Redirected to url4short.info when trying to visit a certain site

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 9, 2014

I mentioned this yesterday in another thread but thought it might be better suited in its own thread here. Yesterday, I was looking up a possible birthday present for a friend on Google, and when I went I clicked on a link to the laracroftonline forums, I got redirected to url4short.info, a site with lots of dodgy-looking ads. I went back to Google as soon as I realised what had happened. While this may not have been the wisest decision, I clicked on the link again and was taken to the forums instead of the redirected site. Both Avira and Malwarebytes found nothing wrong.

I just decided to see if it happened again, and it did. I tried clicking on a few other links and didn't get redirected. Does this sound like a problem with my PC or with the site? What action should I take.

For what it's worth, the Google search I did was lara croft 9" statue. Thanks in advance for your help

.

C-11 · Jan 9, 2014

I got a redirect too.

WOT stopped me from going there in Firefox.
url4short.info | WOT Reputation Scorecard | WOT (Web of Trust)

I went on to url4short.info & everything is fine so you should be to.

I have a recent image is why I did that.

Try Safe Browsing Tool | WOT (Web of Trust)

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 10, 2014

So it's not just me. That's a relief. Thanks for checking. I'll have a look at WOT as well. I'll mark this as solved at the end of the week if I don't notice anything unusual on my PC before then

.

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 10, 2014

One more thing...the first time I got the redirect, I closed of the ads on the page (before I noticed I'd been redirected) and it opened another ad in a pop-up window. I quickly closed that pop-up and went back to Google. Like I said, both Malwarebytes and Avira didn't find anything wrong after this and I haven't noticed any unusual behaviour on my PC or any of the websites I regularly visit, but is there anything else I should do to check or am I okay?

whs · Jan 10, 2014

This is a handy program to get rid of some of those buggers.

http://download.cnet.com/AdwCleaner/3000-7786_4-75851221.html

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 11, 2014

I used that last year when I thought I had adware. It found a couple of things in the Registry today that I decided to remove. I don't know if they were dangerous or not, but I've got a registry back-up from earlier this week in case it causes any problems.

ShamrockRig · Jan 11, 2014

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
The tool will open and start scanning your system.
Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.

download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

Using AdwCleaner v3: Scan & Clean:
Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer like it did before.
After the scan has finished...

This time click on the Clean button.
Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S#].txt) will open automatically (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder

download TFC by Old Timer TFC - Temp File Cleaner by OldTimer - Geeks to Go Forums and save it to your desktop.
Save any unsaved work. TFC will close ALL open programs including your browser!
Double-click on TFC.exe to run it. If you are using Vista/Windows 7 right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator.
Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process and let it run uninterrupted to completion.
Important! If TFC prompts you to reboot, please do so immediately. If not prompted, manually reboot the machine anyway to ensure a complete clean.

cottonball · Jan 11, 2014

ThisIsMadnes91,

Let's use the following program to find out if anything is hiding...

:info: Please use the tool Zoek:
Download > Download zoek.exe version 5.0.0.0

If your AntiVirus warns you about the program, either allow Zoek to run, or temporarily disable your AV program.
Info on how to disable your security applications > How To Temporarily Disable Your Anti-virus, Firewall And Anti-malware Programs - Security Mini-Guides

Double-click zoek.exe to start the program. (Give it a few seconds to appear.)
Next, copy and then paste the entire script in the code box below to the input field of Zoek (do not copy the word 'code'):

Code:

createsrpoint; 
process; 
filesrcm; 
startupall; 
installedprogs;
installer-list; 
uninstall-list;
hijackthis; 
firefoxlook; 
chromelook;  
srinfo; 
DIR /S /A:L "%systemdrive%\*">>"%temp%\log.txt";b

Now...

Close any open windows.
Click the Run script button and wait. It takes a few minutes to run all the script.
If a reboot is needed the log is opened after the reboot.
When finished, the zoek-results.log is opened in Notepad.
The log is also found on the systemdrive, normally C:\

:ar: Please post the zoek-results.log in your reply.

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 11, 2014

Which should I run first, Zoek or the programs Zevlin recommended?

C-11 · Jan 11, 2014

ThisIsMadness91 said:
Which should I run first, Zoek or the programs Zevlin recommended?

Do as cottonball says. Zoek

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 11, 2014

Downloaded it but a pop-up ad opened when I clicked it. Is that normal? I can provide the address for the ad if you like.

ShamrockRig · Jan 11, 2014

When clicking on the "zoek" link make sure you click the bar at the top that says "Download Zoek.exe Version 5.0.0.0" on so on..up pops a window, download and install and follow the instructions provided by cottonball, I'd recommend running all programs specified, in which order id go with the Zoek first and then the others i added. Cheers

cottonball · Jan 11, 2014

ThisIsMadness91,

When you click on the link provided in Post #8, you should come up with the image shown below.
From there click Download Zoek.exe version

When the download shows, and you get the option to save, please save to the Desktop.

Once Zoek is on the Desktop, double-click the Zoek.exe file to start the program. (Give it a few seconds to appear.)

My apology for this. The download site was update very recently.

Zoek is a safe tool, otherwise I would not ask for you to download it.

Please, only run Zoek. At this point you do not need to run any other programs.

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 12, 2014

I didn't have a problem downloading the tool, but when I opened the page, I got the notification that Firefox had blocked a pop-up, then this one opened when I clicked the download link. That was just now, by the way. A different ad appeared when I tried it last night.

Does that site normally have ads like this? Should I go ahead and use the tool? Sorry if I'm acting like a worrywart.

ShamrockRig · Jan 12, 2014

Well when i opened the page i didnt get any ads like that through firefox, i would just close it and download the tool mate

ShamrockRig · Jan 12, 2014

Can you now run the other programs?
Cottonball will have to have a look over the results you posted as im not familiar with the program, cheers

cottonball · Jan 13, 2014

The results of Zoek do not show any url4short.info entries.

If you wish, run AdwCleaner and the Junkware Removal Tool, and post their results.

Then, please run the ESET Online Scanner.

It has a very good detection rate, so please give it a whirl. Different scanners have varying definitions for what they look for, so throwing in a new perspective may help us.

:info: To run the ESET Online Scanner...

Since it is implemented as an ActiveX control, it is best run on Internet Explorer.
Right click the IE shortcut and select: Run as Administrator

Next, in IE, download > Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET
On the ESET website, click on: Run ESET Online Scanner
Click: Start

When asked, allow the add-on to be installed.
Again, click: Start

On the next prompt, Computer Scan Settings, check: Remove found threats

Next, click on: Advanced Settings
Make sure the following options are checked:
>Scan for potentially unwanted applications
>Scan for potentially unsafe applications
>Enable Anti-Stealth Technology

By Current Scan Targets, Operating memory, Local drives, press: Change
In Selection of scan targets, Local drives, select the drives in question.
Click: OK

Click: Start
Follow the prompts.

When the scan completes, if threats are found, in the Scan Results prompt, click on: List of threats found
Click on: Export to text file
Save to the Desktop and name it: ESET Scan Results
Click on: Back
Click on: Finish, and close the program.

If anything is found, please provide the ESET Scan Results in your reply to determine what further action is necessary.

ShamrockRig · Jan 13, 2014

Adwcleaner looks pretty clean, do you have any pop up blockers active on your browser?

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 13, 2014

I have the "block pop-up windows" option enabled in Firefox, and that usually stops pop-ups from opening until I click somewhere on the page. I don't have any third-party programs/plug-ins to stop pop-ups or any other ads.

ThisIsMadness91 · Jan 16, 2014

I'm getting this message despite using IE. Should I proceed?

Redirected to url4short.info when trying to visit a certain site

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