Damn Malware

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For the last two weeks I was afflicted with a kind of malware that had the effect of re-directing Google searches to idiot-trash sites. Google wasn't entirely useless as I could at least copy URLs and paste them into an address bar, but easy click-throughs were out. I tried running my Trend Micro Anti-Virus and Super Anti-Spyware softwares -- no help at all. This morning I paid $30 for the latest version of PC Tools Spyware Doctor -- partial success! There are still crap fragments in the system but Google seems to be mostly working again. Just saying.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 5, 2009 at 7:16 AM

comment #1

MDOC says ...

I use CCleaner and Ad aware two free programs that keep things fairly clean. Ever try them?

Posted by MDOC at July 5, 2009 7:52 AM

comment #2

Jason says ...

I've had good results using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to eradicate this shit from my friends' machines. It's free as a removal tool; you only have to pay if you want it to actively defend you from future infestations. I don't need it because I use a Mac. Despite all our exhortations, I now believe you will always be stuck on Windows, even though it's the official operating system of people you despise, e.g. movie talkers, plane seat recliners, stomping pachyderms, et cetera.

Posted by Jason at July 5, 2009 8:57 AM

comment #3

Jeffrey Wells says ...

I'm a Mac person at home -- I bought an iMac three months ago -- but I frankly don't like the inability to right-click and save photos on the Mac system.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at July 5, 2009 9:14 AM

comment #4

R. Hunt says ...

I've been having the same problem. It only seems to effect Google searches and IMDB links (I usually crash when I go to one...) It also only seems to effect Firefox, my search engine of choice, and I've reported it to Mozilla about a dozen times with no response...)

Posted by R. Hunt at July 5, 2009 9:22 AM

comment #5

arturobandini2 says ...

I upgraded to Trend Micro's latest anti-virus/spyware software a week ago, since the version that came bundled on my PC two years ago just expired. On Friday evening they sent out an automatic update that effectively killed my desktop -- everything freezes about 10-20 minutes after rebooting. And the System Restore function doesn't get rid of it. I spent the entire 4th of July in my jammies trying to salvage my hard drive between crashes. Finally got an error message late last night from Trend Micro saying the "bad update" should be fixed soon. Thanks for sabotaging my holiday weekend, motherfuckers.

Looking back, every time I've had to buy a new PC was due to changing anti-virus software, not a virus itself. So as much as I despise Justin Long, my next desktop will be a Mac.

Posted by arturobandini2 at July 5, 2009 9:25 AM

comment #6

larry braverman says ...

You can right click and save on a Mac. If you're not comfortable with the Apple mouse get a third party one with 'real' buttons on the top. Logitech makes good ones.

Posted by larry braverman at July 5, 2009 9:35 AM

comment #7

Jason says ...

Good on you for finally getting a Mac. Now you just need to replace your laptop with a MacBook.

You can right-click to save images on a Mac, but first you have to change your mouse settings in System Preferences » Keyboard and Mouse to activate contextual menus. Otherwise, you can just hold down the control key when clicking to get contextual menus.

Posted by Jason at July 5, 2009 9:48 AM

comment #8

Irving Thalberg says ...

You may be surprised to discover what happens on a Mac when, using a mouse with a right-click button, you right-click on an image in a browser and select "SAVE IMAGE AS."

Posted by Irving Thalberg at July 5, 2009 10:29 AM

comment #9

markj says ...

I had the exact same problem Jeff, I used ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 and it cleared up all the issues nicely.

Posted by markj at July 5, 2009 11:03 AM

comment #10

bryce_david says ...

you don't need to right click on Mac to save photos. You just have to drag & drop the photo. You click on the photo on any web page and hold the mouse down and drag it to the desktop.

Posted by bryce_david at July 5, 2009 12:05 PM

comment #11

hiviper says ...

@markj,

that's right, NOD32 is the shit.

Forget TrendMicro, McAfee, Norton, or anything else that usualy comes pre-installled with your system. You get what you pay for.

As far as pure malware removal, I've had the best luck with Malwarebytes

Posted by hiviper at July 5, 2009 9:38 PM

comment #12

Odaecom says ...

Unfortunately Jeff is it most likely that if you do remove the offending slagware you might render the system un-bootable, (like the laptop I fixed last weekend, after they tried to remove offending software).

Back-up the stuff you want to keep and then format (full not quick) and reinstall Windows. Then install one of the anti-viruses recommended or try http://free.avg.com

Posted by Odaecom at July 6, 2009 12:47 PM

comment #13