The sign of a computer virus?

[D2eux]

Has this happened to any of you? It doesnt happen often, but recently, every once in awhile, I will search for something on google. When I click a link, it takes me to a completely random site, far from what the link was. It doesnt take me to a pron site or anything, but its crap like vibe.com, and websites along those lines.

Sound unusual?

[D2eux]

no, its when I do a search, and click one of the results, sometimes it takes me to a completely unrelated website.

[Saurian]

Never had that happen before, did you preform a scan? If you have Avast it will probably find it, hasn't failed me yet, and it stops virus' from even getting to the computer.

[D2eux]

I have advanced systemcare pro, and it hasnt caught anything. its weird because everything else seems to be working right...

[Kabong30]

You need to run AV and Ad Aware. Something is redirecting your queries. I wouldn't be doing any online banking or purchases until you've got this figured out. It's probably capturing keystrokes too.

[Masked Moron]

One of my firneds at work's home comp is doing that...

Several virus scans ( Avg, Norton, Avast, Housecall) and spybot scans all came up blank... they ended up wiping out & reformatting the entire hard drive... but it's still doing it.

[D2eux]

You need to run AV and Ad Aware. Something is redirecting your queries. I wouldn't be doing any online banking or purchases until you've got this figured out. It's probably capturing keystrokes too.

yep, i just ran ad aware and it got the bugger: "possible browser hijack attempt"

[AsterisX18]

OMG! A mutated computer virus! Try system restore?

[RipkenFan8]

No viruses is one of the many reasons I LOVE Macs :D

[D2eux]

No viruses is one of the many reasons I LOVE Macs :D

youre lucky that the number of windows users dwarfs mac users;)

[prescribeddrone]

youre lucky that the number of windows users dwarfs mac users;)


But power is greater than numbers.

Hulk alone can take most of the Marvel Universe.... so:p

[D2eux]

But power is greater than numbers.

Hulk alone can take most of the Marvel Universe.... so:p

well, im saying, if there were as many mac users as there are windows users, youd be seeing a lot more viruses floating around for the mackies. Hackers arent interested in the minority, they like infecting the masses

[Saurian]

Even though Windows has about 200% chance of getting virus' over macs (i made that up just so you know) I still would rather have a HP... as long as it has XP, until i get 3gb of ram though, then ill get Vista. I just never liked Macs one clicker and its design. My knowledge of Computers and people shows me that people who are Mac users, grew up with it, and people who use windows are either newbies or just got it first, but most relative mac users grew up or was there first, many people who grew up with windows dont like to use macs, yet there are people who grew up with macs, but can easily use windows as well and wont care. This was a personal opinion, and so is this, Windows is easier to use then macs, though both are easy enough, windows tends to be more accessible then macs. You can flame now. Go ahead, Im done.

[prescribeddrone]

well, im saying, if there were as many mac users as there are windows users, youd be seeing a lot more viruses floating around for the mackies. Hackers arent interested in the minority, they like infecting the masses

true.

i have both M$ and mac, but i use my macbook once in a while only. i treat it like a baby, i don't wanna overwork it. i wanna use it as my desktop once my pc craps out.

[Kabong30]

well, im saying, if there were as many mac users as there are windows users, youd be seeing a lot more viruses floating around for the mackies. Hackers arent interested in the minority, they like infecting the masses

Absolutely correct.

[ilovefreestufftoo]

Lysol your drive or drives if you're running raid and start all over.

[Love_The_Spawn]

Most of the time with a virus...when the signs are there, it's too late...waaaaay too late.

[xGGAx]

Thats sounds like spyware to me; get ad-aware like Kabong30 said.

[Holeman]

Thats sounds like spyware to me; get ad-aware like Kabong30 said.

Yeah, it sounds like spyware.

[xGGAx]

oh he ran adware already, sorry I didnt read that far :p

[herzograven]

well, im saying, if there were as many mac users as there are windows users, youd be seeing a lot more viruses floating around for the mackies. Hackers arent interested in the minority, they like infecting the masses

part of what you is very true, 90% of computer users use windows, because initially it's cheaper, but I was a windows user for 12 years before i said it "screw it" i'm switching

however, in the last 5 years i've noticed the stability that comes with Mac OSX's and over all it's much more secure and better than windows (XP, Vista, whichever)

apple has a very strict quality control, and who knows by the time the market reaches 40% of PC users it will go to hell .... in the early 90s apple was doing pretty bad and things didn't look all that great until roughly 1997 for apple

either way, until then i'm going to stick with Mac OSX cause it way less hassle to maintain an apple than a windows based machine (not saying they're 100% problem free, there is no such thing .... just saying i have to fix it once in a while ..... not ever other week!)

just my 2 cents

[herzograven]

true.

i have both M$ and mac, but i use my macbook once in a while only. i treat it like a baby, i don't wanna overwork it. i wanna use it as my desktop once my pc craps out.

based on what i've seen in the last few years, you're not likely to "overwork" your macbook .... 2gb of ram and that baby will run will problem free - UNTIL you hit a hardware snag (which doesn't happen a lot but happens always at the wrong time)... then you're in real trouble .... parts and labor .... expensive!

[Sweetshot23]

Vist grc.com and run their test for open ports and security risks. Also, use Spybot to search for viruses and loaders etc. Try to get the binary and do regitedit on "run". Delete the registery entry for it.