Links redirected & pages opening redomly
I've been having two problems for about two weeks. One, which I've seen others posting about, is clicking on a Search link (such as from Google or Yahoo) and going to a completely different site. I've downloaded the Add-On "Redirect Remover 2.6.4" and have no luck, other than my cursor warning me that the link will redirect AFTER I've been redirected and backspace to the Search again.
The other problem I've been having is that new tabs will randomly open in my Firefox. I'll be reading something on a legitimate website (such as ESPN) and then completely randomly (maybe every 10 minutes or so), a new tab opens up and my browser switches to it automatically and I find myself on some new website, telling me I've won something, asking me to take a survey, etc. I've gone into Tools/Options/Advanced and clicked the button to warn me whenever a site is trying to redirect or reload a page, but this gives me no warning.
I've also tried running the latest (4244, 6/26/10) version of Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware, and still have the same problem.
I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling Firefox, but to no avail.
If this is some kind of virus, I can't be the only one.
Operating system
Windows XP
Wšykne wótegrona (2)
Try scanning with a few other malware scanners. Your problem sounds like some kind of malware. -NOT ALL SCANNERS FIND THE SAME MALWARE. -Never keep more than one malware scanner in an active state at one time. -You may need to scan in Windows Safe Mode
Scan for Malware Install, update and run these programs in this order. They are all free for personal use, but some have limited functionality in the "free mode", but those are features you really don't need to find and remove the problem that you have. (Not all programs detect the same Malware.)
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php SuperAntispyware - http://www.superantispyware.com/ AdAware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ Spybot Search & Destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html Windows Defender - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx Dr. Web Cureit - http://www.freedrweb.com/cureit/
If these don't find it or can't clear it, post in one of these forums for specialized malware removal help: http://bleepingcomputer.com http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/ http://www.spywarewarrior.com/index.php http://forum.aumha.org/
If all browsers are affected, in internet connection>properties, I found a Network Monitor Driver which, when I turned it off, solved the misdirection problem.