The Reason for Google Search Redirection

Does the Google web browser of your computer have that tendency to show you a different and oftentimes unwanted item or website every time you look for something in its search field? And does that item or website often ask you to do something like fill in personal information in its fields or, more commonly, offers or sells you things that you do not want or need? You may not know it, but most likely your browser or computer has been hit with the now infamous Google redirect malware.

The virus, which is also known formally as the Alureon rootkit malware, has been lurking in the Internet for some time now and many PC users have fallen victim to its nefarious actions. And the name itself is somewhat of a misnomer; the virus can affect every popular browser that is available right now as long as the malware is embedded deep within your PC's system. Such stubbornness has enabled antivirus software manufacturers, whose products are constantly included in the leading antivirus software reviews, to constantly look for ways to trounce the virus. But if you want to get rid of the spam right away, you can do the terminating yourself.

The Google redirect malware makes its presence felt by modifying your Internet browser search preferences so that every webpage that it comes up with is either spam or dangerous in its content. Oftentimes the webpage will have you buy or download a program that will purportedly take out the Trojan, but in truth the download is just another viral program that will do more harm than good. The redirect effect of the malware will cause your Internet browser to pull up an unwanted page once every three times you make a search. It will also produce atypical uniform resource locators (URLs) in the inquiry result and forces the unwanted webpage to reappear even though you have already taken it down.

Even if you choose to use one of the top products that are included in antivirus software reviews to deal with this problem, you may not be able to completely eliminate it from your computer system. Worse, the redirect malware can damage the installer data of your computer, thereby causing your PC and its associated peripherals to crash. It could disable your keyboard and mouse and cause your PC to issue error alerts. If you attempt to catch the malware with antiviral products, even with those seen in the best antivirus software reviews, you might not be able to detect it completely due to the way it has been written, it seems to be impervious to most anti-malicious software or spyware available. However, there is a way to get rid of the virus out of your PC's system, but you will need to implement it in a careful manner and after implementing some changes in your computer. This is important because if you become careless during the process, you will cause the virus to reinfect your PC. Such is the nature of this malware that the seemingly benign redirecting that it causes will only lead up to something even more troublesome for you to tackle, like bringing down your computer speed to a crawl or letting your PC be used by unscrupulous cyber criminals to make off with your personal data like credit card numbers and passwords.

If you suspect that your computer has been infected with the Google redirect malware and you tried but failed to remove the offending virus with antiviral software, don't panic just yet. Doing the removal in a painstaking, step-by-step way would help you succeed where even the foremost programs listed in antivirus software reviews cannot accomplish.

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A Short Overview on How to Eliminate the Google Redirect Virus

The virus world has become a battle of attrition as hackers and antivirus manufacturers find more ways to outsmart the other, the former creating new malicious software that the other side counters with more effective antimalware products. The Google redirect malware is no different; its creators have intended it to infect Windows-operated computers by having their browsers link up only with spurious Internet sites. It is so virulent that it can avoid the scrutiny of most antiviral products. This step-by-step guide will help you eliminate this virus from your PC.

The Google redirect malware works by inducing the Internet browser to show you a different and oftentimes dangerous website than the one you are searching for. It may surprise you to learn that most antivirus programs have been unable to get rid of this virus, you need to terminate the virus yourself.

First of all, you will need to access the "lmhost.sam" file in your computer directory; this is the Windows system 32 file that the Google redirect malware has altered to cause the redirecting in the first place. Type the line "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\" in the search panel of Windows Explorer to access this file. You will see the "lmhost.sam" file opened by the Notepad application, it holds the outline of the DNS (Domain Name System) Redirect. After opening it, get rid of any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and domain names that have been written into the "lmhost.sam" file and then save your work afterwards; this will prevent the virus from altering your Google searches any further.

To further ensure that your Google search is not changed by the Google redirect malware, you will need to modify the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) settings of your Internet browser. By doing this, you will have to see how your PC is networked or connected to the Internet by accessing the system control panel. In the "Network Connections" section, you will be able to discern how your computer is linked up to the Internet and see its TCP/IP attributes. There will be a small box placed there with the setting "Obtain an IP address automatically." Place a check mark in this box to have your computer access IP addresses by itself. This will undo the redirecting abilities of the Google redirect malware.

Also, you may need to check the settings of your Internet browser to see if the virus has changed it. If you suspect this has happened, go to the Internet browser settings and look for any alterations in it. If you see any, undo them by putting a check mark on the "no proxy server" selection. After you have done all of the previous steps, have your antivirus software do a comprehensive scan of your computer system for any traces of the Google redirect malware. They can appear as Trojans or spyware or any other form of malicious software. By doing this, you can completely eliminate the Google redirect malware from your PC.

It pays to have the right antiviral program installed in your computer. However, if you suspect that your PC is infected with something as complex as the Google redirect malware, you might need to do the cleaning yourself and then let your antivirus program do the rest afterwards.

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Google Street View is Putting Fear Into Some Populations on Earth

If you think your privacy isn't safe online, you'd be right, but what you may not realize is that your privacy in the real world is also now in jeopardize in the same way. At least that's how some people see it, although as a pilot I have a different view. You see, I'm talking about Google Earth, and all of the new features which allow for 3-D viewing from different angles, and at extremely close range, as in right into your backyard, or the types of cars you have in your driveway.

In fact, I bet someone could invent an algorithm which could identify the type of car by the body shape in your driveway, and that information could be sold to automakers so that they could take your address, and send you coupons for their latest models. Competing companies may send you coupons, or invite you to test drive one of their new vehicles instead.

Of course, that's just one of the potential eventualities or outcomes of such robust aerial view technology which is used by Google Earth, there are many more and it wouldn't take a creative genius to figure many more in just a few minutes of brainstorming, and if you can do that, you can bet other entrepreneurs already are.

There was an interesting article in the New York Times on June 8, 2012 titled; "Swiss Court Orders Modifications to Google Street View," by Kevin J. O'Brien and David Steitfeld which stated;

"Switzerland's highest court upheld Google's basic right to document residential street fronts with its Street View technology, but imposed some limitations on the kinds of images the company can take. The ruling leaves the service legally intact in Switzerland, which has some of the strictest privacy safeguards in the world. Swiss regulators and Google both said they were pleased with the decision."

Now then, this is to be expected. Why you ask - because this recent technology caught everyone off-guard and there is a fear-factor to be expected. That's too bad really, beautiful country, too bad they won't share, but privacy is a human concern, some believe a right. This ruling shouldn't surprise us otherwise they'd have outlawed people taking pictures on vacation and posting them on websites. Personally, I think the Swiss missed the boat, and could have really done well with this on the tourism front, but just allowing it all.

You see, there is both good and bad with such disruptive technology, and it's not as if this information isn't already available by anyone who owns an airplane with a really good telephoto lens. They could easily fly around and take pictures of your property, although it would be cost prohibitive to do so unless it was really necessary, or unless they were the paparazzi and could sell those photos because who knows maybe you are famous like me (just kidding).

Nevertheless, what you park in your driveway, your backyard, and other various things around your house are no longer secret to anyone anywhere on the planet. They'll know if you have solar panels, new paint on your house, the types of shrubbery in your yard, and all of the things that realtors call curb appeal. You don't have any secrets anymore, not around your house, and certainly not on the Internet. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Internet Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Google Redirect Virus: How It Can Do Powerful Harm to Your Computer and You

The Google Redirect Virus is an abnormal computer virus. It is very hard to eliminate, and most anti-virus programs will not be able to detect its existence on your computer. This specific virus is known as a Trojan Horse or a Browser Hijack Object (BHO). There are presently two variations of this virus infecting computers. One is called the "TDSS" Trojan Horse whilst the other is merely known as the Generic Redirect Virus. This is not a virus you want to infecting your computer.

This virus can be caught through several methods. It can come from downloading videos, screen savers, MP3s, and from illegitimate download websites. A website might appear to be reputable but infects your computer with the virus when you make a download. There is no warning that this virus is going to infect your computer which makes it even much more harmful.

Most computer viruses use a file or an application which runs on your computer constantly. Antivirus software program can detect most of these programs and files and eliminate them prior to them becoming dangerous to your computer. This is a different kind of virus. Instead of installing something on your computer, it changes some of your computer's web browser files then disappears.

Indicators You Have the Google Redirect Virus:

You do searches on the internet and land on completely unrelated websites.
Your internet searches result in a variety of pop-up windows and ads.
Your desktop background has been changed.
Virus elimination websites are blocked.
Your homepage has been modified, and you are can't change it.
Your Windows HOSTS file has been altered.
Your web browsers are noticeably slower when loading pages.

Dangers From from this Virus:

As said before, this is a very harmful virus. Not only will it redirect you to websites which you didn't search for, but it will also take you to destructive websites. The virus is also able to disable security programs and activated firewalls which maintain your computer and its contents safety.

With out these safety measures in place, hackers can have access to your personal information stored on your computer such as passwords and usernames. Your personal financial records can sometimes be accessed as well.

What To Do If You Have the Virus

It is essential that you discover you have this virus as soon as possible so that you can remove it. Removal of this virus is not an easy job. You won't be able to use the antivirus software program you have on your computer to eliminate the virus as it won't function to rid your computer of this virus. There is no particular file or application to eliminate. This virus has buried itself into your computer, and you're going to require specific software program to eliminate it.

There are several methods for eliminating the virus, but not all of them are reliable. You want to make certain that you select a removal technique which you know is going to get the job done. You don't want to eliminate a part of the virus or mask it. You want to completely eliminate it forever.

Logan Mars is a writer who loves working with computers and writing about them. Take a look at his new website, Google Redirect Virus Removal 2011 which covers topics including the Google Redirect Virus, how to remove Google Redirect Virus, and much more.

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