computer savvy peeps please help!! (virus?) redirecting search engine results

So 2 days ago My computer started to redirect all search engine results to these crazy advertising pages instead of the site the hyperlink is connected to...I googled this problem and had to do some fancy foot work to view the results..I found some old forum posts about this with no real definitive fix..my question....does anyone out there have any experience with fixing this? is it something i can do at home? or do I have to run the restore??

I find it very suspect that the day this happened I had downloaded itunes 10 and backed up all my pics and docs to a seagate external hard drive...If anyone has any info I would greatly appreciate it..thanks so much in advance..

Re: computer savvy peeps please help!! (virus?) redirecting search engine results

I've had this problem before, I think one of my teenagers download something. The absolute best thing was malwarebytes. It got rid of everything.

I also went into the program files folder through the c drive and deleted a bunch of things. If it's something you know shouldn't be there but it won't allow you to delete it you should be able to right-click on the item and adjust the properties to be able to delete it.

Also, do a start> run >msconfig and turn off any "start up" programs you don't need. Then restart your computer. That should allow to to work for a while without the virus starting up.

HTH

Re: computer savvy peeps please help!! (virus?) redirecting search engine results

I'd definitely start with Malwarebytes. If the install program doesn't work, there's an alternative download file you can use. Sometimes viruses will also disable antivirus programs.

I caution you against deleting folders or files, unless you're prepared to reinstall your operating system and programs if it won't boot afterwards. Installed programs are not just on your C drive, they're also in your registry. If you delete the wrong files, you will start getting error messages that files are missing.

If that doesn't help, go here and follow all the directions, step by step: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

It's long, it's tedious, you will want to skip ahead or stop, but don't. I had a virus like yours and the usual procedures didn't help. This list was the only thing that fixed it for good.

Good luck

Message edited 11/12/2010 7:27:37 AM.

Re: computer savvy peeps please help!! (virus?) redirecting search engine results

Thank you guys so much!! I am going to try your suggestions