Pop-up and non-working links after Windows System Defender is gone

alright · Nov 1, 2009

Hi, I'm having some issues. Normally I can fix the minor spyware/malware issues I get on random occasions by searching out guides on the internet, but this has me very confused.

I randomly got hit with the Windows System Defender malware. It shut down my anti-virus, starting screwing up my browsing, and kept popping up with fake virus alerts. I had fixed someone else's computer once that had this and went about doing the same thing. I used Malwarebyte's anti-malware, it found some things, fixed them and then restarted. It did not remove the Windows System Defender unfortunately and my computer was acting funky and slow. So I gave System Restore a shot.

Windows System Defender seems to be gone, I have tried numerous spyware/adware programs (some in safe mode) and they find nothing, anti-virus finds nothing, and I looked for the files that normally exist with WSD and there is nothing, but my computer is still running a tad slow, and when I browse the web, randomly 2-3 new web browsing windows will open to obvious spyware type sites or to pages that get errors. Also, when I Google anything, then click on a link, it takes me to a complete different site, a site advertising something.

I am completely baffled and any help would be appreciated. I am thinking I shouldn't have System Restored because that is what has screwed everything up.

Thanks in advance.

TimW · Nov 3, 2009

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

**** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****

Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

Starting your computer in Safe mode

If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.

If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.

To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:

Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!

Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.

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Pop-up and non-working links after Windows System Defender is gone

alright Private E-2

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member