google redirect virus - Uggg

[REW]

Somewhere along the line, my computer picked up the Goggle redirect virus.

What a pain to remove.

My wife was complaining yesterday about the fact that the computer seemed to have a mind of its own. I down played it a bit, until I went to do some searches this morning.

Yes, the computer did have a mind of its own.

I went to Microsoft to its knowledge and found the correct procedures to remove the virus, but it was a bit of a bother.

Be safe and keep it clean.

REW

[2746]

What the heck is a "google redirect virus"?

[REW]

Larry,
I have worked in the computer field for a very long time and had never heard of, or seen the results of this virus.

Simply put, you open Google to do an internet search for an item of interest.

Google displays its search results.

When you click on one of the results, you can see that the browser is going to the web site shown in the search results.
Suddenly, the screen blanks out and at the top of the screen is a single line that says - redirecting.

Then a web page opens that has no relationship to the search item.
It almost seems as though the redirecting is random.

But, at the end of the line, the virus, keeps you from doing any searches, because as soon as you find a web page, the virus directs you to some other random page.

It took me several hours and considerable research to finally eliminate the virus.

Be safe
REW

[2746]

Well that's a new one! Never heard of it but now, when it happens, I'll know what's going on. One would think that if it's a virus created by someone it would have a purpose in it's redirection rather than just random.

[Golden Eagle]

We had it on one of our computers. Don't open anything unless you're sure.........................

[eriksat1]

That is what the old coolsearch or cool web did hijack you to a different site. Some nasty spyware.

[Apple Guy]

Originally Posted by REW

Somewhere along the line, my computer picked up the Goggle redirect virus.

What a pain to remove.

My wife was complaining yesterday about the fact that the computer seemed to have a mind of its own. I down played it a bit, until I went to do some searches this morning.

Yes, the computer did have a mind of its own.

I went to Microsoft to its knowledge and found the correct procedures to remove the virus, but it was a bit of a bother.

Be safe and keep it clean.

REW

REW,

In your search for info on this, did they call it Google a "Search Engine Poisoning" or SEP. or " Referer redirect"? It is actually both of these two working together I bet.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_referer


It could also be or have a twist with a DNS trojan via DNS changer.


.

[karpbuster]

Originally Posted by REW

Larry,
I have worked in the computer field for a very long time and had never heard of, or seen the results of this virus.

Simply put, you open Google to do an internet search for an item of interest.

Google displays its search results.

When you click on one of the results, you can see that the browser is going to the web site shown in the search results.
Suddenly, the screen blanks out and at the top of the screen is a single line that says - redirecting.

Then a web page opens that has no relationship to the search item.
It almost seems as though the redirecting is random.

But, at the end of the line, the virus, keeps you from doing any searches, because as soon as you find a web page, the virus directs you to some other random page.

It took me several hours and considerable research to finally eliminate the virus.

Be safe
REW

If you use something like No Script to let you know and stop what is being executed by your browser, you can stay on top of that.

[SSH]

IMHO, these types of problems should make every PC user purchase
an external hard-drive and backup software to take periodic backup
images of their pc's. Backups should occur at least after you install
new software or at intervals depending on how critical the data on
your computer is, i.e.,weekly, monthly quarerly. Windows 7 has it's
own backup and restore features. If you are running XP or Vista, then,
Ghost or Acronis would be examples of backup and restore software.

Then, if you have issues with viruses, trojans, etc, you can simple do a restore
from your backup in probably 30 minutes and have a functioning computer,
again.

[Fish For Fun]

Originally Posted by SSH

IMHO, these types of problems should make every PC user purchase
an external hard-drive and backup software to take periodic backup
images of their pc's. Backups should occur at least after you install
new software or at intervals depending on how critical the data on
your computer is, i.e.,weekly, monthly quarerly. Windows 7 has it's
own backup and restore features. If you are running XP or Vista, then,
Ghost or Acronis would be examples of backup and restore software.

Then, if you have issues with viruses, trojans, etc, you can simple do a restore
from your backup in probably 30 minutes and have a functioning computer,
again.

This is exactly what I recommend to everyone when I work on their PC. It is not a matter of if your hard drive will fail it is when it will fail, they all do eventually.