I need some computer help here..

[Konrad]

My almost-six-yr-old now gets on this laptop while I'm away at work.

(He can't read/write very well, but he can mimic our password and likes to play Super Mario Bros and other stuff.

The problem is that (like I said) he can't read.  And he's only 5.

He's somehow managed to get something into this computer that is very annoying.

Here's a basic description of what happens:

I open an internet window (IE), and while the page is loading, a second partial window opens on top of the first window.

And here's the devious part of it..  Whatever page I'm trying to view, it completely mimics/copies it.  The best way to describe it is that it almost appears that the second unwanted window is completely transparent and you can see through it to your original window.

I can tell by the url that it's some marketing/redirect/evil/satanic url. 

The prob is, I have no idea how to delete this program or whatever it is that he unwittingly downloaded.

Lectures about children online aside, can anyone suggest what to do?

I'm tired of hitting Alt+F4. 

:-\

Konrad

[Greg Luckett]

You are running virus and adware protection software?

[Frank Hagan]

Not sure which one it is, but you're probably right; its a redirect script.  So the first thing is to identify it.

First step is to try one or more of the "malware" scanning programs.  I would start with the free version of malwarebytes at http://malwarebytes.org ... it recently garnered a Cnet Editor's Choice for catching more than the alternatives.  Once it identifies what it is, either print out the page or write down the name. 

If malwarebytes doesn't find anything, try Spybot Search & Destroy at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html.  Ad-aware is another one, but they kind of hide the free version on their site.

What anti-virus are you using?  It should have detected this.  If you have an older version that hasn't been updated in a while, you might try one of the free ones that gets high marks in reviews.  I'm using AVG-Free, from http://free.avg.com/.  It nags you a bit to buy their "internet suite" ... one of those infernal bundles of crap you don't need.  But its not too bad ... they put the "Upgrade Now" banner below their results box, so its not in the way.

Let us know which one it is when you find out. 

[ChrisObee]

If you are running XP you can try to go to a previous system restore point. That should fix the problem but won't remove it from your system.  Then you can run a malware tool to remove it from your system. If you use system restore you will find that any program that you have installed between the time of the system restore point used and the present will no longer be installed.  You will not lose any user created documents.  

Start Menu / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Resore

Select "Restore my computer to an earier time"  click next.  

Click on the latest date before your problem started, click next.  

Read the information on system restore and click next to begin.  

[lewisboats]

Microsoft also has a malicious software detector/eliminator that is free...you could try that too... along with AVG Free for antivirus and malware.

Steve

[Guest LeeH]

Presuming you have nothing of questionable legality on your hard drive, one option is to take it to Best Buy and let the Geek Squad sort it out for you. (Interesting that the brilliant marketing mind that came up with that - no doubt a worthless hippy - didn't think to call it the Worthless Geek Squad, or the Otherwise Worthless Geek Squad). Anyway, that's a reliable option for anyone who doesn't want to spend hours and hours on it.

There are also a couple anti-malware sites where you can download a registry reader, such as "HiJack This," so you can post a copy of your registry for expert review. But pruning your own registry, even under the tutelage of an on-line geek, can be an iffy propositition, in my experience.

[Konrad]

Well, I ran Windows Defender and it did come up with one item, although I don't know what it was.  I had to go to work and let it complete the scan.  The whiff took care of it while I was gone.  It hasn't occured since yesterday, so it must have gotten it.  Thanks for the input.

The Geek Squad are the worst kind of hippies: The kind that actually know something useful.  They're also the most rare.  ;D

[Bruce Kershaw]

"That's MISTER hippie-hater to YOU, pal..."

[shadow=red,left][glow=red,2,300]Aw... Bummer, Man![/glow][/shadow]

[Konrad]

You wanna see something entertaining?

Do a Google image search for "no hippies".

It's funny.