# Computer Help Needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2010, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505 "2010-08-07T12:22:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/1 "2010-08-07T12:22:04Z")
My Spybot S&D trashed some malware. One of those phoney security program things. Cool so far. But now, my IE won’t log onto the Web. I’m posting from Firefox. I’ve got several hundred Fav-ed sites on IE. What do I do?😕 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/2 "2010-08-07T12:29:50Z")
consider using a better browser like FF import your favorites and they become bookmarks FILE -\> IMPORT -\> ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/3 "2010-08-07T12:34:22Z")
Assuming that it was related to [this](http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-av-security-suite.html) one, you need to go into your settings-\>connections-\>LAN settings and uncheck the “use proxy server” box. That’s how the malware redirected your web pages when it was active. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/4 "2010-08-07T12:38:17Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > import your favorites and they become bookmarks > > FILE -\> IMPORT -\> This doesn’t help. As I don’t understand it, or know how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/5 "2010-08-07T12:38:28Z")
hmm… Export your favories so you can save those links in a file. It’s a little hinky to do. Look under help ‘Favorites’. You need to hit the 'favorites button, and then the little arrow next to it. Choosing Favorites from the menu does not seem to give you that option. Then, I would run windows update. Just to start. When that doesn’t work ;), I would try to reinstall IE. Once reinstalled, you can re-import your favorites from the exported file. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/6 "2010-08-07T12:39:42Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Assuming that it was related to [this](http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-av-security-suite.html) one, you need to go into your settings-\>connections-\>LAN settings and uncheck the “use proxy server” box. That’s how the malware redirected your web pages when it was active. Could you explain what you posted? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/7 "2010-08-07T12:44:25Z")
To be clearer - Open IE and export your favorites so you don’t lose them when you are in IE. You do not have to be connected to do this. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/8 "2010-08-07T12:46:39Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > hmm… Export your favories so you can save those links in a file. It’s a little hinky to do. Look under help ‘Favorites’. You need to hit the 'favorites button, and then the little arrow next to it. Choosing Favorites from the menu does not seem to give you that option. > > Then, I would run windows update. Just to start. When that doesn’t work ;), I would try to reinstall IE. Windows update will not run. Cannot find IE Discs. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/9 "2010-08-07T12:48:33Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > > [@johnpost](#): > > > > import your favorites and they become bookmarks > > > > FILE -\> IMPORT -\> > > This doesn’t help. > > As I don’t understand it, or know how to do it. in Firefox, on the menu bar on the top click on FILE then click on IMPORT then select the option for Microsoft Internet Explorer ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/10 "2010-08-07T12:49:56Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > > [@enipla](#): > > > > hmm… Export your favories so you can save those links in a file. It’s a little hinky to do. Look under help ‘Favorites’. You need to hit the 'favorites button, and then the little arrow next to it. Choosing Favorites from the menu does not seem to give you that option. > > > > Then, I would run windows update. Just to start. When that doesn’t work ;), I would try to reinstall IE. > > Windows update will not run. > > Cannot find IE Discs. > > Suggestions? You said it would not connect. Can you launch IE? Start the program? If you can launch it, even if it does not connect to any sites, you should be able to save/export your favs to a file. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/11 "2010-08-07T12:54:10Z")
Try following the directions [here](https://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/ietopten.mspx), under “Repair Layered Service Provider problems”. EDIT: Although, if you can post through FF, that may not be all that helpful either. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/12 "2010-08-07T12:57:38Z")
And Bosda, you don’t need disks to load IE. If you have a connection through FF, go to [microsoft.com](http://microsoft.com) and download the new IE. Don’t install it untill you export your existing favs to a file. Once reinstalled, you can import your favs. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/13 "2010-08-07T13:27:39Z")
All problems resolved. Darn malware had changed my proxy server settings. ISP helped with fix. Many thanks to the kind Dopers who assissted! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/14 "2010-08-07T13:32:58Z")
Just to be sure I would download [Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware](http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php) and run it as well. I have found Malwarebytes catches things Spybot misses and I have also found Spybot to catch things Malwarebytes misses as well. I would also make sure to scan with Windows Defender and your anti-virus program as well. It’s great Spybot caught it, now to make sure 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/15 "2010-08-07T13:44:50Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Assuming that it was related to [this](http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-av-security-suite.html) one, you need to go into your settings-\>connections-\>LAN settings and uncheck the “use proxy server” box. That’s how the malware redirected your web pages when it was active. Looks like you had the answer. Or where certainly on the right track. Kudos to you. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/16 "2010-08-07T13:51:46Z")
NM… Saw that it was resolved. Bitter experience, **enipla**. Wife got this one a month or two ago. It’s a nasty little bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/17 "2010-08-07T21:55:54Z")
New problem! My modem is intermittantly going out. AT&T is sending a replacement. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/18 "2010-08-07T21:59:22Z")
Haven’t needed anything other than AVG free for many years. haven’t needed AVG free since Microsoft Security Essentials. I will second (or third) suggestions to use a ‘better browser’. As an internet user and website ‘developer’ I loathe IE in all it’s forms/versions. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/549505/19 "2010-08-07T22:05:15Z")
It never ends with computers, **Bosda**. I remove 5-8 of these types of viruses each week at work (mobile IT technician). For reference there are two ways they re-direct or block your internet traffic, using a proxy as in your case or by adding entries to the hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts). For what it’s worth I have seen these viruses on PCs running up to date versions of all major types of anti-virus, it seems nothing can reliably stop them, the best defence is the person operating the computer.