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Browser hijackers dangerous and on th...

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: All Things Technical: The Help Desk (ARCHIVES): Browser hijackers dangerous and on the rise users admin

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Archive through June 20, 2004Juju2bigdog25 06-20-04  10:35 pm
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Jan
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, June 25, 2004 - 11:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Experts studying Internet attack

Thursday, June 24, 2004 Posted: 9:50 PM EDT (0150 GMT)
CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Government and industry experts warned late Thursday of a mysterious, large-scale Internet attack against thousands of popular Web sites. The virus-like infection tries to implant hacker software onto the computers of all Web site visitors.

Industry experts and the Homeland Security Department were studying the infection to determine how it spreads across Web sites and find adequate defenses against it.

"Users should be aware that any Web site, even those that may be trusted by the user, may be affected by this activity and thus contain potentially malicious code," the government warned in one Internet alert.

The mysterious infection appeared to target at least one recent version of software by Microsoft Corp. to operate Web sites, called its Internet Information Server, popular among businesses and organizations.

A spokesman for Microsoft declined to comment immediately.

Experts said the attack's effects were unusually broad but weren't substantially interfering with Internet traffic.

"While this is significant, it has no impact on the operation of the Internet," said Marcus Sachs, who helps run the industry's Internet Storm Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Experts urgently recommended consumers and corporate employees to update the antivirus software on their computers, since the latest versions can immunize visitors to infected Web sites.

The infected Web sites attempt to implant on visitors' computers hacker software that allows others to use their computers to surreptitiously route Internet spam e-mails.

CNN

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Monday, July 26, 2004 - 7:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've had spybot catch browser hijackers but the one that was really browning me off was MSN hijacking my choice of NO default site. I've had Seti@home group page up there for a few days so far with no hijack and yes I've downd windows, I think..

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 11:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just got around to reading the article at the top ~ Thanks for sharing it, Jan!

Last month I had everything emptied off of my computer to deal with this problem. I also had them install an anti-virus program and the only thing that kept popping up for me on it was Adaware. It was really bugging me because I couldn't get rid of it ~ but thanks to you folks, now I know what it is!

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 10:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay ~ Everything has been great on my computer until this past week. Things are fine until I try to access my e-mail. When I do that, it instantly closes and an "about:blank" page comes up instead along with a pop-up telling me I have a virus and I should click on their link for software to get rid of it. The top of the page appears like it's coming from my internet provider but I doubt it is. What gets me is that obviously the people who are trying to sell me their software on the pop-up are the same ones who most likely hijacked my browser to begin with.

I've tried to change my browser page default but it goes right back to about:blank. I've tried Adaware and I've downloaded and used Spybod S&D. Spybot found more problems and says it has 'fixed the problem' but alas the problem is still there.

Any other suggestions on what else I can do? Thanks, guys! I can access the internet just fine. I just can't open and read e-mail.

Just ran Spybots again and DSO exploits with 5 entries is one that comes up everytime. Does this mean that Spybots isn't really getting rid of it?

Starshine40
Member

07-30-2002

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 12:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kappy,
I recently had a problem with my email, I could receive but not send any. I had to uninstall then reinstall my ISP (Earthlink) software which fixed the problem. I use Outlook Express and it kept my current mail in my box.

I agree that the folks trying to sell you the software are likely the one who caused the problem in the first place, so I certainly wouldn't click on ANY of their links.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 5:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kappy, read this from Draheid for more information on DSO Exploits. I had the same problem awhile ago.



Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 8:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Starshine and Vee.

Star ~ I was figuring last night I may just have to uninstall and reinstall my ISP.

Vee ~ thanks for the link!

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 9:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay ~ Nothing is getting rid of this "about:blank" crap. Not Adaware 6, not Spybot S&D.

When I go into 'internet options' and attempt to change my browser default back to it's normal page, it simply comes right back up to "about:blank".

I contacted my ISP to let them know that it seems to mainly be blocking me from getting my e-mail. I love it because they keep replying by e-mail when I've explained I can't get into my e-mail. When I call by phone, they insist all problems are at my end although one person admitted that I wasn't the only one calling in with the exact same problem.

I removed my ISP from my computer and reloaded the program - after again running the two above programs and restarting the computer. And yet "about:blank" still seems to be controlling everything.

Any other suggestions anyone? Thanks in advance.

Retired
Member

07-11-2001

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 11:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kappy - Just read this in Kim Komando's weekly newsletter. Maybe it will help.

In other cases, you may not find an immediate solution to a problem.
A good example is About:blank, a pest that recently has driven
people crazy.

It took me several weeks of research to find a solution: About:Buster,
at http://www.malwarebytes.biz/index.php. But this is typical for
relatively new problems. As they spread, they get more attention.
Eventually, someone finds a good way to kill them.

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 6:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Retired, for the link! Here's crossing my fingers . . . .

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 9:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Nope, about buster isn't doing it. Boy this is a nasty one! Here's hoping to the rest of you being immune to it! I'll just hope for some good updates in the days to come.

I'm thankful I don't use this e-mail for any kind of business or I would be up a creek but dang - I'd like to read my e-mail!

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Monday, August 09, 2004 - 9:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kappy: The most frequent suggestion to get rid of the 'about:blank' problem is a program called 'CWShredder' which you should be able to download from Download.com: CWShredder

I am not familiar with this program but I have seen many suggestions that this can do the job of fixing this problem.

Hope this helps.

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 11:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Draheid ~ At this point, I'm willing to download every program available. I do appreciate everyone's suggestions and the links!

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well I finally got rid of the "about:blank" browser hijacker but not because of any software or download. None of them did the trick and I had downloaded every thing out there as well buying and installing SpySweeper on top of what I already owned (Symnatec).

I googled 'about:blank' and just kept opening up links until I got to one message board (Security Forums). Most suggestions were very long and complicated and still didn't work.

However one person had a suggestion that had worked for him and it was the only thing that ended up working on my computer. Instead of trying to get rid of it with programs, when the "about:blank" search page pops up, you plug any word you want into the search box. When the next page pops up, you select one and then click on "uninstall". You should then be able to go back and reset your browser and have it remain at your selected default.

My computer did start acting funny later and was running slow but then I realized how many programs I had downloaded or installed and realized they could be effecting each other. I took off all downloaded software with the exception of two (to maintain vigilance) and now my computer seems back to normal.

But again, I am knocking on wood just in case. It's just so nice to be able to read my e-mail again!