[mambo_jambo]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, but I'm trying to figure out how this is possible:

I use Windows XP home and in my IE, when I use google or yahoo and I type certain letters, there are websites and keywords that were never typed in or searched for that show up as if someone had typed or searched for those things.

I'm the only person that has access to my home computer and I know for a fact that I did not search, or entered any of those keywords into any form.
I'm wondering if there is any trojan or virus out there that can be populating my yahoo/google autocomplete forms with weird keywords?

I'm not sure what to do. It started yesterday. I know how to erase everything, but I was wondering if anyone had an explanation for this?

I've already ran Spybot Search and Destroy, but it only found cookies...
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

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Hello and welcome to Geeks to Go! I'm kool808 .

=============

Please download and install Ad-Aware 1.06.

1. Download and Install Ad-Aware SE, keeping the default options. However, some of the settings will need to be changed before your first scan
2. Close ALL windows except Ad-Aware SE
3. Click on the ‘world’ icon at the top right of the Ad-Aware SE window and let AdAware SE update the reference list for the adware and malware.
4. Once the update is finished click on the ‘Gear’ icon (second from the left at the top of the window) to access the preferences/settings window

1) In the ‘General’ window make sure the following are selected in green:
*Automatically save log-file
*Automatically quarantine objects prior to removal
*Safe Mode (always request confirmation)

Under Definitions:
*Prompt to udate outdated definitions - set the number of days

2) Click on the ‘Scanning’ button on the left and select in green :

Under Driver, Folders & Files:
*Scan Within Archives

Under Select drives & folders to scan -
*choose all hard drives

Under Memory & Registry: all green
*Scan Active Processes
*Scan Registry
*Deep Scan Registry
*Scan my IE favorites for banned URL’s
*Scan my Hosts file

3) Click on the ‘Advanced’ button on the left and select in green:

Under Shell Integration:
*Move deleted files to recycle bin

Under Logfile Detail Level: (all green)
*include addtional object information
*DESELECT - include negligible objects information
*include environment information

Under Alternate Data Streams:
*Don't log streams smaller than 0 bytes
*Don't log ADS with the following names: CA_INOCULATEIT

4) Click the ‘Tweak’ button and select in green:

Under the ‘Scanning Engine’:
*Unload recognized processes during scanning
*Scan registry for all users instead of current user only

Under the ‘Cleaning Engine’:
*Let Windows remove files in use at next reboot

Under the Log Files:
*Include basic Ad-aware SE settings in logfile
*Include additional Ad-aware SE settings in logfile
*Please do not check and make Green: Include Module list in logfile

5. Click on ‘Proceed’ to save the settings.
6. Click ‘Start’

*Choose:'Perform Full System Scan'
*DESELECT "Search for negligible risk entries", as negligible risk entries (MRU's) are not considered to be a threat.

7. Click ‘Next’ and Ad-Aware SE will scan your hard drive(s) with the options you have selected and clean automatically.
8. If Ad-Aware SE finds bad entries in the registry or bad files, you will receive a list of what it found in the window
9. Save the log file when it asks and then click ‘finish’
10. REBOOT to complete the removal of what Ad-Aware SE found

=====================

Please download Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4.

1. Downloaded and Install Spybot S&D, accepting the Default Settings
2. In the Menu Bar at the top of the Spybot window you will see 'Mode'. Make certain that 'default mode' has a check mark beside it.
3. Close ALL windows except Spybot S&D
4. Click the button to ‘Search for Updates’ then download and install the Updates.
5. Next click the button ‘Check for Problems'
6. When Spybot is complete, it will be showing ‘RED’ entries bold 'Black' entries and ‘GREEN’ entries in the window
7. Make certain there is a check mark beside all of the RED entries ONLY.
8. Choose ‘Fix Selected Problems’ and allow Spybot to fix the RED entries.
9. REBOOT to complete the scan and clear memory.

===================

Please Download the stand-alone version of CoolWebShredder

Update CWShredder

• Open CWShredder and click I AGREE
  
• Click Check For Update
  
• Close CWShredder

Now run CWShredder. Click I Agree, then Fix and then Next, let it fix everything it asks about.

=======================

Download and install Cleanup, then run.

=======================

We'll need you to use a free diagnostic tool HiJackThis, read the short tutorial HERE

Post a log as a new topic in the Malware Removal Forum. It will get a better response there from the people most qualified to analyze logs.

Most of what it lists will be harmless or even essential, DO NOT delete or modify anything yet! Someone will be along to tell you what steps to take after you post the contents of the scan results.

[kool808]

Hello and welcome to Geeks to Go! I'm kool808 .

=============

Please download and install Ad-Aware 1.06.

1. Download and Install Ad-Aware SE, keeping the default options. However, some of the settings will need to be changed before your first scan
2. Close ALL windows except Ad-Aware SE
3. Click on the ‘world’ icon at the top right of the Ad-Aware SE window and let AdAware SE update the reference list for the adware and malware.
4. Once the update is finished click on the ‘Gear’ icon (second from the left at the top of the window) to access the preferences/settings window

1) In the ‘General’ window make sure the following are selected in green:
*Automatically save log-file
*Automatically quarantine objects prior to removal
*Safe Mode (always request confirmation)

Under Definitions:
*Prompt to udate outdated definitions - set the number of days

2) Click on the ‘Scanning’ button on the left and select in green :

Under Driver, Folders & Files:
*Scan Within Archives

Under Select drives & folders to scan -
*choose all hard drives

Under Memory & Registry: all green
*Scan Active Processes
*Scan Registry
*Deep Scan Registry
*Scan my IE favorites for banned URL’s
*Scan my Hosts file

3) Click on the ‘Advanced’ button on the left and select in green:

Under Shell Integration:
*Move deleted files to recycle bin

Under Logfile Detail Level: (all green)
*include addtional object information
*DESELECT - include negligible objects information
*include environment information

Under Alternate Data Streams:
*Don't log streams smaller than 0 bytes
*Don't log ADS with the following names: CA_INOCULATEIT

4) Click the ‘Tweak’ button and select in green:

Under the ‘Scanning Engine’:
*Unload recognized processes during scanning
*Scan registry for all users instead of current user only

Under the ‘Cleaning Engine’:
*Let Windows remove files in use at next reboot

Under the Log Files:
*Include basic Ad-aware SE settings in logfile
*Include additional Ad-aware SE settings in logfile
*Please do not check and make Green: Include Module list in logfile

5. Click on ‘Proceed’ to save the settings.
6. Click ‘Start’

*Choose:'Perform Full System Scan'
*DESELECT "Search for negligible risk entries", as negligible risk entries (MRU's) are not considered to be a threat.

7. Click ‘Next’ and Ad-Aware SE will scan your hard drive(s) with the options you have selected and clean automatically.
8. If Ad-Aware SE finds bad entries in the registry or bad files, you will receive a list of what it found in the window
9. Save the log file when it asks and then click ‘finish’
10. REBOOT to complete the removal of what Ad-Aware SE found

=====================

Please download Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4.

1. Downloaded and Install Spybot S&D, accepting the Default Settings
2. In the Menu Bar at the top of the Spybot window you will see 'Mode'. Make certain that 'default mode' has a check mark beside it.
3. Close ALL windows except Spybot S&D
4. Click the button to ‘Search for Updates’ then download and install the Updates.
5. Next click the button ‘Check for Problems'
6. When Spybot is complete, it will be showing ‘RED’ entries bold 'Black' entries and ‘GREEN’ entries in the window
7. Make certain there is a check mark beside all of the RED entries ONLY.
8. Choose ‘Fix Selected Problems’ and allow Spybot to fix the RED entries.
9. REBOOT to complete the scan and clear memory.

===================

Please Download the stand-alone version of CoolWebShredder

Update CWShredder

• Open CWShredder and click I AGREE
  
• Click Check For Update
  
• Close CWShredder

Now run CWShredder. Click I Agree, then Fix and then Next, let it fix everything it asks about.

=======================

Download and install Cleanup, then run.

=======================

We'll need you to use a free diagnostic tool HiJackThis, read the short tutorial HERE

Post a log as a new topic in the Malware Removal Forum. It will get a better response there from the people most qualified to analyze logs.

Most of what it lists will be harmless or even essential, DO NOT delete or modify anything yet! Someone will be along to tell you what steps to take after you post the contents of the scan results.