Posted on 12/09/2010 12:00:17 PM PST by ncfool
Has anybody had a recent problem with Browser hijacking on their computer. Since Saturday when I got infected with a program called Think Point which makes itself look like Microsoft Defender my computer has had all kinds of problems. No matter which Malware program you try and clean it with it still shows back up. We have tried all the major fixes. I am not sure how I got it but it can't be cleaned. There are many sites talking about it.
Now every time I try and do a search using Google, Yahoo, Chrome. You can see where its sending you to for instances a site brawsing-check.com and some others. like plxlestatservlce.com . I don't know if my computer has been attacked becuase of my hitting good sites like Freerepublic.com but it seems weird that I can't get rid of this.
Any help is appreciated.
As others have pointed out already, the only cure for that one I’ve seen is Malwarebytes. Download it and when you run it after install, make sure you download the updates. Then run it first in safe mode, then in normal mode.
We already took care of our problem, but we couldn’t have run anything—the trojan took over the computer so completely that we couldn’t do anything. Hence the total re-install. There were no catastrophic losses, the computer was pretty new and my boy didn’t have anything on it.
How did you it was Think Point? Is there some file in the startup you noticed?
Wouldn’t happen if u were using #!
Windows = dead OS
Tried the Smith product too. I have tried about 5 or 6 different ones. IT is setting up a new machine. Said how this stuff happens.
I just wonder if it was tied to reading some foreign press items on Wiki leaks? I guess that I will never know.
Thanks to all for your advice. Please make sure your run your virus protection and your malware as the net seems to be a very risky place these days.
I posted this back on Nov 15th, maybe it will help you...
You’ve probably got a virus of some sort. I worked 2 days trying to get one that was causing search engines from working on my computer. I would run spybot and malwarebytes to see if you have a virus. The problem with my virus was that spybot or malwarebytes could find them but not erase them. It took some work but finally got it done. I finally had to delete a hosts file. In fact, look at c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/ If your hosts has any extention but “file” then it is probably the problem, mine ended in “.o1d”. But do your own checking first.
Hopes this helps.
It made itself look like a microsoft product had the 4 color symbols that your see on the windows products. a site that I I found states the following
” Thinkpoint virus is a part of a fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert.”
It looked very Microsoft to me. Do not click on any think that looks like Microsoft as it was not. It faked me out and I am an experienced surfer.
Ping
I recently had a problem with the proxy resetting and changing the port setting also. Kept getting sent to unusual search sites. I reset the settings several times and haven’t had any further problems.
Merry Christmas you nice people!
advise = advice. Ah, you know what I meant.
I use Firefox, Avast, Startpage, Dogpile. I’ve not had a problem since.
Is this the one you tried? It worked for me.
Smit Fraud Fix
—
Another option if it is a browser hijacking is “hijackthis”. It is not for inexperienced users, but a very effective tool.
http://majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
Glad to hear it all got sorted out. I had to reinstall my OS recently, but I managed to fix everything.
Go to www.avast.com and download and install Avast!. Avast! is great. It works, and it doesn’t clog up your computer.
Hitman Pro 3.5 works well. Download at cnet.com. You only receive a trial period but it works great.
If you download malwarebytes, when it asks you “run” or “save”, you want to “Save” it, BUT Rename it First. Some of those viruses seem to recognize it and won’t let you run it. Received that advice from a friend who worked IT.
Good Luck. Been there a time or two.
Malwarebytes is good. I got hit with the PC-Antispyware bug in June. I did however have to re-install my internet security software (at the time Panda).
Download the Malwarebytes on to a clean computer (avoid your router), transfer to the infected computer with a flash drive. Run the Malwarebytes in the Safe Mode.
You will need to down load this from another computer and burn the image to a CD. You insert the rescue disk in the infected computer and boot from the disk. This really works and made the computer usable again. Detailed directions are on this site. Once you get the computer cleaned I would suggest also installing and running a copy of Super Antispyware (free for down load) and removing any anti-virus program you might have on the computer and installing a clean copy of a new anti-virus. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and works pretty well.
Meanwhile I am browsing with no fears on the Internet....
IOGEAR GCS22u 2-Port USB KVM Switch w/built-in cables
A second computer and this:
Then do your major browsing with the Linux machine and change to the Windows machine when you need to.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.