Problem with Internet browser

[MuffinMaddy]

nope

[Sy_Accursed]

So basically you managed to install some form of adware and screwed yourself over.

 

I'd advise completely uninstalling that browser to make sure all tracks of adware plugins are removed.

Then check in programs for anything at that is not a core system program or something you have personally installed and get rid.

Then run a spyware and virus scan of your system.

Then get a fresh install of browser and start again.

 

After this it'd also be advisable to change every password to every service you use as intrusive adware is quite likely to have keylogged you and stolen lots of passwords or just straight up hoovered up data from your system.

[MuffinMaddy]

The problem occurs on both my browsers, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome as well.

[Sy_Accursed]

Then tear both out, a bad adware thats a self sustaining program will hit all browsers.

[MuffinMaddy]

I haven't been using this computer for a fair few months as I've been away.

I came home and it must have been my mum who installed it as she complained of problems using the internet.

I took a look and deleted each 'advert' program from the control panel, but now I'm having trouble opening the internet

and the error message I explained earlier keeps coming up.

 

This error message has affected IE and Chrome but I don't have Mozilla so how do I install another browser without having one to use?

[Arceus]

Well I would say download the browser you want from another computer onto a flash drive, and then put it in the other computer and install it once you are sure everything is clear. Make sure you get the right version and everything for the computer you want to install it onto though :).

[MuffinMaddy]

Well I would say download the browser you want from another computer onto a flash drive, and then put it in the other computer and install it once you are sure everything is clear. Make sure you get the right version and everything for the computer you want to install it onto though :).

 

Problem is close to solved  :)

The Internet browser is back, however, adverts still pop up annoyingly despite having adblocker as an extension.

I've looked for unusual plugins in the developer but found none, and the programs have been deleted from the control panel but they still seem to be causing annoying adverts but at least the Internet is back up.

[Hedgehog]

If you're getting random ad popups, you have adware. No amount of browser uninstalling and reinstalling and [bleep]ing with addons is going to fix that. You have to actually go in with antimalware software and remove it.

[jasignhagj]

Download and run Malwarebytes. It should catch anything. In the mean time I wouldn't use that computer for any important logins, RS included, as you don't know what other malicious programs could be running in the background

[D. V. Devnull]

@MuffinMaddy, one other thing to go check...

 

For Internet Explorer -- Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings

For Mozilla FireFox -- Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Connection Settings

 

...and make sure everything there is unchecked and disabled for Internet Explorer, or simply set to "No Proxy" for Mozilla FireFox, UNLESS you have a special proxy server that you need to use.  That will help put you one more step in the direction of defeating crap that may have tried to redirect your connections.  Hopefully someone else can tell you how to check for that issue in Google Chrome and other browsers, as I don't know how to handle those ones for proxy server issues.

 

Also, get yourself Adblock Plus for Mozilla FireFox and Google Chrome (also for Internet Explorer, provided you have version 8 or higher of that) if you haven't already.  Make sure with that to at least use a high-reputation community subscription in it, such as EasyList, to help block many of the possible threats that could attack through those browsers.  (Or try making filters to block crud yourself... It's honestly up to you.)  It's been my experience that better safe than sorry is the best approach to wandering the internet.

 

~Mr. D. V. "This should at least help make things a little more internet-bulletproof for the future." Devnull

[Arceus]

Expanding on Devnull's comment, here are instructions for how one does it in Chrome:

 

Click the three bars icon in the top right corner -> Settings -> Show Advanced Settings -> Under Network, click 'Change proxy settings...' -> navigate to the 'Connections' tab of 'Internet Properties' that will pop up -> click the button 'LAN settings.' near the bottom right.

[MuffinMaddy]

Hi guys, haven't checked this for a while

 

In short, everything's absolutely fine, thanks for all your help.

I went into safe mode and went onto OS, then deleted the appropriate program files looking at the suspicious names and what was modified most recently that I didn't recognise.

Completely fixed the problem, Internet's running great, got an active antivirus program installed, couldn't be happier. I also uninstalled Chrome and reinstalled it with a version from my USB.

 

What happened was basically my mum must have accidentally installed some kind of malware because I haven't used this computer for months as I've been away at uni

but came back to it riddled with horrible popups and I'm no expert by any stretch.

 

Thank you for all your help, I know I came to the right place  :)

[Arceus]

I'm glad to hear you got it all fixed up! :)