Google Search Results Redirected
Symptoms: Google’s search results redirect you to the wrong page.
You search for something at Google, or other search engines for that matter, and when you click the search results, you’re redirected to a related web page or search page, but NOT the original search result page.
Cause: What causes the Google search redirect?
As embarrassing as it may be, pornographic video content is a common cause of this infection. Someone on your computer may have been trying to view a video that required a “special codec” to view. They may have been prompted to download the new “codec” and, during installation of that codec, the computer becomes infected.
Solution: How to stop Google’s search results from redirecting.
Download the necessary tools and print these instructions, before you begin the cleanup process. This will prevent you from having to return to this page after each reboot.
- Turn off System Restore. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties. Click on the System Restore tab. Check the box that says “Turn off System Restore on all drives.” This will help to prevent a reinfection.
- Cleanup ALL temporary files. This is explained, in more detail, here (opens in a new window).
- Install, update and run Spybot Search & Destroy (free). Make sure you’re running a FULL SYSTEM SCAN. Reboot.
- Install, update and run Webroot Spy Sweeper. Make sure you’re running a FULL SYSTEM SCAN. Reboot.
- UPDATED: (reference this comment) Download, install and update MalwareBytes AntiMalware. Perform a full scan.
- Once the infection has been cleaned and you know your computer is running properly, you can turn System Restore back on.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to post a comment, below. Also, it would be well worth your while to visit BleepingComputer.com and PCTechBytes.com, as they both contain a wealth of free computer repair and maintenance information and both sites are staffed with employees/volunteers to help you fix your computer.
2 Responses to “Google Search Results Redirected”
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I must commend you for posting this fix but things have changed a bit and FixWareout is not being used anymore. As a matter of fact, the author has removed it from use.
The Malwarebytes.org malware remover is the tool we use most now. It should be able to take care of most redirections.
One last thing though. We never turn off system restore until we are sure the computer is clean. Turning it off beforehand could cause a problem if the changes you make cannot be reversed.
So, once it is clean, then we turn off system restore, reboot and then turn it back on and create a restore point immediately.
Keep up the good work.
Dave,
I appreciate your input and I agree, to an extent. About System Restore, though – I would rather start from a newly formatted HDD than restore a computer to an infected state. The other thing is that you can’t be sure the computer is clean, until you delete the restore points, correct? I do understand your point and it does makes sense. I guess you just have to prioritize things to your own liking.
Thanks again!