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Subject: Windows IE browser miss-behaving
Posted by: Richard
- Dude [204252420] Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 20:50
I've got a friend who is about to kill his son. Shortly after his son used the home computer his browser (IE) started miss-behaving. My friend isn't the most computer savvy so I'm having a bit of a hard time translating his description of what's happening. Here's my best effort:
When connected to the Internet, his browser now randomly launches new browser windows. It's not porn coming up but at times it will launch lots of new windows, almost so fast that he can't keep up with closing them off.
He has run his Virus Scanner (Norton I believe) which claims there is no problem.
I could use some suggestions on other tools to use to help him diagnose and, hopefully, fix his miss-behaving browser.
Any help out there?
Richard |
| 1 | Perm Dude
ID: 56159258
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 21:06
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It might not be a virus, but spyware. Have your friend do a Windows Update, then run Windows Defender (or, have him download Spybot or another anti-spyware program).
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| 2 | Richard
Dude
ID: 204252420
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 21:29
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Thanks. I'll pass on the info.
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| 3 | WiddleAvi
ID: 251113917
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 21:45
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Richard - Once spyware gets in it's hard to get rid of. A year ago I would have said that with a couple of programs they could get rid of it. Nowdays the spyware has gotten so advanced that I don't think thats the case. Surprisingly one of the better programs I have found to work is the AVG free anti-virus program. Windows Defender together with AVG is probably the best option. If that doesn't fix it you will probably need a computer pro to fix it.
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| 4 | Perm Dude
ID: 56159258
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 22:01
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It might help, after your friend updates the programs, to disconnect from the internet while the scans are going on (if necessary, actually pull the plug).
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| 5 | Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 22:01
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And/or scan in safe mode.
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| 6 | Perm Dude
ID: 56159258
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 22:05
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Or naked. Just to be safe.
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| 7 | Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Mon, Feb 25, 2008, 22:43
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And wearing a condom for extra protection. Not a Trojan. Don't want those to close to the computer.
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| 8 | Richard
Dude
ID: 204252420
Wed, Feb 27, 2008, 10:09
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Problem solved. Windows Defender and a couple of other SpyWare removal programs found nothing.
However, by looking at the Add/Remove Programs list he found a couple of new programs that had been installed. It turns out that a couple of instances of Web Launch had been recently installed. Each one was running and launching different browser windows at different times. Once this was discovered, it was a simple process to uninstall these programs and the problem has been resolved.
Richard
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| 9 | Great One
ID: 19057139
Thu, Feb 28, 2008, 19:15
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Here's something thats been happening to me a ton. Browsing in IE Explorer - specifically in Yahoo sorting stats for free agent players - I click on a header to sort... and it just freezes everything up. I get the arrow w/ the hour glass next to it and nothing happens. In the bottom left where there would be the address thats being loaded it just says "done"
I have to ctrl+alt+delete to get everything to close up so I can start over. This happens at least once each day. Sometimes multiple times when I go back in and try again.
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| 10 | Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Thu, Feb 28, 2008, 19:33
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Spyware removal. Clear temp internet files. Make sure IE is up to to date via windows update.
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| 11 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Feb 29, 2008, 17:15
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[9] Do you have multiple windows open when that happens? You might be running low on memory at the time the browser hangs.
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| 12 | Great One
ID: 4231419
Tue, Apr 01, 2008, 11:42
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Unfortunately this happens mainly at work, so downloading and adjusting things is minimal. I tried clearing cookies and temporary... and I've made it the only window open and things still freeze.
Its primarily trying to navigate Yahoo site... like clicking on "Players" or sorting the stat categories or going to the League homepage. Any navigation on there seems to freeze it up.
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| 14 | Great One
ID: 46215212
Fri, Apr 03, 2009, 16:20
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I'm having this problem again this year. Its weird, it only happens in Yahoo baseball. And not even in Yahoo baseball PLUS.
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| 15 | WiddleAvi
ID: 361157177
Fri, Apr 03, 2009, 16:57
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GO - Try going to Java.com and download the latest version of Java
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