Browser and google problems - on new computer and old one

[Carmie]

A few months ago, my desktop PC developed a problem. Using IE, like I always had done, I would go to different websites, click on links, and an error 404 message from google would come up.
Also, when I went to google, searched, and then clciked on one of the search items, it would take me back to the google home page!
So I downloaded Firefox and Netscape, and these had the same problems. The only browser I can use with no difficulty is Opera!

I thought nothing else of it until i got a brand new laptop last week. And withing 5 days the same thing was occuring. PLease help me, I really want to get this sorted out - its annoying now! I cant do anything!

[Stefan]

an error 404 message from google would come up

It was definitely a Google server 404? That's odd. The entire account is odd, of course.

I thought nothing else of it until i got a brand new laptop last week. And withing 5 days the same thing was occuring.

Did you move things from the desktop to the laptop?

Have you tried running Spybot Search and Destroy on both machines to see what that finds? One would think that Firefox would be somewhat immune to any spyware you picked up, and you had the same problem with that, so I don't know. Try Spybot, though.

[MatthewHSE]

I don't know much about spyware, but it seems possible that some IE exploit would allow alteration of your HOSTS file or registry entries or something that would affect all DNS lookups regardless of browser. Maybe someone else could verify whether or not that's a plausible explanation.

Just to get this straight, the laptop worked fine for five days, then started exhibiting this bizarre behavior? Do you know for sure it worked right at first? If so, what were some of the last things you did on the laptop before it started to go haywire?

In any case, spyware seems the most logical conclusion. Try running Spybot S&D and AdAware and see what they come up with.

Oh, and Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

[icpooreman]

Sounds like spyware to me. If this started happening after 5 days on your new cpu you prob downloaded a program that contained the spyware something you also prob downloaded on your old computer.

As for getting rid of it, spybot S&D and Adaware is a good start. If that doesn't work download the trial version of spysweeper(I reccomend it) and run that there's a program called spyblaster that helps keep spyware from being put on your cpu which is helpful if this is a common trend for you. If that doesn't work there's nothing like some good antivirus software.

And if that doesn't work get someone who knows what they're doing to go through program files and the registry but DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING cause you could mess your cpu up.