Internet Explorer 8 Problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter DBowles
  • Start date Start date
D

DBowles

Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken over,
spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and its asking me
to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it has also shut down my
Macafee and has removed all administrative priv. cannot use system restore
either....stumped
 
DBowles said:
Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken
over, spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and
its asking me to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it
has also shut down my Macafee and has removed all administrative
priv. cannot use system restore either....stumped
Click to expand...

IE8 is a coincidence - you got yourself infested with malware. McAfee will
likely be of no help in your current state (obviously it did not protect
you.)

What I suggest...

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

Reboot.

Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
three or four matches, may be (hopefully) none. You may need to take
ownership of the keys in order to change them.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

and..

Remove Internet Explorer 8
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

Reboot.

Then...

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
(Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Come back - let us know if that worked.
.... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.
 
Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken over,
spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and its asking me
to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it has also shut down my
Macafee and has removed all administrative priv. cannot use system restore
either....stumped
Click to expand...

IE 8 is not the cause of your "spyware" infestation. You need to
download several spyware removal tools, on a different PC, and bring
these to your PC. Then, try to fix this infestation in Safe Mode.
 
DBowles said:
Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken
over, spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and
its asking me to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it
has also shut down my Macafee and has removed all administrative
priv. cannot use system restore either....stumped
Click to expand...

Where exactly did you download this program from? It sounds like it
really wasn't IE8 you downloaded!
 
Thanks for all your help, followed your instructions and everything is back
to normal
Removed the macafee antivirus altogether nad replaced it with windows Defender
because it would not work anymore or open. Again thanks!!!!
 
Thanks for all your help, followed your instructions and everything is back
to normal
Removed the macafee antivirus altogether nad replaced it with windows Defender
because it would not work anymore or open. Again thanks!!!!
Click to expand...


Removing McAfee anti-virus is a good thing to do, since it is the
second worst anti-virus program available (only Norton is worse).
However note that Windows Defender does *not* replace it and you are
now running without any anti-virus program. Defender is an
anti-spyware program, and not the best one of those either.

You need to run both anti-virus software and anti-spyware software.
For anti-virus, I recommend NOD32, if you are willing to pay for it,
or Avast, if you want a free one.

For anti-spyware, I recommend running at least two, and the free
MalwareBytes AntiMalware is best.
 
Back
Top