Getting Redirected to Survey Pages at Random
When I am viewing a web page and then click a link, I am randomly redirected to the globalvisitorsurvey site. For example, when on 'www.abc.net.au' and open a news item, I can easily find myself at the survey site. Virus scanning cleaned up everything and it remains.
Note in the URL syntax below the use of the web page. That appears whenever I am redirected to that site.
For information, the ABC is prohibited from sponsoring other sites as it is a government broadcaster and I have confirmed they have no association with this survey group.
All Replies (8)
Try the Firefox Safe Mode to see how it works there. The Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.
(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)
- You can open the Firefox 4.0+ Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
- Or use the Help menu item and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.
Don't select "Reset Firefox" just use "Start in Safe Mode." To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shift key) to open it again. If it is good in the Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.
Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.
When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help other users who have the same problem.
Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
- http://www.superantispyware.com/ - SuperAntispyware
- http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Microsoft Safety Scanner
- http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx - Windows Defender: Home Page
- http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Spybot Search & Destroy
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
Thanks!
I am in the process of running the programmes as suggested. My time away from Win (using Linux) has equated to forgetting some of those simple suggestions.
I will post later if it, or if it does not work.
No use at all - I tried ALL the suggestions and more.
Nothing gets rid of the thing - it is SO annoying!
Any more suggestions?
Been off for a while and using the 64-bit version Namoroka there are no redirects, random adverts nor surveys BUT after running ALL the suggested malware killers, its still is there popping up random ads and so on.
More ideas perhaps? Of course, I could reformat the drive but that is rather drastic. I will do that if I have to.
Thanks!!
Found Yontoo and tried to uninstall that as it matched the description of what I am having trouble with - restart after the uninstall and no affect. Still have the underlined words that when I scoll the mouse over, they present and advert saying I am a winner of an iPad or similar.
Shall keep trying. 64-Bit still bullet proof.
Hello All once more!
Well, those that are reading this from time to time.
Yontoo killed but still the links persisted. So I grabbed and installed "NoScript" as a FireFox "Add-On". Ver 2.6.5.8
The outcome is that it has killed ALL random links and so far, redirects. While I use Linux 95% of the time, that small 5% has been link free with Win7. My only problem is that it takes time to teach NoScript which sites I would like to trust and which I do not - not to mention at times killing a feature that I later realise I did need and want after all. A bit like ZoneAlarm for those that are familiar with that solid firewall. Still, my PC and browsing seem safer and certainly less "random". Patience in using NoScript is the key. It takes time to get it going but once you have it 'taught' it sits silently keeping an eye on events.
I will keep looking at how to kill off the malware without resorting to NoScript. Further, I will try and workout how the devil it got installed!?
Partly though not totally solved. At least this is a solution for the moment.
Good luck and I hope I have been of SOME use to someone. Say G'day if you see me on the street.............
Modified by OzRattler