the problem is that my search engine keeps redirecting me to some other sites when i click on one of the results and also my laptop seems slower than usual when loading things.
this happened after i tried to play a video but apparently a codec was missing so i clicked on the link provided from the error message to download the codec. i downloaded the codec but it appears to be fake. the name of the codec program is 'videosoft'.
after that i have run scans with spybot and ad-aware but no errors came up. i ran a virus scan with AVG 8.0 and Trojan horse Downloader.Zlob came up. i moved it into the virus vault and then deleted it. however my search engine still redirects me to unrelated sites when i click on one of the results.
i have just downloaded the latest AVG anti-virus program and installed it. it works apart from the update manager.
i appreciate your help
DO NOT use any TOOLS such as Combofix, Vundofix, or HijackThis fixes without supervision.
Doing so could make your pc inoperatible and could require a full reinstall of your OS, losing all your programs and data.
Stay with this topic until I give you the all clean post.
You might want to print these instructions out.
I suggest you do this:
Double-click My Computer.
Click the Tools menu, and then click Folder Options.
Click the View tab. Uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file types."
Under the "Hidden files" folder, select "Show hidden files and folders." Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files."
Click Apply, and then click OK.
Please do not delete anything unless instructed to.
Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune. Download - ATF Cleaner»
Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
(If you use FireFox or the Opera browser
To keep saved passwords, click No at the prompt.)
It's normal after running ATF cleaner that the PC will be slower to boot the first time or two.
Next:
Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location and post the results.
Note: If you receive a notice that some of the items couldn't be removed, that they have been added to the delete on reboot list, please reboot.
Also "copy/paste" a new HijackThis log file into this thread.
Also please describe how your computer behaves at the moment.
hello LDTate
thank you for taking some of your time and offering me help
i have downloaded Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware just a day or two ago but i could not update the definition files. i think this has got to do with the trojan. i have also tried updating my anti-virus software and other anti spyware software but again it couldnt update.
would've it been possible to update them if i went into 'Safe Mode with Networking' ?
i then downloaded SuperAntiSpyware through a recommendation and i think this has got rid of the trojan. my laptop now runs fine like it used to and the search engine no longer redirects me. i can now update all anti virus/spyware definitions.
after that i updated all my defintions and ran a virus scan. it came up with 23 warnings of a Tracking Cookie. i got rid of the tracking cookies by moving them into the virus vault and i also deleted all cookies from my web browser Mozilla Firefox.
i done some more scans and the tracking cookie hasnt come up again.
would you still like me to post the logs?
and thank you for your help
