is there a virus on my computer?

Question

i try and access sites like macys and jcrew and i get rerouted to some random site. Is this a typical virus i can get rid of or is there something else i should do.

Answer 1

Hey Dude,

Probably not, but there is some spyware and some other junk.

Goto http://housecall.trendmicro.com and have them scan your computer.

Then, download something like spybot or adaware (free) to make sure everything is clean.

Tom

Answer 2

Its a browser hijacker. This should remove it, both free.

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!
Make sure after you download any of these, that you update them.

Answer 3

Malware has been known to modify your Windows HOSTS file to redirect you to their own ad servers. Perhaps this will help.

First let's check your HOSTS file located at

Windows XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Win 98/ME = C:\WINDOWS
Be sure and check-mark "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and uncheck-mark "Hide Protected Operating System Files" in your Folder Options first.

Open HOSTS with notepad. A 'standard" MS HOSTS file will look like this:

# Copyright © 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a "#" symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
#
127.0.0.1 localhost

____________________________________________

There should be no entries or IP addresses on the lines below "127.0.0.1 localhost". If there are other entries, with an address other than 127.0.0.1 delete them, close notepad, and answer 'Yes" if prompted.

You should no longer get re-directed now.

But we are not done just quite yet. Now to fix the root cause of your problem. Do a complete scan with both your anti-virus and your anti-spyware. If you don't have them or if they are not current and updated you can use the procedure here:


Do both of these free online scans and remove what they find:

1. Scan for virus and remove (free online scan, no download) with BitDefender.
http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/

2. Scan for trojans and spyware and remove (free online scan, no download) with Ewido.
http://www.ewido.net/en/

Hope this works for you.

Answer 4

Scan the PC with standard antivirus software. If you do not have one, I can give a few links that offer free virus and spy ware removers...!You may be having a virus or spyware installed on your PC. Norton, AVG , Avast are free antivirus software. Ad-aware, Ewido are free spyware removers. You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 5

Yes it is a malicious spy ware. download spy doctor.

Answer 6

Sounds like a browser hijack in process...Run all Ur anti's.