Perpetual problems

[Aggers]

Do you ever get angry with your computer? I do. Almost every day.

Lately my laptop keeps changing things for no apparent reason and it makes me feels like packing it in. Here are some of the things that happen …

Some time ago I said that I could not access my favourites. WM or Suff told me that Control + Shift + O would bring them up, and it did. Then one day it
didn't but a link appeared at the top of the screen that did the trick.. The next day that had disappeared and Control + Shift + O worked again. Every day when I
start up my laptop I wonder what wretched problem I'm going to get.

After installing Google Chrome and using it for some time, it has been taken over by a search engine called Babylon, which now comes up when I click on Google,
and if I click on a word to check it on the Internet, a search engine called Funmoods steps in. I've tried to get rid of them to reinstate Google but can't.
I suspect these intruders are spying on me because I now get lots of junk Emails.

To be honest, if it wasn't for Vocal Voices I would cancel my Broadband and sod the Internet.

Are these problem experienced by anyone else, or is it just me?

[Suff]

Aggers,

These problems you see are the driving reason why I pay to use Norton 360 and why WM uses a very customised and restricted version of browsing.

To be honest, I believe that Chrome is the biggest part of your problem. Recently when IE10 shipped, Chrome and Firefox were compared and found that both were likely to allow you to click on phishing links more than 50% of the time and IE10 less than 10% of the time.

I don't like chrome, never have. But then I Never EVER install an ISP version of IE. You are just asking for trouble and can't get it out. I use Firefox when IE10 is not compatible. It is the second most compatible browser on the market, behind IE.

I don't get these issues because I run Norton 360. Yes it's possible to install spyware but I'm also careful to look at advanced settings when I install software.

With Chrome, you are on a rollercoaster. Google updates chrome weekly to monthly. So you can see new versions downloading and installing regularly with unpredictable impacts on your system. Firefox is similar. IE isn't. Another of the reasons I like it.

You are correct, Bablyon are spammers. Check here, to get rid of it.

Also try this one for Funmoods.

Always check advanced settings for cheap/freeware when installing. Never allow Ask, Bablyon or any other toolbar. I don't even allow the Google toolbar. The only installed toolbar on my IE is Norton and it's hidden.

Personally I'd remove Chrome and work with IE, but that's just me. Firefox is a good backup but you can use compatibility mode in IE10 to get non compatible sites to work.

Have a go. There is no need to be in this mess and some simple steps plus some precautions should help you fix this mess.

[Workingman]

Aggers,

Suff is absolutely right, but I would also add that you are on a steep learning curve that took us years. That's why we are here to help.

I stopped using Chrome because, IMO, it is in itself a kind of spyware - there are well known privacy issues with it. If you like it, Comodo Dragon is a better alternative. I also do not use Firefox, for similar reasons. Pale Moon, with the AdBlock and NoScript Add-ons is better. Opera is my favourite browser, but it is slower than the others, noticeably, on some sites. That's its own security in operation.

Never, ever, use an ISP version of a browser, and never download toolbars.

If you have found software that you think will be useful always take the option of a custom install: don't accept defaults. Some software will fail to install if you untick or decline some of the 'freebies' on offer. If that's the case you can be assured that it was hoping to install something you did not want/need and which could probably spy on you or install other things behind your back.

Always have a Status bar open in a browser. This will tell you where any link is actually going. The link in the browser might say BBC.co.uk but the Status bar might show http://www.babesinleather.ru.

One last thing for now. Set up regular restore points so that If you do install something, or have something installed without your permission, you can uninstall it and go back to a System Restore point before the installation. Here's how: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows- ... ows-vista/

If you want to do it manually when you install something it's here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows- ... m-restore/

And don't give up.... we will help.

[Aggers]

Thanks my friends.

I have uninstalled Google Chrome, also anything with the word Babylon in it.

But when I click on Windows Internet Explorer I still get Babylon.

[Workingman]

Aggers,

Go to Control Panel>>>Programs and Features. If Babylon is there uninstall it, also Funmoods, and reboot.

If the options are not available download Autoruns from here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysi ... 63902.aspx

Run it and from the Internet Explorer tab untick or R click and delete anything you do not need/want.

You might also want this: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner it should do a clean of the registry to get rid of any leftover keys.

[Suff]

Hi aggers. I found a Very comprehensive document for removing Babylon. If you don't need hitman or malwarebytes, don't install them, but don't forget the links either it's useful to have.

Also I suggest you upgrade to IE10 using Windows Updates as it does not push automatically. Then I suggest you switch on compatibility view for now as it is likely to give the best performance for you. This is found in Tools->compatibility view settings and is a check box at the bottom to view all sites in it.

Once you are happy that you have it working properly, we can talk about protection.

[Suff]

Just as an aside, Revo Uninstaller free, has a registry scan mode and a file scan mode which removes all leftover registry entries and files from a windows uninstall.

It's a useful tool that I have which removes much of the need for ccleaner.

[Aggers]

I've been trying some of the suggestions you have made, but still haven't got rid of Babbylon.

I've downloaded and applied the CCleaner suggested, and I've also got rid of Google Chrome .

Would it help if I used System Restore and went way back to the time before I started having these problems?
Is there a downside to doing that?

[Workingman]

The reason I offered CCleaner is because it also cleans out your tmp and temp folders/files - these can be repositories for the download locations of malware to which they can return for a reinstall if they are not fully removed. It is not as capable an uninstaller as Revo.

Did you try the AdwCleaner from the link Suff gave? I checked it out and it looks to work OK.

Using Sytem Restore will be fine. It should only remove any downloads you have installed, all your personal info will be unchanged. However, try it after using the AdwCleaner tool.

[Aggers]

I ran the Adw Cleaner, which then told me to run ARO 2013 Trial Version.
This told me I had over a thousand errors (which I don't believe)
and then asked me for money to deal with them, which I declined.

System restore doesn't go back far enough for my purpose.

Babylon still runs, so it seems indestructable.