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Geek Culture / Fixing a friends PC, PC protection solutions?

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fallen one
18
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Joined: 7th Aug 2006
Location: My imagination!
Posted: 5th Apr 2012 22:49
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I am trying to fix a friends PC.
The problem is the user cannot connect to the internet as the browser window does not open. Looked at the users default internet homepage, home page address is taken over, tried altering the homepage but it defaults to another, it looks like it has been hijacked as it defaults to a banking sign in page, the user does not bank with this web page, so its some sort of hijack.

I stopped using PCs a number of years ago in favor of using macs, I would really like to help this person fix their PC, any advice?


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henry ham
17
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Joined: 3rd Aug 2007
Location: way way out there
Posted: 5th Apr 2012 23:16
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I find its best to backup any wanted files then just format the drive then do a full install

Cheers henry

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bruce3371
14
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Joined: 4th Aug 2010
Location: Englishland
Posted: 6th Apr 2012 03:21 Edited at: 6th Apr 2012 03:21
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This often happens when downloading a utility like Windows Live Plus.

These utilities often come with the option to install 3rd party extras, which, more often than not, are little more than Spy-ware, which do exactly what your friend is experiencing.

I had to drum into my wife and step-chidren, when installing these utilities, to un-tick the box that gives the option to install these useless extras.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done after-the-fact, so Henry Ham's solution is probably the best one.

Afterwards, drum it into your friends' head about those pesky 3rd party extras!!

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Kezzla
16
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Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 6th Apr 2012 03:27
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is it just the browser that cannot be used? is there still internet connection existing? if so
install update and run

spybot sd
antivir antivirus suit

both are free and pretty good.

run msconfig

go to the startup tab, uncheck any startup process that looks suspicious. the manufacturer name will be blank or the file path unusual, that or the manufacturer will say microsoft and the file path wont be that of a microsoft product ect.

restart computer in safe mode, delete everything in temp folder and temporary internet files. restart

rescan with virus software to be safe

if all that fails then backup precious data and perform full format and reinstall windows.

Sometimes I like to use words out of contents
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That Guy John
15
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Joined: 30th Apr 2010
Location: United States
Posted: 10th Apr 2012 23:05
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I normally do what Henry mentioned.

The thing is, once you start having noticeable problems from some sort of virus, adware, maleware,(what ever the case may be) there really is no telling how deep into the system it has gotten. Even after you use your preferred scanner.

And Here Is A Penguin:
FPSC OneSource [DeskTop App] - Bringing everything together into one.
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