Removing Search Redirect Malware

[Capt Caveman]

Hi All,

My brother must have installed some malware or something on his pc. From any browser, after performing a search(from any search provider) 1 out 3 times, clicking on a link gets redirected to one of a dozen sites - aptfinder.com, gimmeanswers.com, etc...

I have run anti-malware, virus, spybot & destroy software and haven't found anything but some tracking cookies. I have also removed all of the current search providers and reinstalled new ones.

Outside of performing a clean install, is there anything else I can do to remove this redirect malware?

Thanks

 

[daniel49]

try this help link that is stickied in the Security forum.

http://www.elitekiller.com/malware.htm

 

[RebateMonger]

Check for a Web Proxy Server being run inside of Windows. In Internet Explorer, go to /Tools/Internet Options/Connections/Local Area Network (LAN) Settings. If you see the "Proxy Server" box checked, then unchecking it will stop the effect. Until you reboot the PC.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Thanks for the advice guys! I was able to fix the problem. After downloading and running several other programs with zero results. daniel49 gave me the idea to check the Security forum.

I found this thread - How to fix the damned google redirector virus !!!!

I downloaded TDSSKiller and it found the AVD(I think that's what it was called) rootkit and removed it. Now, everything is working back to normal.

A few things I forgot to mention in my OP was that Windows Update would come up with a connection not found screen, so I couldn't run it an update Windows. Also, under audio settings, no hardware would be found even though the audio hardware was showing under Device Manager. Now, both of those issues have been resolved too.

Surprised that none of the other software out there was able to detect it. Makes me a little worried that something else might be still on his pc.