Spyware inserting sites into google serps?

only in IE

[Hideee]

What is this?
I type in a search term, serps appear for a second, then "new" serps appear with new top four sites. The "real" serps appear below the freshly inserted top four. Clicking on any of the inserted sites shows a click tracking redirect to the actual url.

Just started recently. Doesn't happen in other browsers. How could spyware alter google serps?

[kaled]

I've never suffered from spyware on my computer - just paranoid I guess, but others have reported what you've described and the diagnosis was spyware/scumware.

Kaled.

[Imaster]

Hi Hidee,

The same thing had happened to me once and I was very concerned. After checking out the results with the same keywords on a different computer, I found out that they were perfect (without any spam of the type you mentioned). After running lots of adware/spyware/virus/et al removers, I cleaned my PC which was infected with some sort of virus. Then I checked Google serps again and they seemed fine as before.

So you have a hint now. Good Luck!

[otech]

I also had this adware/virus, after trying a few adaware 6.0 got rid of it... tricked me for a while!

[seanetal]

Watch out for this one. Hitbox (which is probably what you are suffering from) is trickier to get rid of than most think. I found out a combination of CWShredder, Ad-aware, and Spybot Search & Destroy finally got rid of it... after a few restarts and reruns to make sure it was completely gone.

[Imaster]

I generally use CWShredder and Ad-aware and they both rock.

[incywincy]

If I break into a computer and get caught I am likely to feel the full force of law. Why is it then that big, well known companies can effectively damage my business with impunity?

[Leosghost]

Why is it then that big, well known companies can effectively damage my business with impunity?

Money ..?

[Rugles]

About once a month I get a sales call from the company that operates that scumware. They want me to buy terms, "real cheap".
I always ask the question "how does the plugin get on the client computer". You should hear the tap dancing on the other end.
Anyways, the last time the sales person said that people really like the software and she uses it at home.

[kevinpate]

> Why is it then that big, well known companies
> can effectively damage my business

It's typically due to the small print ... that nobody ever bothers to reads before they (or their kiddos, or kiddos friends, etc., etc.) click on the I AGREE button and install the 'helpful' additional software that gets bundled free, yes, absolutely free, oh, how nice of them to pass along a freebie huh, with the original item someone thought they wanted.

A daily (or more frequent) use of spyblaster, adaware, spybot S&D, virus scanning and updating of the AV proggie, and such helps keep the baddies away.

[atlrus]

It looks like you signed up with <snip>. That's what they do - spam you this ware that would insert their ads in to the search results, but unfortunatelly, it happens only on your brwoser (and other webmasters, of course) to show you that your ad is running, and it's really a b*tch to get rid of.

If the sponsored results show from something called <snip> - that's the case.

Dont advertise with them - they are not worth a penny.

[edited by: Marcia at 2:16 pm (utc) on June 3, 2004]
[edit reason] No specifics, please. [/edit]

[Sanenet]

atlrus - you're accusing <snip> of deliberate fraud? What proof can you offer of this practice?

but unfortunatelly, it happens only on your brwoser (and other webmasters, of course)..

I'm interested - how do they install the spyware on only your machine and other webmasters?

[edited by: Marcia at 2:17 pm (utc) on June 3, 2004]
[edit reason] Specific reference removed. [/edit]

[billygg]

i had one of those people call me too, wanted me to buy certian keywords for the company i work for. then, he wanted me to download some trial **** on MY machine, i said, um, NO, haha

[Rugles]

>>>>download some trial **** on MY machine

That's exactly the ploy they tried with me. I finally got out of the sales person, that they are the people responsible for the scum that comes with a very popular P2P program that starts with a K.

[atlrus]

Sanenet,

What proof do I have? What are you working for them or something? Why would I lie about something like that?

When you sign up for account with <snip> you get a scum ware on your computer which inserts their sponsored results on top of any search engine (results) you visit! And this is a FACT, not a speculation.

And I am saying it's stupid to advertise with them, because your ad will show only to the people who have opened an account with them, e.a. webmasters, or people who visit their website (that is - none).

Getting rid of that scum ware is very hard, and it took me hours of searching to find a way to do it.

There.

[edited by: Marcia at 4:37 pm (utc) on June 3, 2004]
[edit reason] No naming names allowed, please. [/edit]

[atlrus]

And if you need proof - go ahead and open an account with them, and you will see.

[Marcia]

This is being seen at other search engines, too?

[Bridge]

I would also recommend SpywareBlaster, SpyBot Search & Destroy and HijackThis.

I run and keep these updated once a fortnight and stay clean and fresh.

[atlrus]

Marcia,
Yes, it happend with yahoo and msn, too.

<snip>

Mod note: Please, there is to be no posting of specifics per TOS. Thank you for your cooperation.

[edited by: Marcia at 7:26 pm (utc) on June 3, 2004]