Has my browser been hijacked?

After leaving the computer (& closing Firefox) the hard drive runs wild hours later. Task Manager says Firefox is using ~50% of the CPU (rest is mainly system idle), versus only ~5% normally (ie. right now). Has the browser been hijacked, even though closed? Or is the computer just sick? Ideas?

You should never install software or a Firefox extension when a website asks you to do this as this is likely an effort to install malware.
You can check the target line in the Firefox desktop shortcut (right-click: Properties) to make sure that nothing is appended after the path to the Firefox program.
Your System Details List shows the Default Tab 2.3.1 and the SafeSearch 2.1 extensions.
Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. 
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. 
All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
*Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
*AdwCleaner: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
*SuperAntispyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/
*Microsoft Safety Scanner: http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
*Windows Defender: Home Page: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
*Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
*Kasperky Free Security Scan: http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
*Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller: http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
*"Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

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Each time I open my Firefox browser, the following web page opens. Has my browser been hijacked? http:former/v18/?v=18&cid=4151&clickid=0066992567558218278&a=

Please help me get rid of the following web page that appears each time I open the Firefox browser. It appears as a separate page behind the browser window, and each time I close it. Very annoying -- has my version of Firefox been hacked? I have run Norton complete scan, etc. -- no problem detected. Here is the web page -- http://www.appround.biz/lp/videoperformer/v18/?v=18&cid=4151&clickid=0066992567558218278&a=1 == and this is the message on that page --
There is a new Video Player version. Install new version now for better performance

You should never install software or a Firefox extension when a website asks you to do this as this is likely an effort to install malware.
You can check the target line in the Firefox desktop shortcut (right-click: Properties) to make sure that nothing is appended after the path to the Firefox program.
Your System Details List shows the Default Tab 2.3.1 and the SafeSearch 2.1 extensions.
Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. 
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. 
All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
*Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
*AdwCleaner: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
*SuperAntispyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/
*Microsoft Safety Scanner: http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
*Windows Defender: Home Page: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
*Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
*Kasperky Free Security Scan: http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
*Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller: http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
*"Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

Has my DNS been hijacked? (FTP problem)

I am connecting by FTP to this machine as root to edit some root-owned files in Transmit. Now I open
/private/var/log/ftp.log
and I see log entries like this
<pre style='font-family: Monaco;width: 90%; margin: auto; padding: 5px; border: 1px solid #B1B5B9; background: #EEEFF1;'>FTP LOGIN FROM hoetechnology.com as root (class: real, type: REAL)</pre>
Google revealed that hoetechnology.com is a notorious malware site that fools Mac users into installing a bogus codec that instead hijacks your DNS.
Examining my own computer revealed my DNS settings were default, so no viruses had hijacked my DNS.
Examining my router revealed the same default DNS settings.
Examining my DSL modem revealed that the modem was set to Earthlink DNS servers, so that apparently is the DNS I am using.
I even flushed my DNS cache to no avail.
Does anyone know what this means?

Note: ran into this SAME pinkteentop.com thing.
Converted my Host table over from Tiger based off
this source:
# This MVPS HOSTS file is a free download from: #
# http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/ #
# Notes: the browser does not read this "#" symbol #
# You can create your own notes, after the # symbol #
# This must be the first line: 127.0.0.1 localhost #
# ------------------Updated: 08-18-07---------------------#
Umm this really freaked me; from reading my routing table, it
"hijacked" my ip address and made it look like it installed itself
on my internal network 192.168.x.x
If this fell into...it looks like a vector/hole/exploit.
i'm going to use a blocking host table **** or High Water;
have for long time and it has served me well.
Because the routing table gets messed, i proposed that
an internal trojan/virus was installed, was broadcasting
back to pinkteentop and was using my machine as a
replicator of their ***** relay.
Jim

When FF restarts my "browser.newtab.url" has been HIJACKED, it works fine if i reset it BUT on restart its back were it was ? HOW CAN I FIX THIS ?wstfbe

when FF restarts my "browser.newtab.url" has been HIJACKED, it works fine if i reset it BUT on restart its back were it was ? HOW CAN I FIX THIS ? have reset it 20 times works fine while program FIREFOX Runs if program or OS shuts down its HIJACKED AGAIN.
there must be a file or location that is ONLY USED ON LAUNCH, That has been modified or hacked.
small clinch that is driving me nuts.
Thanks RMY

What is "browser.newtab.url" changed to?
Knowing that may lead us to a solution as to what Malware your PC is infested with.

My browser has been hijacked by malicious adware. How do I fix this?

MMy browser has been hijacked and I am taken to unwanted sites. A Safari symbol appeared warning me that my computer has been compromised and that my personal data is at risk. A number for Apple support was given and 200$ requested to fix the problem by a company called NTS IT CARE. Not trusting this I hung up. The problem is real enough company and I would appreciate any help .

1. Choose Force Quit from the Apple menu, close Safari, and then launch it with the Shift key held down. If that doesn't work, temporarily disconnect the computer from the Internet.
2. Click here and follow the instructions, or if there’s a type of adware not covered by them on the computer, these ones. If you're willing to use a tool to remove it(you don't need to, but may find it easier), you can instead run Adware Medic; this link is a direct download.
(123476)

My search feature has been Hijacked. Everytime I try to click on a relivant search it goes to a totally unrelated site. I removed firefox and reinstalled it but it did not work. This does not happen in IE. Please help, I do not want to use IE. Michael

My Browser search has been Hijacked, How do I get rid of this. It does not do this in IE. Please help cause I do not want to use IE unless I have to.
I have tried different anti virus programs but its still here.
Michael

Install, update, and run these programs in this order. They are listed in order of efficacy. '''''(Not all programs detect the same Malware, so you may need to run them all to solve your problem.)''''' These programs are all free for personal use, but some have limited functionality in the "free mode" - but those are features you really don't need to find and remove the problem that you have. 
''Note: If your Malware infection is bad enough and you are mis-directed to URL's other than what is posted, you may have to use a different PC to download these programs and use a USB stick to transfer them to the afflicted PC.''
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - [http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php] 
SuperAntispyware - [http://www.superantispyware.com/] 
AdAware - [http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/] 
Spybot Search & Destroy - [http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html] 
Windows Defender: Home Page - [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx] 
Also, if you have a search engine re-direct problem, see this: 
http://deletemalware.blogspot.com/2010/02/remove-google-redirect-virus.html
If these don't find it or can't clear it, post in one of these forums for specialized malware removal help: 
[http://www.spywarewarrior.com/index.php] 
[http://forum.aumha.org/] 
[http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/] 
[http://bleepingcomputer.com]

Safari has been hijacked

My browser has been hijacked (for lack of a better term) by a warning pop-up from some site called mac-online-alert. I click the pop-up and it reopens. When I try to use the keyboard, it doesn't work except to quit Safari. When I reopen Safari, it opens to the same page and pop-up. They menu across the top of Safari (File, Edit, View, etc.) has limited options, most are gray. I thought I could get rid of it by emptying my caches. I went to my email and clicked on a link to an ad and it opened a new browser window, but the pop-up still has control.
I'm using Firefox now, any suggestions how to get Safari back?
Macbook Pro using 10.10.1

If that does not work, additional options here: A Browser Pop-up has Taken Over Safari.
(Note that I am affiliated with that site, and some pages contain ads).

My phone has been hijacked remotely

My account has been compromised and my phone has been hijacked remotely. What can I do immediately?

Highly unlikely unless someone has had physical access to the device and jailbroken it, even then... it's unlikely
What sillyness is occurring that you believe the device has been "hijacked"?

I got an error message that said my browser had been hijacked and was given a random number to call. The person told me my browser was hijacked and wanted to help me fix it. Sounds like spam to me, how do i fix it?

I got an error msg that my browser was compromised. Was given an 800 # to call and the person told me he could help me fix it.
He said my browser was hijacked and he wanted to remote into my machine to fix it. Sounds like spam to me! How do I protect my
computer from spam.

Choose Force Quit from the Apple menu, close Safari, and then launch it with the Shift key held down. If that doesn't work, temporarily disconnect the computer from the Internet.
(125496)

Browser is hijacked by Conduit and I cannot get it back

My browser home page has been hijacked by Conduit and I cannot get it back. I have tried:
- changing the home page in Options
- removing all toolbars and extensions
- removing all Conduit-related programs via control panel applet
- using the about:config to search for 'Conduit' and reset all config lines
- scanning with SuperAntiSpyware
- using the Mozilla profile manager to delete my Firefox profile
- using Help-> Troubleshooting Information -> Reset Firefox
- searching and deleting line containing 'Conduit' in the .js files in my profile
No matter what I do, whenever Firefox starts, my homepage is set back to Conduit. How can I fix this?
thx

I have just had the same problem but found part of the solution in this forum.
The first thing to do is to type into the Firefox address bar about:config and hit enter.
Acknowledge that you'll be careful!
In the search bar type "conduit" and hit enter.
Nullify all the entries by right clicking and select "reset". There are likely to be a lot.
Now, what the other forum thread failed to say was to then go to Options, Privacy, and under History select "Remember History".
Next, in the same window, select "Delete Individual Cookies" and search for "conduit". Delete all cookies containing the word conduit.
Close and reopen Firefox and all should be well.
As an added precaution I have added the Block Site extension to Firefox and in the options have added "search.conduit.com", which will hopefully stop this pest from reappearing. DO NOT SELECT THIS HYPERLINK FROM THIS POST!

Has my Mac been take over as a spam engine?

Hello everyone. My Email account has recently been swamped by "Mailer demon"messages - i.e. messages returned as undeliverable, none of which I have actually sent. They are all rather nasty spam, allegedly sent from my address. Some are Russian *****, more recently I have had Nigerian money scams and similar thing as well. Needless to say, they do not appear in my "Sent" file in Mail. So either some spammer is simply adding my address to his products, or- nasty thought - my mac (a G5 tower) has been infiltrated by some software which generates these things, or at least allows the spammer to use it for his purposes. Any one have any ideas how I distinguish between these possibilities, and what do I do if the latter turns out to be true? Unless I can identify and destroy the illegal software I will simply reinstall it even if I do a complete erase and reinstallation of my applications and documents, which I would much rather avoid doing. Any help greatly appreciated!
Hugh Rowell

Not quite sure how this fits with iPhoto 6, but what's +most likely+ happened here is that someone who happens to have have your email address on their machine has been hijacked by a spam bot. What happen here is that this software grabs an email address at random from that machine and sends it out +as though from your machine+. You get all the ones that people bounce or which don't find a working delivery address.
Buy a Spam filter application and get on with your Life.
Regards
TD

My "new tabs" and home pages have been hijacked by MSNGames, with the search window opening in Bing. Previously, my home page was Google, and the new tab blank. How do I restore this?

This started after I downloaded the latest version of Explorer. It not only affects Explorer (which I never use), but Firefox as well.

I saw that article before I posted my question. At your suggestion, I reread it and then downloaded, and ran, the 'Malwarebytes' free program listed in the article. This 'free anti-malware' program does NOT actually do any system scanning. The closest it comes to actually 'scanning' for malware is, it checks your system to see if you have a good anti-malware system running. Period. So, it told me that I have McAfee and that it is up and running, all secure (which I already knew). The only real system scanning it does is to check for registry errors, junk files, etc. Then if you click 'repair' it repairs a small percentage of them and asks you for money, if you want to repair all of them. No thanks.
I suppose I could go out there into the big wide web and start looking for other free anti-malware programs, and start running one after another. But let me ask a follow-up question: If I UNINSTALL and then REINSTALL Firefox would that solve the problem? Or is it likely that the malware will still be lurking on my system?
Has anyone out there actually been hijacked by GOODTASKSEARCH? They are apparently one of many pseudonyms of something called LIGHTSSEARCH.
Thank you very much for your time.

Error Code: -17601 "Attempted to load a module for a step whose module has not yet been specified"

I am trying to run my first Test Stand sequence, and am getting the following Error: "Error Code: -17601, Attempted to load a module for a step whose module has not yet been specified".
I have specified the correct module under the Test Stand "Action" properties, and am pointing to the right vi. I am not sure why it is giving me this error.

Hi Shoab,
So when you right click on your step and select Specify Module.... The Edit LabVIEW VI dialog will appear, in the VI Pathname control is your VI and under that control appear the full path to your VI, if it contains "(No File Specified)" then thats your problem. You will need to use the file browse control to find your VI.
Regards
Ray Farmer
Regards
Ray Farmer

Have I been hijacked?

My mail app is sending the same mail to at least one address once a day automatically. I know because one of those addresses belongs to a friend who keeps informing me. Has my mail app been hijacked?

No, you definitely have not been "hijacked," at least not in terms of a virus. Unless, of course, you are the (un)lucky discoverer of a brand new Mac virus! (Which is probably extremely unlikely, considering that there really aren't any real Mac viruses, so you'd have discovered the first.)
As to what's actually going on, are you sure that the messages are actually coming from Mail? Can you see them in your Sent mailbox? Are they sent at exactly the same time every day, and what time is that? Is it possible that you (or someone else, possibly as a prank) set up some kind of automated script that might be doing this, accidentally or otherwise? What does the e-mail message say?

Unable to get the composite instance for the invocation. This could be because instance has not yet been created or because the audit level for the SOA infra has been set to Off

I am on Oracle 11.1.1.7 BPM suite on W8 64 bit. I can't launch the flow trace and get the error "Unable to get the composite instance for the invocation. This could be because instance has not yet been created or because the audit level for the SOA infra has been set to Off". I have set the audit level to development at the soa-infra>SOA Administration> Common Properties > Audit level set to development and Capture Composite Instance State is Checked.
Can somebody advice.
Thanks

Can you please confirm me the following steps...
Log in to the EM console, Expand soa-infra (soa_server1) , go to the partition where your composite is been deployed, Click on your composite, On the right, click on the dropdown Settings and choose Composite Audit Level. you can choose to set the Audit Level for this composite. If you choose Inherit, it will take the settings to what the server is being set to. Otherwise, we can override it by choosing Off, Production, or Development.
Make sure your setting for that composite is not Off, keep inherit or production or development.
Thanks,
N

Has my browser been hijacked?

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