Tech: IE keeps opening new window..

Subject: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: gnu
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 02:31 PM

IE keeps opening a new window to www.filost.com and the "Page cannot be found." message appears. It does this almost every time I visit a new site or refresh and it sometimes will do the same randomly, sometimes two or three times in rapid succession. I found a dmp called filost in Dr. Watson and deleted it, then emptied my bin, then rebooted. Started IE and it instantly did the same thing. The dmp file did not return. It has been doing the same thing as before. Each time I hear ir click, I delete it. It's driving me nuts. Any suggestions. Thanks in advance. I gotta run an errand so I'll be back in a few.

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 02:47 PM

Ditch IE and use Firefox, Opera, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 04:22 PM

Have you entered the term in a search engine? Chances are if this is a common problem you'll find web sites of some sort that discuss it and possibly offer solutions. Google it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 07:54 PM

I found quite a few help sites where people posted questions about "filost," but never came back to say whether it got fixed. Either the instructions they got disabled them completely, or I just found a cluster of rude people.

The only one that I found, with a superficial search, was at Computer Guy archive. Fairly detailed instructions, which the fellow with the problem said had "fixed" his machine.

Incidently, this is NOT JUST AN IE PROBLEM. I found complaints from people using a variety of browsers. This apparently is a toolbar hijack, but it is a program that you have to "let" install itself. It's intended to "fill your life with adventure by connecting you to random websites." It just doesn't work very well, apparently.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 08:02 PM

I should have mentioned:

I didn't note whether the instructions included turning off System Restore before you do the cleanup. If you run WinME or WinXP you need to do that, to prevent Restore from putting something back from an infected backup.

For WinXP, in Windows Explorer, right click "My Computer," click "Properties," Select the "System Restore" Tab, click to put an "X" in the box where it says "Turn off System Restore for all drives."

Same procedure to turn it back on after you've gotten clean and rebooted once or twice.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: gnu
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 09:40 PM

Thanks. IE wants $35US to answer my question, if they can.

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 11:11 PM

Your browser has been "captured" aka "hi-jacked."

Lots of "techies" will provide you with a path to freedom.

Forget the MC's wannabe Firefoxers - That browser can also be captured by the likes of "I-Search"

Setup a defence system....start with Gibson Research Center and probe your ports....then explore lavasoft, ZoneAlarm, and spy-bot. However, be VERY cautious of Google "links" which might lead you to mal-ware (malicous software) posing as a solution to your problem.....but instead adding more trojans, loggers, or popups to your machine.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 01:42 AM

HijackThis! is designed to seek out these type of nasties.

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 05:06 AM

HiJackThis is the program used at the site I linked above, both for submitting logs for analysis and for repairs for this problem.

I'll note that instructions that the analyst provided there required some specific selections, based on the logfiles, to enable HiJackThis to get the job done. Additional file deletion and clearing of temp data was also included in the fix.

Several other sites that had less helpful info noted that just running HijackThis (and/or AdAware or Spybot) is unlikely even to detect the problem, since it's an installed program that you gave permission to put on your machine. You probably didn't know you gave permission, and likely didn't intend to; but your crud detectors were told that it was intentionally installed, so until you figure out how to tell them otherwise - it ain't spyware to them.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 08:22 AM

Yes - Hijackthis! is not just an Ad/Spyware remover - it is actually a highly technical sophisticated tool that can look inside your system, and can assist in removing things that you HAVE told your system to ignore.

It's not really a tool for just beginners.

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: GUEST,Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 10:41 AM

Gargoyle makes a good point that I didn't spell out--by suggesting you do a search, this means reading up on the problem in forums. I would be very leery about following links, sponsored or not, that suggest they can solve the problem until I really knew what the problem is. Go with software you trust, don't download promiscuously in your search for the cure. Choose a trusted program (the "promiscuous vs. committment" binary is implied in this advice!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: nutty
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 01:11 PM

Just an idea ....................

Have you used "find" to locate where other files might be located.???

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 02:44 PM

Foolestroupe -

If you run HijackThis and make a new log, it uses the same default filename for the log so it overwrites the previous one. But if you change the name on a log - e.g. by putting the date on the front of the filename (050225_hijackthis.log) - you have a reference copy. HijackThis should just make a new one with the default name the next time you run it. Just let your ref copy sit there until you need it. Comparing a new log to one you saved when the machine was clean should make it quite simple to at least know what's been changed. You may still want some expert advice on what can be "fixed" safely; but you'll be way ahead at the start.

With older Win versions you could do something similar with regedit, to save a "clean version" just for comparison when something comes up; but WinXP makes such frequent changes to registry that it's hardly worth it now.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Tech help. IE keeps opening new window..
From: gnu
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 03:46 PM

I find that purging all temps and cookies once a day and changing my settings to check for newer versions every visit has slowed the little bugger down to a tolerable level. I'm going to put up with it as long as I can and then get a buddy to "upgrade" my operating system. I've been going to do this for a while and I guess the time for it is soon. It won't be a big job as I keep my accounting, clerical, engineering design, etc, on a different PC which is never connected to the net. I transfer files to this computer by CD but never transfer files from this PC to my "work" PC. Thanks for all the help. I truly appreciate your concern, your effort and your time.

gnu