Gooogle Redirects from search results.

[Clyde]

I have just begun my dual boot with Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3
And have installed AVG 8.0 on it.

But I have a problem with clicking on suggested links that google generates.
What happens is, when I click one it redirects me to a page that often has nothing to do with either the search criterea or the link itself. Sometimes, it takes me to the exact page, but has stuff like googlesearch&this&is&what&I&Want before reaching the page.

If I put the address I want into the url bar, no problems with that. and its how I got to here.

Does anyone know how I can resolve this issue?

Many many thanks,
Clyde

[benny!]

Hmm ... that's strange. Did you try another browser ?
And which browser are you using - maybe you have some fancy
toolbar which causes that problem - although I never heard of
it ?

[matthew]

AVG uses some kind of link scanning technology to check whether the web sites you visit are safe or not.

It's probably interfering with the results that Google generates.

I used to use AVG but stopped when I encountered problems downloading files. I now use Avast!

[Clyde]

I've allready installed XP 3 times in 3 days, and dont want to go all through that again.

Apparently it is a virus, but AVG 8.5 doesnt pick it up. And I have no idea how to vanish it.

[nkk_kan]

Tried HijackThis?
Use it to create a log and look for some suspicious files or post it here.. someone might be able to help you out. If it really is a virus, it looks like some sort of malware or spyware. Usually, Antiviri don't detect them.

ps: HijackThis is one of the way to find this out... there may still be virus/*ware even if there is nothing suspicious in it's logs.

[relsoft]

I had that same problem a while back. I think I used the default windows scanner to remove it.  AVG sure didn't detect it but AVAST!, kaspersky, etc, also never detected it.

BTW, I was using Firefox when it happened with an updated noScript plug-in.

Dang, it's hard to type.

[combatking0]

I had a virus which did this in IE7 and FF3.

The only fix was a program called ComboFix. The virus was disabling many of the other tools, like Hijack this and Malwarebytes Anti Malware.

[Clyde]

Cheers dudes I will bare those suggestions in mind.

I had to do the inevitable and reformat and reinstall XP which I dont like as I have to get my key gen unblocked each time.

And I had to search for places to install driver from using Ask.com. Then when the coast was clear, change back to Google.

I wonder if Google actually virus scan / spy ware scan there servers for infections.

[Jim]

I suspect the problem is that you need to get your system patched before or a.s.a.p. after going online.  There are loads of dodgy web sites out there, and even without browsing the web yourself, I once heard that it would only take 15mins online before an unpatched XP machine was located and pwned.

Either that, or it's your keygen that's doing the infection!!!

Jim

[Clyde]

Cheers for the heads up Jim dude, didnt realize a keygen could start an infectection. And just to add, I have a genuine paid XP license.

I have no eye deer what my fingers are upto with spelling certain words these days: ^^infection.

[Jim]

If you have a license why do you need a keygen?

Jim

[Clyde]

My bad, Ive confused you there, all i meant to say was that I dont have a pirated copy and the key is safe / genuine, if that is what causes attacks.

[Jim]

I am confused.  No legit software I know of uses a keygen, they all come with a single key printed on the packet.

Jim

[Shockwave]

Regardless of whether Clyde is using a hookey version of Windows or not I think that his browser is being hijacked and the most sensible step will be to follow the advice of nkk_kan a few posts above.

My own version of Windows is 100% legal and I used to have similar problems, I had a malicious program that was redirecting my browser.

[Jim]

Totally.

[Clyde]

It's legit cost me an arm and a leg, and thanks it is sorted now, and will see what the dude has to say.