I have recently had problems with my computer being redirected to thefinder.net and then to postery.net.?

Question

This is a girlie type website. I am trying to go to the crochet site that I visit a lot for patterns. You can imagine how this bothers me. I know that something must have attached itself, perhaps via spyware or cookies, to my computer. Has anyone else had this problem (with thefinder.net or postery.net)? Can you help me get rid of this or give me direction on how to solve this issue? It is driving me buggy!!

Thank you so much,
k4k

p.s. I have McAfee and scans show nothing.

Answer 1

Try downloading, checking for updates, then going to Safe Mode and run the following Tool.

SuperAntispyware
http://superantispyware.com/

While in Safe Mode, also re-run your McAfee. Run the programs consecutively and not concurrently. Delete or quarantine anything they find them clear all old system restore points and reboot to return to Normal Mode.

Answer 2

I checked both sites, thefinder.net and postery, using McAfee's SiteAdvisor. Both sites are clean. McAfee's SiteAdvisor is a new security tool. SiteAdvisor scours the Internet and creates a database of websites which download spyware, adware and/or spam. SiteAdvisor has scan the 2 websites and determine they are clean. You can install SiteAdvisor's toolbar on to your web browser, available only in Firefox and Internet Explorer. It adds an icon to your menu bar. When you surf to a safe site, the icon appears "green." On questionable websites, the icon is "yellow." And, for dangerous websites, the icon is "red." Here is the website (http://www.siteadvisor.com/). The toolbar is absolutely free.

However, your big problem is to stop the redirects. There are several free security tools you can use to remove malicious adware/spyware. The 3 most popular are Spybot Search & Destroy, Lavasoft's Ad Aware and Microsoft's Windows Defender (Windows Defender is only available for Windows XP and Windows Vista). You can find all 3 programs at (http://www.filehippo.com/software/antispyware/). You can install all 3 programs safely as long as you only scan one at a time. No single anti spyware program can detect and remove all spyware. However, if you have multiple anti spyware programs, what one misses the other finds and vice-a-versa. Once you have install them, update them and run a scan. Be sure to quarantine - not delete - any suspicious files. To learn how to use these programs, please read:

1. Spybot (http://www.download.com/1200-2023_4-5157526.html)

2. Ad Aware (http://www.download.com/How-to-use-Ad-Aware/1200-2023_4-5157520.html?tag=morehowto)

Answer 3

I would uninstall Norton and try Kaspersky Antivirus instead. Gice your computer a scan with that (there is a free 25 day trial on their site). If you don't get on with it you could install Norton again. If you don't want a different antivirus then try uninstalling and reinstalling Norton. Install and run Spybot S+D I can see you have adaware installed so try running that. Also instead of using Internet Explorer try using firefox as it is more secure. If you are still getting problems after that your best bet would probably be backing up everything and giving your computer a format.

Answer 4

it sounds like your search engine has been hijacked. try going to HouseCall (see link below). it is much more comprehensive than McAfee and Norton.
Does it redirect all your searches to these sites, or does it take you there as a start page when you start your browser?
You may also wish to clear your cookies. Instructions for doing that are at the 2nd link below.
Good Luck and I hope this helped.

Answer 5

Change the default website.

Go to tools, internet options, and type in a site. Then click apply, then ok.