Are you being RE-DIRECTED too?

[Unkl Ian]

I have been getting those redirects for a few weeks now, I think that my adware came from the "gumtree" buying/selling site. I just followed the instructions on this site- http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-adware-popup-ads/ and so far no more redirects! I downloaded the first malware tool offered halfway down the page and ran it, took about 3 mins to download the tool, and 5 mins to find the infection. I'll let you know how it goes!

My best guess:

You have to install and run everything on that page:
AdwCleaner, Junkware Removal Tool utility , Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, HitmanPro.

Ideally, you would install all of these, then restart in Safe Mode,
and run them one at at time. You can't remove a program while it is running,
and some stuff installs it's self in the Start Up routine, so it "always" runs.
Starting in Safe Mode, gets around that problem. When finished, restart in regular mode.
======
I regularly run:
CCleaner
Superantispyware
Malwarebytes
Spybot
and use Avast antivirus.
Also helpful: Kaspersky TDSS killer, Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
All are free, and work well.

Not too sure on Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit.
It got turned off somehow, and the machine runs better.
Might be a coincidence, should try it again.

[Unkl Ian]

AdwCleaner, Junkware Removal Tool utility , Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, HitmanPro.

Ideally, you would install all of these, then restart in Safe Mode,
and run them one at at time. You can't remove a program while it is running,
and some stuff installs it's self in the Start Up routine, so it "always" runs.
Starting in Safe Mode, gets around that problem. When finished, restart in regular mode.
======
I regularly run:
CCleaner
Superantispyware
Malwarebytes
Spybot
and use Avast antivirus.
Also helpful: Kaspersky TDSS killer, Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
All are free, and work well.

Run all this stuff AND your Anti-Virus in Safe Mode.
Whatever they find, get rid of it.
Then schedule a Boot Scan, using your Anti-Virus, and restart.

The Boot Scan recently found some stuff on mine, hiding in the Restore files.

[BCjohnny]

RE: Micro$oft Security Essentials? I've never seen it stop any malware from getting in, but it will "find" it once Malwarebytes identifies it for removal during a scan and it will try to remove it then?? So my question has always been, why the hell didn't MSE find the malware when it got installed in the first place??

I've used MSE for about five years now and had zero problems, so can only speak as I find. But then there's a lot of sites I don't visit......

RE: Micro$oft Malicious software removal tool?? If you're running Windows XP I'd stay away from ANY updates that Micro$oft offers including this one that they're STILL putting out each month after they said they were going to discontinue ALL updates back last April?? They're trying to move everyone away from XP and I'm of the opinion that they'll load up your system's RAM memory over time slowing it down to a point where you'll just say "the hell with it" and buy a new computer.

The MSRT works well for me, and my habits. I don't use XP. The two older computers that ran it are on 12.04 (it's so decrepit it won't take the later OSs) and 14.04.

And finally, if you just switch over to Ubuntu or Linux Mint then you won't have to worry about most all the crap out there!

I have (on the older XP machines) and I don't.

[BCjohnny]

If I knew a little more about computers, or a lot, I would switch to Ubuntu or similar.

Ubuntu is not that hard to learn!! The ideal way to introduce yourself to it is by using a second computer to experiment with........... Ennywho, get yourself an old computer and have at it! You won't regret it!

Seconded.

I'd class myself as just computer literate enough to get around without coming to a dead stop too often, and no more...... lol. Ubuntu has actually taught me more, having to get slightly more involved than using an MS OS. With the looming XP issue a couple of years back, I stuck 12.04 on an old laptop. I then inherited an old but usable PC beginning of this year, which had become glacial (XP). Cleaned all the crap out of it, dumped the OS, doubled the RAM for pennies (2gb) and it now runs 14.04. In many ways it's faster and more usable than my 'main' computer that runs 7.

[Unkl Ian]

Will Ubuntu run PC programs like Photoshop ?

[Unkl Ian]

Some have gotten stuff like that to run in "Wine" under Linux but not without some problems. I tried to run a Windows based game on mine in Wine but finally gave up.

There are several photo editing packages that are available for Linux for FREE. I use Gimp but be advised that there is a learning curve as Gimp is NOT Photoshop and neither are the other Linux photo editing tools. Sort of like the same thing only different. And that's true of other Linux software also. MS Office? Libre Office or Open Office are available for Linux. There's also ABI Word if you just need a word processor. If there's a software application that you use for Windows and you want to know if there's something in Linux that will do the same thing, then http://startpage.com is your friend, ie, do a search and find out.

As long as I could surf, use Open Office, and upload pics
from my camera, that would cover 99.9% of my needs.

I'm hoping that turning of automatic updates from Microsoft
will extend the useful life of this machine.

[Unkl Ian]

I'm still getting the odd redirect, and if I let the redirect load
the page it goes to the "ASK" search page...hmmmm.

You still have some malware.
Go to your favorite search engine, type in ASK REDIRECT REMOVAL.

Ideally, restart your computer in Safe mode,
then run the necessary software.
Delete everything it finds.

[Unkl Ian]

Running XP, I had automatic updates set to "Ask before downloading",
recently switched to "Do Not check for updates".
Their last "976K Security update" added several new things to the start up routine.
More crap that will slow it down. Screw 'em.

Found a list of Microsoft "updates" and the date installed.
The most recent "976K" update sounded harmless, so I approved it.
Turns out it was actually 12 different updates.
Never again.

[Dave Koehler]

ASK is legit and is usually easy to remove. It comes packaged with free software and you just missed the opt out during installation. Read those screens.
Get this and used advanced uninstaller to get rid of unwanted programs with prejudice. It's free but the paid version is worth having.
http://www.revouninstaller.com/index.html

As far as MS updates, the updates won't kill the machine. Some may even help.
just keep up with them when they are announced and it's not a big time deal.

As mentioned Malwarebytes. super antivirus are good.

Oh, and you usually have to go into your browsers options and change the default opening page to something other than ASK.

[Dave Koehler]

RE: Micro$oft Security Essentials? I've never seen it stop any malware from getting in, but it will "find" it once Malwarebytes identifies it for removal during a scan and it will try to remove it then?? So my question has always been, why the hell didn't MSE find the malware when it got installed in the first place??

I have seen it catch stuff. I don't see the issue.
MS no longer supports MSE on XP. I have one machine left with XP so I use the paid version of Malwarebytes on it. No problems.

Ian, You might run a little program from MS that can tell you if your XP machine can run Win7. I have one that I upgraded and it runs a whole lot better than it did on XP ...and I liked XP.

[BCjohnny]

As said you can try to run 'Wine' to act as a catalyst to run MS programmes, but there can be glitches. There' also PlayOnLinux. Also using MS programmes on Ubuntu is a little self defeating as the system then becomes vulnerable to the associated MS viruses, although AIUI it's limited to that specific part you use, not the entire OS, but worth bearing in mind. Any Q's check out Ask Ubuntu, even I can follow most stuff, lol.

As long as I could surf, use Open Office, and upload pics
from my camera, that would cover 99.9% of my needs.

Ubuntu would be fine for that, mostly what I use it for, but IMO try it on an old computer first.

I can see alternative OSs only becoming more popular as time goes on.........

[The Radius Kid]

Use CCleaner to clean up all the internet garbage.
Check your installed programs list and get rid of the ones that don't belong there.
Run CCleaner registry cleaner.
Go from there.

[Dave Koehler]

Interesting, I will give that a try.

[Unkl Ian]

Right now, I have 30 processes running.

Found some more Microsoft update garbage and deleted it.
Down to 22 processes running right now.

[Unkl Ian]

Surfing speed is about the same, but it doesn't
grind to a halt for "no reason" the way it used to.

Frequently checking for updates is my guess for what was happening.

Probably should have kept a list f the stuff i turned off.