Browser Hijack (jumps to sex/gambling pages)

Dave Martin · Jan 2, 2015

My Chrome browser had been displaying weird pages the last few weeks, all on its own.

It just seems to abort its current page and jump to sex and gambling pages. Clearly a browser hack, but where? The only extensions are feedly and google docs.. Home page is fine (google.nl) Plugins all seem to be legit..

What, where or how..?

rgd1101 · Jan 2, 2015

do malware scan.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

SkyBill40 · Jan 2, 2015

Run a malware scanner (I use Spybot search and Destroy) as well as go into the Chrome settings and check your home page again.

sincreator · Jan 2, 2015

Dave Martin :

I'm pretty sure that most browser viruses are coming in through facebook(or other social media) somehow. So be careful what you like and share.

I have cleaned up a few computers recently that were only being used for Facebook, and email. They all had this "conduit" virus on them. Malware bytes took care of them, though I had to also do a rootkit scan on my girlfriends laptop to completely get rid of the "conduit" virus. If you need to do this yourself, go to the settings in malwarebytes and check the box next to rootkit scan. I would not be the least bit surprised if that virus shows up for you after you run malwarebytes.

PS: Same symptoms you have. Browser opening pages/tabs on it's own to places you really don't want to be, lol. Hope you get it all fixed up.

Dave Martin · Jan 2, 2015

Malware Bytes looks good. Lavasoft Adaware didnt find anything, but Malware Bytes has found a few dubious entries.

No rootkit issues. Ill see how it goes, and keep you all posted..

SkyBill40 · Jan 2, 2015

I always use two malware scanners seeing as one may find things the other one doesn't look for or find. Just a thought.

sincreator · Jan 2, 2015

SkyBill40 :

I actually use 4, lol. Malwarebytes, Spybot, MS Security Essentials, and the F-Secure online scanner. Not one of them catches all malware, but used together I get them all, lol.

PS: MS is not set to start up on boot.

Guest · Jan 2, 2015

Try AdwCleaner as well.

Dave Martin · Jan 5, 2015

No good. Malwarebytes found some stuff, but removing it didnt help. Spybot only found a couple of tracking cookies. MS essentials has been running on this system for months and didnt stop it at the infection stage. Dont know whether it would find it with a scan.

Swapped out my old 32bit Chrome for 64bit Chrome, see if that helps..

Guest · Jan 5, 2015

What about AdwCleaner?

Dave Martin · Jan 5, 2015

Phantom, Thats next on the list..

campeon78 · Jan 5, 2015

It happens when you start your browser or when you are browsing?

Dave Martin · Jan 5, 2015

campeon78 :

In the middle of browsing, not a home page issue

campeon78 · Jan 5, 2015

Well i wasn't looking for a nooby start page. Check something pretty easier that makes over an over having malware. Check your browser shortcuts in the desktop, taskbar and program folders. Sometimes they got changed and added string to them. Verify them.

Guest · Jan 7, 2015

Dave Martin :

And...?

Dave Martin · Jan 8, 2015

The jury is still out, following the reinstall.. watch this space..

SkyBill40 · Jan 8, 2015

The only thing left would be to possibly look in your registry and see if something's in there.

Dave Martin · Jan 13, 2015

Seems fixed, but it needed a reinstall. That's actually quite nice about Chrome, all your favourites and cookies can be stored centrally so a browser reinstall is a cinch

Dave Martin · Jan 13, 2015

Seems fixed, but it needed a reinstall. That's actually quite nice about Chrome, all your favourites and cookies can be stored centrally so a browser reinstall is a cinch

WebBeachBoy · Jan 15, 2015

If you still find a problem you need a more powerful scanner. Try this:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Browser Hijack (jumps to sex/gambling pages)

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