[GLLUG] Browser problems

[Seth Bembeneck]

I have had this problem also on a couple computers - check the hosts file -
The computers that were infected had their host file filled with common
domains that (if I remember correctly) either looped back to the computer,
or to an other ip that wasn't working - either way sites stopped loading.

It has been my experience that running anti-virus software, malware,
spyware, etc doesn't clean out the host file (or at least flag it as
suspicious) - so you can clean up any infections, but still have the browser
issue

Though it is wierd that Firefox would only fail a month later, and Chrome
still works - unless they bypass the host file?

Run the usual scans (as suggested) to clean any thing out, and verify that
the host file is clean. That got the computers I worked on back up and
running normally

I don't have ready access to a vista computer, but the host file is on my XP
system is located in  x:\windows\system32\drivers\etc (where x is the drive
letter that windows is installed to).

Seth

On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Don Bosman <dbosman at msu.edu> wrote:

> It sounds like the machine is infested. I've seen the same behavior at
> work.
> If it can be rolled back a couple of months, to a restore point before the
> issue, it might be salvaged.
> Barring that, or even if it works, scan with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
> program.
> http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
> If those two things don't work, a re-install from scratch may be faster
> than repeated attempts at repair.
>
> Also, if they have to keep Vista, have him download and install Microsoft's
> Security Essentials package and un-install his other anti-virus products.
> Microsoft has a better idea of what can go wrong with their software than
> any other "free" product and many of the pay products.
>
> Have him try Ubuntu Studio.
>
> Good luck.
> Don Bosman
>
>
>
>
> On 11/7/2010 8:51 AM, Frank Dolinar wrote:
>
> Hi, everyone,
>     I was talking with a friend yesterday who presented me with a problem
> for which I have no answer.
>     Perhaps one of you can shed some light on the situation.
>     His computer is a recent Dell system with an Intel quad-core chip,
> running Vista (Vista Home, I believe), and he's had both IE and Firefox
> browsers stop working, each claiming that it can't access the particular
> site requested (pick a site, doesn't matter).  IE failed about a month ago.
> Firefox failed last Tuesday.
>     He also has Chrome on the system, and that appears to work without
> problem.
>     I verified this situation on his computer.  Baffling.
>     I did a complete uninstall of Firefox and downloaded and reinstalled
> it.  Same error.
>     My suspicion is that there's some bit of malware that is causing this
> situation.  I'm wondering whether the problem isn't caused by malware but by
> something in either the Chrome browser or some problem with his firewall.
> He also said that he has more than one anti-virus package installed on his
> system -- which I believe is not recommended.
>     That's what I know at the moment.
>
>     If anyone can suggest an approach or a solution, I'd appreciate any
> help you can provide.
>
> Thanks,
> Frank
>
>
>
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