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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: Merlin on July 27, 2010, 07:15:44 am

Title: computer problem
Post by: Merlin on July 27, 2010, 07:15:44 am
Not scroll saw sorry.
I use chrome for the internet and Mozilla Thunderbird for emails.
Well just lately Windows Internet Explorer is starting up in the background (on it's own) and going into some bizzare sites, some not nice sites.
My grand kids use my computers.

Any help please.....

Merlin
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: northie66 on July 27, 2010, 07:32:12 am
Look in the browsing history.  If they cleared that, you could try this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070917195636AA5vCjW (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070917195636AA5vCjW)

But it if were me, I'd just talk to them.

If you just want to make it so that stuff doesn't come up, why don't you run a disk cleanup?

Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: scrollgirl on July 27, 2010, 07:50:59 am
Make sure that Chrome is your default internet browser.  There should be something in the preferences in Chrome (the 'options' maybe) that allow you to check a box and designate it as such.  Internet Explorer likes to try to take over sometimes, I find.  I wouldn't even have it on my computer but Windows requires it for some updates and some other places do too.  I use Firefox and find there are far less problems with it.  

The other thing you may want to do is run a scan from your anti-virus software.  Maybe the kids downloaded something or checked a box to change things and you need to get rid of what they may have let on there.  

I know this is vague, but it is hard to diagnose a computer remotely. I find they are all like fingerprints - no two people's are exactly alike - and different mixes of things can cause different behaviors.  But these are general things to try to see if it helps.

There is always System Restore if all else fails.  It rarely worked in Windows XP for me, but since Vista and Windows 7 came about, I have had a lot of success with it on many computers when something goes awry like this.

Let us know.  Good luck! Sheila
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Russ C on July 27, 2010, 08:00:19 am
Hey Merlin, you might have picked up some Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to infiltrate a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Go and download this and run it on you computer.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/ (http://www.malwarebytes.org/). I use it and it works great.  8)
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Dawie on July 27, 2010, 09:47:12 am
Hope you get the problem sorted Merlin, I am a pc illitarate as far as those things go. Got my nephew for that. I'll ask him when he gets home from work in a couple of hours, if he comes up with something new I'l let you know.
David.
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: BilltheDiver on July 27, 2010, 11:13:10 am
Merlin,  It might be worth mentioning that the Grandkids are not necessarily responsible either.  It is fairly common to go to a website innocently enough and then get hijacked into a torrent of porn and other sites with no intention of doing so.  I know your message didn't blame them, but thought this worth bringing up.
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: scrollgirl on July 27, 2010, 11:18:02 am
I agree with Bill.  You can get these things anywhere. :)

Sheila
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Russ C on July 27, 2010, 11:42:17 am
FYI: it's called Malware.!  8)
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: GrayBeard on July 27, 2010, 12:03:39 pm
Merlin...if you are using WinXP, Vista or Win7 you really should set them up a separate "User Account" so they stay out of your configuration and then you can set all kinds of restrictions on what they can get into when you set up their version of the 'browser'.

Also might be a good idea to protect your personal "User Account" with a password so they can't get into it without your being there.

Many ways to remove the hide from the feline!

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: grampa on July 27, 2010, 04:13:27 pm
Merlin , If its starting on its own and going to different sites check to see no one is hacking you remotely and if you are wireless check your security, set up a password user account and make  accounts for your grandkids that block surfing mature sites.    I have just done a scan of my wireless area and if I wanted there a 3 computers that have no security and I could use there connection and surf the web and even look around all there files.....Paul
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Merlin on July 27, 2010, 05:29:45 pm
Thanks people for the replies, the problem is not with the grand kids it's with Internet Explorer just starting while I'm using Chrome.
And it's only on one computer.
I have two laptops.
On one Windows Home basic vista
the other Vista Home Premium.
Yes wireless broadband
Security ???? AVG free updated daily.

I'll run this Malware program and see what happens, as for being remotely hacked I have know idea where to start on that one.

Merlin
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: GrayBeard on July 27, 2010, 06:01:35 pm
Is your wireless network 'password protected'?

If not you should do that ASAP!

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Merlin on July 28, 2010, 06:45:33 am
GB: no idea, two separate computers not networked??
How does one p/w protect from being hacked from the internet.

I d/loaded the malware program that Russ mentioned and it has worked, hell trogens, adware and the like, since I ran the program and deleted all the nasties and the firewall was turned off (bugger) on now.
Keeping fingers crossed, Windows Internet Explorer has not turned on since..

Merlin
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: GrayBeard on July 28, 2010, 09:04:16 am
Are you running Windows XP, Vista or Windows7?

Let me know and I will write you a PM with the steps to get your user account P/W protected.

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Merlin on July 28, 2010, 04:54:18 pm
GB I'm running Vista on both computers, on one Home Basic and the other Home Premium.
They are not networked (linked in anyway), I wanted them like that for security reasons, now I find I have them (bugger).

Merlin
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Danny on July 28, 2010, 07:37:01 pm
Hi Russ....I would assume that you purchased the malware software.  Yes?
I took your advice and got into it and as I feel Normal Marketing not much was done for me and only the usual bits of trying to get me to buy.  I have good ole AVG free and I have no problems as of now.  Please advise....  :+}
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Russ C on July 28, 2010, 09:47:29 pm
It is totally free . You have to jump through some advertising, and they want you to buy it , but follow all roads to Free.  It has it's Normal Marketing depending on witch site you go to, but it is Free and it works. Me and my family & friends used it for two years now.    8)  8)  8)
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Rightarm on July 28, 2010, 09:54:09 pm
    Russ. You were right. I ran this, and had 11. I can't believe how fast my computer is now. Thanks Dave :o
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: GrayBeard on July 28, 2010, 10:05:17 pm
Weekly computer 'clean up' procedure....

1. AVG Free...Full scan of all drives. (I have three Hard drives)
2. Malwarebytes...Full scan of entire system.
3. Spybot Search and Destroy...Full Scan of system.
4. Tori Arts, "Easy Cleaner"...Registry scan and repair, Unnecessary Files scan and delete, Temp Files scan and delete.
5 Auslogics Disk Defragger...Analyze, DeFrag and Optimize.

Keeps everything clean and running well.
Interim clean-up if I am downloading and trying new software.
To "UnInstall" software i use "Revo Uninstaller".

All the above mentioned cleaning agents are FREE and available from "cnet.com" or "majorgeeks.com"

~~~GrayBeard~~~
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Russ C on July 28, 2010, 10:07:00 pm
Yes Dave it does work, and it is free.  I am so glad that at least a few found help. I would never post anything that I did not know it was tried and true. Just trying to help.  8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: Rightarm on July 29, 2010, 07:19:17 am
     GB. Thanks for the info. I put Majorgeeks on my favorites. Cleaned my registry this morning. I can't remember the last time my computer ran this good. Thanks again. Dave 8)
Title: Re: computer problem
Post by: northie66 on July 29, 2010, 06:57:31 pm
Thanks Russ!  I downloaded it and it's running now... been running for 30 minutes now... so far it hasn't found anything.  I'll keep ya posted!   ;D

UPDATE:  It found 2!  I have to say that now my computer is LIGHTNING FAST!  Thanks so much Russ!!!