IE6 redirects from actual links when selected from search engines.

I am having this problem that just recently started. Whenever I wish to select a link from a yahoo search, I don't get taken to the actual site, instead I am re-directed to a non-related webpage. I usually have to go "back" to the search list and re-select it several times before being taken to the right page. What has happened? I haven't had this problem before.

I am connected to the net by cable modem, I am running an updated version of McAfee virus scan with internet security. But this has only started occuring this past week. How can I fix this? It's quite frustrating.

Hey also, the most of these problems also include my aim instant messenger. My Instant Messenger won't open properly. But this only happens on my login. Everything works fine under my wife's login.

 

ggreg--What address shows in the Status Bar when you hover over the link?
Is that the site to which you are being directed? And does the link look like the address of the site you are expecting to see?
It could be spyware (which includes browser hijackers).
You may want to run the procedure here
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074

P.S. If this does not help, is the page to which you are being directed an advertisement page. Is it always the same one? Are you sure it is a website page and not a popup? What happens if you click it off?

 

You asked some very good questions, ones I should have addressed in the original post. When I hover over the link it does show the actual webaddress, but when I click it, it does not take me to that web site. Most of the pages I am re-directed do seem like advertisements to me, like for software and such, but other times this happens it re-directs me to another search engine, like Lycos.com or something. But if I continue to return back to the original search results I will eventually be taken to the correct page, and I don't always get re-directed to the same pages.

I think that it could be spyware, or ad ware one ( both seem like the same thing to me). But I could have sworn that I had these things cleaned off of my system. How do you really get rid of this stuff. I have gone as far as formatting my hard drive and re-installing the windows program, immediately after, which, I will install the McAfee virus protection before ever going out on the web. But I always seem to find more/different adware/spyware programs on my system.

I'm almost ready to toss this system into on coming traffic!!!!!

 

ggreg--Looks like spyware to me. Lycos.com is known to be a purveyor of spyware
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=5962
Go through the procedure I mentioned earlier and post your HiJackThis log as directed.

 

okay thank you. I have a question though, with all the anti-spyware (anti- virus software) that I already have on the computer, does this help prevent this from happening again?

My firewalls and pop-up blockers are a real pain in the neck. But they don't seem to work since I keep ending up with these stupid, frustrating problems of ad ware, pop-ups and redirected sites loaded onto the computer.

I'm going through the process prescribed in the link you provided. I've always been a bit weary of online scanners.

I don't know if you know but I am having tremendous problems with my aol instant messenger as well. It won't start up properly or show my buddy window, but when I log off my computer it will tell me that it has to end a program before shutting down and it identifies the "aim.exe" file as the problem file. It's as if I have deleted an important necessary file during one of my routine virus scan/cleanups.

It seems that every problem I have on my system usually starts with my connection to the internet.

 

ggreg--

Maybe.
But if you use antivirus, firewall, antispyware programs correctly, your chances will be good. Correctly means to have your antivirus and firewall start at boot and to run scans with other anti-malware programs every few days if not daily--of course with the latest updates.

However the first order of business is to clean up your PC. The scans suggested in the link I posted are all legitimate and will not give you any spyware.
If, after all the apparent spyware is deleted, some problems still remain, we will try to work them out. But many of them sound spyware-related and hopefully will have gone away.

P.S. When the time comes, you may want to read the following for further steps to take to prevent infection in the future. (I wrote it quickly (or stole it from somewhere), so forgive that it is not too polished.)

"Neither AdAware or SpybotS&D are proactive, unless you have the Plus version of AdAware (and it is not too trustworthy) and have set the Immunize function in SpybotS&D. So updating their reference files and scanning every few days is desireable. MS claims that Windows Defender is proactive --at least in some respects.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
I would suggest you add SpywareBlaster to your list of security programs.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
When installed, it does not run in the common sense of that word, but it is proactive in stopping bad BHO's and other spyware. It does, however, require that you update its data files from time to time.
There also Security measures that IE can add.
For example use Restricted Sites. (I use IESpyAds to populate it
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm
as well as SpywareBlaster's list )
And the various settings in IE Tools|Internet Options|Security Tab|Custom level. I set those pretty strictly, and do not allow ActiveX controls to run in Internet Sites Security tab|Custom Level. I put sites where ActiveX is needed (and which I do trust) into Trusted Sites,
Someone's else's opinion on this
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/surf-safe.html
Also set the slider on the Privacy tab to Medium High.
And perhaps use a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Finally be wary of any attachment you get in an email--even from a friend. Scan it first with an antivirus program.
And be careful about the sites to which you surf and the downloads you make. "

 

I had this exact problem, and posted my HJT log and the brilliant folks here solved my problem. It is def. spyware, and your problem should be fixed after you post your HJT log

It should be exactly 3 clicks on the search link before it goes to your desired page, at least that was mine, you could have a different version of spyware.