Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075 |
My daughters computer has acquired the Google Redirect virus. Has anybody here successfully removed this from a computer?
I've spent the day searching the web for solutions, but most of them sound like snake oil.
Without a testimony from somebody I know, I'm hesitant to download and install anything that I'm not sure is safe. She had malware and virus programs installed, but this got past them both.
Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,938
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,938 |
Hi Pat, I'm not sure if the below link is of any use but it seems to address the problem. http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208280684I'm heading off to download the program mentioned, install it and see what happens. I'll let you know. Out of curiosity, does the problem occur with Firefox as well as IE? Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987 |
Pat, I strongly recommend www.majorgeeks.com they are awesome. You may have to register to post but it's a highly trusted site. They've saved my backside many times. IIRC, you do not have to register to search for solutions. If you have the virus name that would speed your search.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
malwarebytes.org
That sounds more like a spyware than a virus. Malwarebytes can clean almost everything.
I also use Super Antispyware in tandem with MWB. AND the give me $75 an hour for it!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,938
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,938 |
Hi Pat,
I've run the rootkit fixing program from above, rebooted my computer and I'm still operational so that's a good sign.
From what I read, the Google Redirect virus is a family of viruses that seem to install into that section of the OS that is reserved and Rootkit analyzers are needed to fix the problem.
All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251 |
Pat,
You might wanna send a PM to Lawrie since he isn't on here everyday and see if he has any ideas.
Good luck my friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075 |
there are literally THOUSANDS of links that recommend solutions.. and there are also thousands of links that say other solutions don't work. Based on what I've read today all of the well known malware and virus removal products don't touch this.
I was hoping for personal testimony from somebody who had overcome this particular problem, not similar problems. PCMagazine's article didn't even offer a solution.
The majority of comments on Microsoft's forum say "reformat and reload Windows"
Every other similar problem I've researched in the past led to step by step instructions for removal, and those instructions were repeated in many places. I'm not seeing that today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251 |
Quote:
The majority of comments on Microsoft's forum say "reformat and reload Windows"
I'd save that one for a last ditch effort. It's obviously a tough one from the PC Magazine article, although the article is dated and didn't offer a solution, but offered some insight into what the virus is.
Once again I'd try to contact Lawrie. I don't have his email address, but maybe you can contact him through his website in case he doesn't see his PM:
http://www.pardyline.com.au/
Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 06/09/12 04:09 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075 |
thanks to everybody who took time to reply.I appreciate the kind of person to person support that is so common on this forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987 |
Pat, please let us know the outcome. As I said, majorgeeks is usually on top of this stuff. If renaming the specific file doesn't fix it just return to the corrupted name, no harm done. Geeks has a HUMONGOUS following.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,339
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,339 |
Pat, it only took you a couple hours to find me. After weeks and weeks of batteling this problem I found a solution. I was that close to a total disk reformat and reinstall, but then tried one last thing which cost me ~$21 since the demo adware program only detected the problem and I needed to pay to get it removed, but it did it, which was well worth the cost. It is indeed malware and it is just a matter of finding the right adware program which does the job. Now I did not try them all, but I did try many of the free ones and they did not work until I was referred to ... wait for it, wait for it, Hitmanpro at http://www.surfright.nl/en combined with free TSSKiller at http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363 Now hitmanpro is claiming they can do it all, but I did use TSSKiller first based on advice to combine the two applications. If your still stuck we should likely chat via phone. Let me know. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 348
Journeyman
|
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 348 |
Pat,
Man that really sucks. Been there before. Unfortunately don't have a solution. I might suggest a way of recovering from something like this in the future though.
I make a byte for byte image backup of my computer once a week and store it off line. In this way I'm able to restore the computer back to the way it was before any catastrophe. I got a virus about a year ago that pretty much trashed the Windows operating system I ended up restoring the last image backup I did and everything was fine. Only lost 3 days of data. Virus programs are great most of the time, but for the times they fail an image backup is a good ace in the hole.
Best of luck with that virus and I'd like to hear how it all comes out.
Tim
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
I remember a time about 2003 when I wrote a tech column for a monthly newspaper in the area. One particular month I did an article about how important it was to backup your docs, photos, music, speadsheets, databases..... That paper with that article came out on Thursday. On Saturday the people who ran the paper had a hard drive failure. The drive could not be recovered by conventional methods. They had no backup.
$2500 later, their drive was sent to and returned from some famous recovery company in Houston, and they were able to restore it. That hard drive had all the financial records, advertising, article archives.... EVERYTHING. They were out of business without it.
Of course that lesson learned led to an automated backup system that ran nightly, but wow...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,075 |
Quote:
Pat, it only took you a couple hours to find me.
After weeks and weeks of batteling this problem I found a solution. I was that close to a total disk reformat and reinstall, but then tried one last thing which cost me ~$21 since the demo adware program only detected the problem and I needed to pay to get it removed, but it did it, which was well worth the cost. It is indeed malware and it is just a matter of finding the right adware program which does the job. Now I did not try them all, but I did try many of the free ones and they did not work until I was referred to ... wait for it, wait for it, Hitmanpro at http://www.surfright.nl/en combined with free TSSKiller at http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363
Now hitmanpro is claiming they can do it all, but I did use TSSKiller first based on advice to combine the two applications. If your still stuck we should likely chat via phone. Let me know.
the thing about this particular bug that makes it difficult is that it has variants, and what works for one variant doesn't work for the other. I downloaded TSSKiller and HitManPro and ran them both. Neither one reported anything more than tracking cookies. I asked my daughter when she started being redirected, and she said it was Memorial day weekend... so we did a system restore to a point that was saved before then. So far so good. But, since it is a boot sector thing, I have a sneaking suspicion that when she powers down and brings it back up again, we may still have a problem. Having said that, we DID power down 3 or 4 times this evening, and each time it came back up without redirection
The MS forum indicated that a system restore does not fix the problem
FINGERS CROSSED-O-METER NAH_____________/_YEAH
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,339
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,339 |
Quote:
we DID power down 3 or 4 times this evening, and each time it came back up without redirection
Yes, system restores did not fix my problem, however hitmanpro may have done what it needed to do.
The lack of redirect is a good thing since my experience says that once you got it, it is immediately active and the redirects continue until it is removed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
I remember a time about 2003 when I wrote a tech column for a monthly newspaper in the area. One particular month I did an article about how important it was to backup your docs, photos, music, speadsheets, databases..... That paper with that article came out on Thursday. On Saturday the people who ran the paper had a hard drive failure. The drive could not be recovered by conventional methods. They had no backup.
$2500 later, their drive was sent to and returned from some famous recovery company in Houston, and they were able to restore it. That hard drive had all the financial records, advertising, article archives.... EVERYTHING. They were out of business without it.
Of course that lesson learned led to an automated backup system that ran nightly, but wow...
My team got called in once to do the same thing, FOR A BANK!
Then they seemed rather upset when I closed my personal account with 'em...
Go figger.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,229
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,229 |
The company I am working for monitors corporate systems to make sure backups were done without problem, updates installed OK, everything on the network is running fine .. for thousands of computers in the area. From medical clinics to construction companies. We call it Managed Services Provider Last week we got hired to monitor a worldwide system. For some reason they seem worried about a certain router in Brazil.  Anyway, I can ask the tech guys in the morning.
Last edited by rharv; 06/10/12 10:17 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 348
Journeyman
|
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 348 |
My wife was just telling me last night that someone where she works got that virus a few weeks back. The tech thought he got rid of it, but it showed up on the persons computer again a week later. Finally he just had to reformat the computer.
Tim
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,662
Posts782,628
Members39,717
|
Most Online25,754 Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|