Can anyone help? I have this problem called malware. So when I click on a google link, it takes me to an advertisement site.

I have the same problem when using Firefox. I can’t seem to get rid of it. I switched to Opera for the time being.

Go here and use the latest version of the Anti-Malware software. I’ve used this recently and it does the job, just make sure you follow the instructions to the letter.

Whatever you do, don’t call your ISP asking us to fix it. We can’t help.

Another problem I faced was that I could not click on a malwarebytes link. I was originally able to get it from someone via email, but it still had trouble running. Would any one be willing to send me the latest version via email? You can email me at cowsrockmysocks at yahoo dot com.
Thanks

What it sounds like is a browser hijaker. Depending on the complexity of the thing they can be nice and easy to get rid of or they can be so awful that it’s easier just to format the drive and start again. (insert sad face here)

If you haven’t already a full system scan with an up to date antivirus would be a good start. If that doesn’t find any problems have a look at the insatlled add ons and active X stuff for your browser. For IE7 click on tools, then click on manage add ons and finally enable or disable addons. What you are looking for are things with strange names for example seemingly random letters. Any you don’t recognise Google (possibly on another computer) and find out what they are. It is sometimes possible to use IE to disable the service which makes permanantly getting rid of it easier.

I’m not sure of the best way to fix the problem, but I know of great ways to prevent from happening to you in the future:

1.) Don’t use MS Windows. (If this is unavoidable move to the next steps.)
2.)Don’t use MS Internet Explorer. (There are many great alternatives: Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc)
3.)Don’t send/download/open e-cards
4.)Be wary of any torrents or other files you download or people send you.

What’s wrong with Windows or IE. Microsoft are very good at regularly updating them, meaning any newly discovered problems are quickly (hopefully)plugged. The same can not always be said for Apple. Safari running on Mac OS X was the first to be hacked in last years PWN2OWN contest (if you can hack the laptop you can take it home). Not only was it the first to fall the bug that was exploited had been made public over a year earlier and Apple had still not got round to fixing it.

First, try Hijack This!, a free utility that should detect any browser hijackers. If that fails, Start > Run > msconfig and look for suspicious start-up programs.

Let us know if that works!

/reinstall windows.

or

/getamac.

/runs before eambos comes

True Lightlyseared, but the difference is that there are way more people that exploit the holes in MS products than they do Apple products. So i’m not against everything microsoft, but if my using OS X and Safari or Firefox means I don’t even need a virus scanner then I’ll take that as reason enough not to use Internet Explorer or Windows.

@Lightlyseared For the time being, Windows is still the main target. OS X is built with UNIX underpinnings, so for the most part, it’s harder to hack. Safari is an app, so it’s sort of different than saying “OS X got hacked”—but yeah.

I’m an Apple fanboy… yep!