all security apps at some point have problems; Mcafee is more of a corporate app, Norton is infamous for stuff getting by…personally I use ZoneAlarm, and recommend to the novice or home user AVG…

If you do switch, make sure you get your current versions removal tool prior to installing a new version or another app; I hope this helps.

[weef]

My father just had a nasty malware issue that took some time to clean up. He's also running Windows XP. Here's what I did:

• Download, install, and run MalwareBytes. You may not be able to even install or run this if things are really bad.
• Download, install, and run SUPERAntiSpyware.
• Download the trial version of Kaspersky, install, and run.

As someone else suggested you may need to run each of these numerous times.

[Archytekt]

sounds like some variant of Alueron.H Virus, disabled my restore function, redirected web searches, popped up browsers, disable windows update, on and on.

I messed with it for about a week and ultimately had to reformat my hard drive, then two more days of updating and reloading software but purring like a kitten now.

good luck!

[Lucky9teen]

My suggestions:

First - Remove McAfee (completely). Many have found that this program (and Norton) are not as affective as other products at finding and removing viruses/malware and cause your system to run super slow because they take up SO much of your systems resources.

Second - download AVG Free anti-virus. It is very effective at protecting your computer and does not take up much of your system resources at all.

Third - download Malwarebytes. It is free and is very effective at removing malware/spyware/viruses that many other programs do not catch.

Fourth - download CC Cleaner. This program is effective in cleaning/fixing registry errors and cleans out your system temporary files/cache.

[Lucky9teen]

Also, if it hasn’t been suggested, run Malwarebytes in Safe Mode.

And a good place to get more information on malware/virus removal info (and just general computer software info) is www.majorgeeks.com.

They can also help you fix a problem.

[JerseyHighlander]

From the sounds of what you have here, no matter how many of the above mentioned tools you use.... there is NO way to know if you are running a uninfected machine even after successfully running the above mentioned programs.

A small variant in the rootkit virus will leave traces of the rootkit on your machine and can fundamentally alter the OS in ways not seen by any of the above mentioned programs.

I highly suggest you go about reformatting your hard drive, or for that matter, go out and buy a new physical hard drive and reinstall WinXP onto that new drive.

ALSO AS NOTED ABOVE, COMBOFIX.ORG IS A MALWARE WEBSITE POSING AS A LEGITIMATE ANTI-MALWARE SITE.

ONLY DOWNLOAD THE COMBOFIX PROGRAM FROM www.bleepingcomputer.com !!!

[Yet_Again]

Part of the computer janitor work that goes along with Windows is keeping your anti-virus and anti-malware up to date. Sounds like you're doing it with your anti-virus, but which anti-mal/spyware program are you using? While you still have a computer system that works, I'd make sure you had the latest McAffee virus library installed. If you've let your updates expire, I'd spend the $ to update your subscription, download the latest library, and rescan. Go to your add/remove programs option and post a list of the programs you have on here as well, in case there's anything that needs to be uninstalled. Sorry you're having problems.