Google Hijack Virus

[Anapan]

I've dealt with these before. It's not one specific virus so I can't guarantee this to work.
Use some other computer to download Combofix from here (scroll down until you see BleepingComputer.com highlighted and underlined in blue):
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofi ... e-combofix
rename combofix.exe to some other filename (keep the .exe) ex. 12345.exe - this ensures you will be able to run it once you get it on your computer.
Copy it to a thumb drive or cd/dvd and then copy it onto your computer's desktop.
Run it from the desktop. Wait a few minutes (your computer may reboot).
once you see notepad pop up with a big report, it should be fixed. You can paste the contents here if you want me to see if there's any bit of the virus left.

[YoshiEgg25]

Best way to remove viruses, as I have learned from being in tech support:

1. Download CCleaner and free version of Malwarebytes to a jump drive.

2. Boot computer in safe mode.

3. Open your browser(s) and remove all temporary internet files.

4. Run CCleaner.

5. Run Malwarebytes. (This can take a long time.)

The virus(es) should now be gone!

[3GenGames]

I'd get CCleaner just to keep my PC's storage low, not remove viruses! But yes, that sounds good to me!

[YoshiEgg25]

I'd get CCleaner just to keep my PC's storage low, not remove viruses! But yes, that sounds good to me!

Basically it's used to get all the junk off the computer, else Malwarebytes goes through each file individually, and it takes forever. That's also why you delete your temporary internet files, as it makes Malwarebytes run faster.

[lisalover1]

What's a computer virus? That's like when your computer catches cold amirite?

/smug mac user

Double smug G3 0S9/OSX user.
On wife's PC defense, easier to use burner.

Infinitely-smug Linux user.

What's the difference between a Mac and an Etch-A-Sketch? You don't have to shake a Mac to clear the screen.

[thelolotov]

Personally, if I get a virus, I just nuke the hard drive, I don't like to take chances.

[Gamerforlife]

Personally, if I get a virus, I just nuke the hard drive, I don't like to take chances.

Honestly, I've never found anything to be guaranteed for getting rid of viruses. None of the various programs out there, none of the forums(like majorgeeks or bleepingcomputer), nothing

Frankly, hackers are smarter than the people trying to stop them. I had a virus recently on a laptop. A rootkit type trojan. I reformatted the hard drive. Problem solved. I don't keep enough stuff on my hard drive for me to care, so reformatting is an easy solution

[3GenGames]

You could always make a IDE/Sata hookup to talk to the drive and erase it....but from GROUND 0. Zero the boot track, data, backup sectors, etc. And do it 3 or so times to make sure the data is GONE. That'd work....


I bet someone already makes them...but whatever.

And I don't know, they're programers (sort of), but they're insane. (Why would you want to try to ruin somebody's data that doesn't pertain to you?) I've never met a Insane programmer....and I doubt any are that great. XD Unless you count IE. Then, in that case, IT'S EVERYWHERE! -cries-

[Anapan]

I've never met a virus that couldn't be reversed (and in the worst case all the important data can be easily recovered before flushing a harddrive in favor of a swift fix). In the worst cases (one that hasn't been documented yet) I've had to upload the offending executable to http://www.cwsandbox.org/ and get a full report of it's actions in order to reverse them one-at-a-time.
I used to fix computers for a living, and the tools to fix them are keeping up quite nicely with the virus programmers.
FWIW my research seems to indicate that that the guys who program the exploits don't actually propagate them that often, they just publish their methods for others to do with as they will (Security bulletins etc.). Most in-the-wild viruses I've found seem to be badly scripted amalgamations of exploits thrown together to gather information (spyware to sell statistical data and/or your email info or banking info) and/or gain access to computers (to be used as zombies in massive DOS attacks and whatnot). a lot of the time it seems to be "script kiddies" using them for power trips. Very rarely are viruses actually intended to damage your computer data. Mostly they are meant to stay hidden and let you continue your everyday activities. In this case, this one's meant to increase someone's ad-revenue and/or help you install new exploits.