browser goes to "http:///" repeatedly

[OhioSteve]

I am an Sql Server DB programmer; my knowledge of viruses is quite limited. However, my girlfriend's Dad knows that I am "a computer guy" so he asked this question to me. Whenever he starts IE, the address bar changes to "

http:///".

After that, it does not respond to his input. I told him that malicious software on his box might be hijacking the browser. However, he claims that his virus definitions are current.

Can you help me to identify the specific cause if this issue? He may become my father-in-law, so I would like to stay on his good side. It would be helpful if I could say, "That's caused by variant three of the Bangkok Alpha worm" or something along those lines

 

[MichealC4]

It may not be a virus, but rather spyware/adware/other malware. Have him run Spybot S&D, Ad-aware, and Hijackthis, and post the log for Hijackthis here. Don't forget to turn off System Restore first if running ME/XP.

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"Security is like an onion" - Unknown

 

[OhioSteve]

Okay, I am sending him your suggestions to him. Why should he turn off system restore?

 

[MichealC4]

Because there are several spyware/adware programs out there that once in System Restore, will simply readd themselves next reboot. The same is true for virii.

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"Security is like an onion" - Unknown

 

[diogenes10]

Or if there happens to be a good recent restore point from before the problems happened, he could try restoring to that and see if that fixes the difficulty.

A hijackthis log will probably show some lines containing that http/// redirection.

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