Redirects
 

In both IE-7 and Firefox, I have the default search set to Google. So I type something in the search box and hit search, sure enough the Google results come up.

But then, when I click on the Google links, maybe 70% of the time I get redirected. Not porn sites, and different sites each time.

Now if I click the Google link on my desktop, Google opens in the same IE-7. I can enter a query and the Google search results come up the same as when I search from the IE-7 and Firefox search boxes. But now I can click on any Google link without a redirect.

WTF?

Possible infection? Via bogus toolbars maybe?

Set it on fire. Now!

Could be an infection, but AVG, Malwarebytes, and MS malicious code removal, can't find it.
No tool bars other than the ones IE-7 and Firefox came with. I even reinstalled IE-7. And the original query goes to the real Google, it's the Google links that get redirected. Other links, from other sites go through fine.

It's the Chinese commies!

Bruce,
I had the same thing, I think it is called pagehijacker virus
I had it and had to switch to chrome. I tried rubotted, malwarebytes, avg, kaspersky, and a couple of others I don't recall. Nothing.

Chrome helped. Maybe it's a nefarious plot by google to get people to switch to chrome.
/tinfoil hat

I use "Spybot - Search & Destroy" to kill malware and "BitDefender - Total Security 2010" for everything else.

Also, if at all possible, I never install toolbars in any of my navigators (IE8 / Firefox 3.6 / Opera 10, etc...)

Word.

If you spend more than an hour on something you should have just reloaded Windows.

Secunia PSI found unpatched weaknesses in Chrome. I uninstalled it.

engrish transration prease, mr. potatoman

jinx and I had this issue with our desktop. mbpark (who we STILL owe cookies to) recommended the ultimate bootcd. As I understand it, it boots to a faux windows environment, and lets you run antivirus and malware apps without the indigenous windows OS that the virus is hiding in. you build this disc, boot to it, and run the avg and malware, and it scrubs the gunk off your schmizzle.

i mailed a boot cd to bruce today. he says he's gonna get a new windows 7 system cuz he's due anyway....but, for those of you that have had this issue.....try the ultimate boot cd cure. it worked for us.

From a [former] cow-orker:

I'll have to try the boot CD. My daughter's has it... completely resistant to all antivirus etc. I've tried. Well I should say it's what's left over after I cleaned it up from being so fucked up it would run programs you double-clicked on because it didn't know what to do with a .exe file. And of COURSE, "no, I didn't notice anything." grrr.

did you get the disc, squirrel?