Strange google redirects.

firecrust · 02 Aug 2012

Recently i've noticed that when i open google and enter my search in the bar and press enter,
the results show up but the URL of the page is really weird.
normally it is www.google.co.in/#http://www.google.co.in/blank.html
when i click on one of the results, they open up normally,
but when i press the 'back' button, i do not get back to the results page, instead i'm redirected to some other google homepage, which is slightly different from my actual homepage. But the URL is really weird,
its like http://www.google.co.in/webhp?ech=1&psi=tY0SUKL2IYjqrAeK8oDQBg.1343393267500.3&emsg=NCSR&noj=1&ei=0I0SUPORGcLorQfXhYCwCQ
and when i press 'back' again, i reach my original home page, ie. "http://www.google.co.in/"

you can check the differences in the pages urself if you like.

Other times when my URL doesnt end with "blank.html", it is usually pretty long,
something like this
"http://www.google.co.in/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=4&gs_id=g&xhr=t&q=search&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=sear&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c1c3f7fb4c60f5a4&biw=1366&bih=667"
on the other hand, when i searched the same thing on my friend's computer, the URL wasn't as complicated as this, and it was pretty short.

i dont understand what is wrong with my computer,
i tried different browsers and faced the same problem,
is it XSS
or a rootkit?
or some other spy stuff?
because its really weird being redirected to the page i never opened.
especially that "google.co.in/webph?..." one
i scanned my computer with anti-viruses and anti-spywares and even anti-rootkits, but no results found.

but as far as i know, rootkits are the hardest to be found, and theres no gaurantee of it being removed either, unless we reformat the computer.
What do u think it might be? Has anyone else faced this either?

one last thing i would like to know is that if i go for reformatting my window, and i copy some of my data, like movies, songs and images to an external device and add it to my new window,
will i have the threat of being infected by those files again?
i wouldnt copy any .exe files though.

karlsnooks · 02 Aug 2012

Firecrust,

Welcome to SevenForums.

HOW TO USE WINDOWS DEFENDER OFFLINE ON A USB STICK
Windows Defender Offline
· is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.
· performs an offline scan of an infected PC to remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware.

Download Windows Defender Offline (about 764 kB)

You will have the choice of downloading the 32bit version (x86) or the 64 bit version (x64).
The link will help you determine whether you are running a 32 bit version or 64 bit version of Windows

NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 32 bit version using a 64 bit version of Windows
NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 64 bit version using a 32bit version of Windows.

You run the 32 bit version on a 32 bit version of Windows.
You run the 64 bit version on a 64 bit version of Windows.

The 32 bit download file name is: mssstool32.exe
The 64 bit download file name is: mssstool64.exe

For the curious, this program was originally name Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

INSTALLATION:
You will need an Internet Connection.
Insert 512 mB (Microsoft’s 256 mB is no longer accurate) or larger USB stick into a usb port.
Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe
NEXT button
Choose the option On a USB flash drive that is not password protected
NEXT button
NEXT button
.
The install program will format the usb stick using the NTFS format.
The install program will download about 210 mB.
The install program will name the USB stick WDO_Media32 or WDO_Media64
The WDO_Media32 usb stick will have used space of 255 mB (268,140,544 bytes)
The WDO_Media64 usb stick will have used space of 282 mB (296,165,376 bytes)
You can expect the number of mB to increase as more malware appears.

UPDATE Windows Defender Offline USB stick:
· reinsert the usb stick
· run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.
· the update will download about 66 mB (mssstool32.exe) and 68 mB (mssstool64.exe).

Since the malware database is sometimes updated several times in a day, always update before running.

PERFORM AN OFFLINE SCAN
Bootup your computer from the USB stick
Windows Defender Offline will automatically perform a quick scan.
After the quick scan finishes, Choose Full Scan
Select all of your drives

The initial, full scan can easily take several hours, but
Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.
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