I've seen this page before... as a redirect when I've tried old, now
unregistered domains. And it did pop up ads too if I remember correctly.
Everyone here is saying that it's based on virus/spyware, but the solutions
haven't worked... Which leads me to think that the file that is called when
"about:blank" is entered has been modified.
That's right! about:blank calls a file on your computer... I remember
resetting this element in class before... but I forgot where it's located. I
think it's an internal routing protocol. Or proxy setting. I remember it being
hard to find before. I think it's being re-routed internally by your
computer.
Try Firefox. SHouldn't matter much if your system is compromised or not. Open
your FILE Explorer (short cut: <Windows Key> + "e">). THen
in location type in a URL, not a hard drive location. http://www.mozilla.org/
That may bypass the missettings in I.E.
Then try to use the "about:blank" in Firefox to see if it is being
rerouted.
It's been a while... so I'll have to review my notes.
Oh and try AVG anti-virus. they offer a Free home version for people, and it's
virus definitions are updated regularly.
First of all, save any psd files of wallpapers you want to keep (unless you
already have backup). Then, you reformat everything. Your com HD should look
brand spanking new like when you first got it. No viruses etc. Then you install
whenever you want back on it. Maybe first install firefox and then install any
internet programs.
This will get rid of it but it takes a lot of work. I dunno, it's up to you.
Quote by melmachine18First, stop
using Internet Explorer and begin to use Firefox. Secondly,
make sure that Spybot, Ad-aware, and SpywareBlaster, which is a program that
prevents spyware and
other viruses from entering your system by blocking the spyware-defined
websites, are installed (all three can be found on the internet and are
free to download). After that, make sure that you have a firewall
installed, and update your virus definitions with the three prorams as
often as possible so the more recently defined viruses can be searched
on the system and, if there are any on the system, removed
quickly.
Try setting your homepage to smth else not about:blank :/
Also, I don't know if this helps againts this spyware, but in general you should
set these options in IE:
You need to delete all the system restore points also. Or else everything is
fultile. To be more secure, please run the programes in windows safe-mode and
plug out your internet connection. Spybot S&D and Ad-aware (my fav) are
powerful spyware removal. After you have cleaned up the sypware, time to set up
your defensive system: Spybot S&D has tea-timer and ie shield,
SpywareBlaster and SpyGuard will block the spy/adware before they are downloaded
to ur comp. Last but not least, keep them uptodate or it will become
useless.
First thank you very much for your help. I tried severall programs and ran the
scanning for spies. As the other programs already did, the new ones I installed
deleted other spies, however the main problem is still there.
It doesn't help if I change the homepage. It'll change to the search-page again.
Reformating my PC is probably what I need to do. I've done this in the past
several times and I hated it. I don't have all programs anymore and so it'd be
horrible to live without them xD
Now I'm using Firefox, but it doesn't work with every page so I have to use IE
sometimes. It's okay to me, the ads I get every hour aren't that annoying so
I'll survive it xD
Thanks anyway for your support and help. I'll try all of these programs again,
once I've found the problem.
Quote: It doesn't help if I change
the homepage. It'll change to the search-page again
it seems some dll file has been modified, it is going to be hard to
troubleshoot, but i would say update spyware definitions and boot to safe mode
to scan, i am a pc consultant parttime, i have seen problems such as this, also
if you are good enough, you could open up the registry editor to see if theres
traces running. then Run>CMD>NETSTAT to find out the list of the processes
running on your computer. I know it might be over your head now, but trust me,
you will be okay
Quote by amtcubusEasy case : Search your
windows main directory for the hosts file.
Some Adware/Spyware tool added a line there.
to do that, go search for hosts as part of the file name, open up the file with
notepad(it is usually in c:\windows\system32\drivers...), make sure you see
127.0.0.1 local host there, anything else with 127.0.0.1 there should be
deleted, make sure you cant scroll up and down anymore
Not sure if you've gotten rid of the virus yet, but the trial software of
Kaspersky is amazing. It gives you full functionality for 30 days, plenty for
you to get rid of that virus.
I've seen this page before... as a redirect when I've tried old, now unregistered domains. And it did pop up ads too if I remember correctly. Everyone here is saying that it's based on virus/spyware, but the solutions haven't worked... Which leads me to think that the file that is called when "about:blank" is entered has been modified.
That's right! about:blank calls a file on your computer... I remember resetting this element in class before... but I forgot where it's located. I think it's an internal routing protocol. Or proxy setting. I remember it being hard to find before. I think it's being re-routed internally by your computer.
Try Firefox. SHouldn't matter much if your system is compromised or not. Open your FILE Explorer (short cut: <Windows Key> + "e">). THen in location type in a URL, not a hard drive location.
http://www.mozilla.org/
That may bypass the missettings in I.E.
Then try to use the "about:blank" in Firefox to see if it is being rerouted.
It's been a while... so I'll have to review my notes.
Oh and try AVG anti-virus. they offer a Free home version for people, and it's virus definitions are updated regularly.
Okay. I hope you know how to reformat a computer.
First of all, save any psd files of wallpapers you want to keep (unless you already have backup). Then, you reformat everything. Your com HD should look brand spanking new like when you first got it. No viruses etc. Then you install whenever you want back on it. Maybe first install firefox and then install any internet programs.
This will get rid of it but it takes a lot of work. I dunno, it's up to you.
I second this advice.
Spybot spyware scanner
Ad-Aware adware scanner
SpywareBlaster
Antivir antivirus
ZoneAlarm firewall
Firefox browser
Try setting your homepage to smth else not about:blank :/
Also, I don't know if this helps againts this spyware, but in general you should set these options in IE:
You need to delete all the system restore points also. Or else everything is fultile. To be more secure, please run the programes in windows safe-mode and plug out your internet connection. Spybot S&D and Ad-aware (my fav) are powerful spyware removal. After you have cleaned up the sypware, time to set up your defensive system: Spybot S&D has tea-timer and ie shield, SpywareBlaster and SpyGuard will block the spy/adware before they are downloaded to ur comp. Last but not least, keep them uptodate or it will become useless.
Regards,
First thank you very much for your help. I tried severall programs and ran the scanning for spies. As the other programs already did, the new ones I installed deleted other spies, however the main problem is still there.
It doesn't help if I change the homepage. It'll change to the search-page again.
Reformating my PC is probably what I need to do. I've done this in the past several times and I hated it. I don't have all programs anymore and so it'd be horrible to live without them xD
Now I'm using Firefox, but it doesn't work with every page so I have to use IE sometimes. It's okay to me, the ads I get every hour aren't that annoying so I'll survive it xD
Thanks anyway for your support and help. I'll try all of these programs again, once I've found the problem.
Easy case : Search your windows main directory for the hosts file.
Some Adware/Spyware tool added a line there.
it seems some dll file has been modified, it is going to be hard to troubleshoot, but i would say update spyware definitions and boot to safe mode to scan, i am a pc consultant parttime, i have seen problems such as this, also if you are good enough, you could open up the registry editor to see if theres traces running. then Run>CMD>NETSTAT to find out the list of the processes running on your computer. I know it might be over your head now, but trust me, you will be okay
to do that, go search for hosts as part of the file name, open up the file with notepad(it is usually in c:\windows\system32\drivers...), make sure you see 127.0.0.1 local host there, anything else with 127.0.0.1 there should be deleted, make sure you cant scroll up and down anymore
i hope it helps
that might do the trick...
Use Spyware S&D, symetech anti-virus, get a really good firewall, delete IE, use Firefox
Not sure if you've gotten rid of the virus yet, but the trial software of Kaspersky is amazing. It gives you full functionality for 30 days, plenty for you to get rid of that virus.
http://www.kaspersky.com/store?kaspersky
there's a link to the site. Just run a virus scan and delete any infected files the program points out.
Ditch IE and get Firefox or Mozilla (get firefox first :P)
http://www.getfirefox.com
ive had more troubles with IE than anything else plus countless pop-ups