Unwanted Viral Browser Toolbars

I have updates to my troubles now guys.

Applied some of the solutions here, which I thought had cured it, but on Restart the machine 'hung' when AVG opened, would not proceed with a Scheduled scan and upgrade.

After installing Malwarebytes Pro, I entered their Forums and gave my problems to them. I was patiently taken through several stages, first scanning with MWB Pro (found zero) then downloading dds, dds.scr and posting the logs, containing 4 'nasties'. I was then asked to download roguekiller, which found and destroyed the offenders.

My 'puter is now back to whatever passes for normal (in my pad!). The guy who helped me at MWB forum said that the Scamware and fake toolbars had been added to their database and some of it was new. He gave the same advice regarding fake AVG Searchbar that Nighthawk gives, thanks for that. Apparently there is also a fake Google Search bar doing the rounds, too. Whilst I know the AVG Search bar is useful, I am not using it or the Google Searchbar, for now.

Bear, is correct in that Babylon comes in whether it is unchecked or not. Wish I knew how they do that. Wish I knew where they do it, too....

Britton, I will use Filehippo where I can now. When CCleaner updates, there are 2 choices, file hippo and Piriform: as Piriform is CC own site, I download from there, but I will use FH for other downloads now.

The computing minefield is choked with danger, guys, "Be careful out there." (Hill Street Blues.)

Thanks again to everyone posting on this topic, your blood is worth bottling!

That's some good news to hear still! Glad to see you were able to clean off the fakeware/scamware factor. When consulting GFI support as well as being in contact with a Symantec security analyst the conclusions is that these types of fake scamwares are on the increase over the last two years!

Clicking on the wrong thing as well as bugged downloads can open the doors for the "unwanted, uninvited guests" as advice to heed. I recently had to clean off two laptops where the av protection was adequate but the user interaction is what opened the wrong doors to allow the bugs in! They can cleverly disguished at times made to look like the original genuine program in some fashion.

I would run AdwCleaner again.

I think I urked GFI support a little when not rushing to use their Fakelorean remover but simply right clicked to open file location to find and move the main exe file for the scam ware and then after a boot in safe mode to see that gone! Why would I think VIPRE would do it when their special remover wouldn't?

Well that goes back to running AVG and trying out the MS SE for 7 and not being satisfied even with the IE Internet Security toolvar Grisoft added along with their software even with the freebie. It warned but only once you are at a bad site and have to close the browser window in lightening speed! Besides that you always had to have 3 or 4 other programs on as well to catch what AVG certainly missed and what the MS SE was never capable of finding being another MS FLOP there!

AVG lacks effective web filtering seen more with av programs with firewalls included as well as simply missing adwares, spywares, data miners, and whole ancholatta! The 3 or 4 other programs would be needed to fill in the gaps showing a need to upgrade the av and other protections. The reviews kill the MS SE labeling it as below industryy standard. The updated and newer MS SE seen as the new Windows Defender in 8 however does actually locate and remove bugs as tested here with some known bugs kept onhand for security testing.

When finally getting around to look for a paid program that actually works I was pointed at the now GFI's VIPRE which does the job quite effectively. This is one option when looking to replace AVG if you don't find another good program to suppliment what AVG sadly lacks as far as actual detection and removal. Now I run one program instead of 10!