When I type in some URLs such as google.com or yahoo.com, instead of getting the real website, I appear to be redirected to some other site ending in .ru. But the site I typed in still stays displayed in the address line. Is this a virus or someone trying to take over my computer? How do I clean this up? It isn't someone, but something that's trying to take over your browser, yes. This is a fairly classic case of a browser hijacking. More commonly referred to as spyware. It's fairly straightforward, actually. Somehow, somewhere, software was downloaded onto your computer, and somehow inserted itself into your browser. Now, when you try to go one place, this software sends you somewhere else. "Install a scanner and run an up-to-date anti-spyware
scan."
It's also fairly classic that the destination it sends you to ends in ".ru". That's a domain based in Russia, where some significant percentage of spyware originates. Fixing it should be fairly easy. Install a scanner and run an up-to-date anti-spyware scan. Personally I recommend Microsoft Anti-Spyware, however there are several good anti-spyware packages out there. One important feature to look for is real-time checking ... so that the next time some software attempts to install itself, the tool will prevent it. And while you're at it, make sure you're running a good anti-virus scanner as well. Related:
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That's incorrect. hosts is used by the operating system, and affects all programs accessing the internet. It actually dates back to Unix (or possibly earlier). Posted by: Leo Notenboom at October 7, 2006 08:08 PMHi Leo I am also being redirected on every first and second occasion I enter a search into google and click on the intended results. On the third occasion it will take me into the intended sites. I also now have a home page of http://assureprotection.com/ which I cannot remove along with a protection bar I did not have previously. Any help with this would be great. Regards Stuart Posted by: Stuart Rennie at January 19, 2007 08:15 AMI am also having the exact same problem as Stuart. I ran adaware and it did not fix the problem. any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike Posted by: Mike at January 20, 2007 07:15 AMI am also having the same problem with being redirected the 1st and 2nd but on the 3rd attempt it goes to the right spot and i have ran a couple of different sprware programs Posted by: k5steve87 at January 29, 2007 08:28 PMI also have the same exact problem as K5steve87 being redirected 1st and 2nd time but working correctly when clicking on a Google search result. I have updated windows defender and ran it to no avail. I am running the most current Norton’s Antivirus with the latest definitions. It still doesn’t catch the culprit i am also having the same problem on my xp. on the third try it works. but the first and 2nd doe's not work. how do fix it? and i tried fixing by editing the host file. I am also having the exact same problem as Stuart. I ran adaware and it did not fix the problem. any suggestions would be appreciated. Posted by: Dana at January 3, 2008 04:22 PMI also have the same problem. I have used adaware and Spybot S&D along with Windows Defender and nothing. I think it was a popup with a fake "close" button that did it. If you figure it out, it's appreciated i am having a similar problem to stuart above, hi leo can i redirect someone web site to my website, only in my computer? tnx shachar Posted by: shachar at August 5, 2008 06:24 AMPost a comment on "Why is my browser being redirected?":
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