Anonymous Customer Survey

While trying to log in to GameBoomers I was sent to another location for an Anonymous Customer Survey for GameBoomers. I'm wondering if this is legitimate or a scam.

That doesn't sound right at all. Let me flag MaG.

I know I've seen this topic mentioned in the past, way past, but I can't remember why I'm suddenly seeing words on sites I visit highlighted. I'm using Opera, and it doesn't matter what site I visit, some words are highlighted and those words are linked to other sites.

I've run Malwarebytes, Avast, AdwCleaner, but nothing is showing up, so I'm at a loss why this started happening. Also, sometimes I'll get actual pop-ups which appear from the top and/or bottom, or even the side, even though in Opera settings pop-up blocker is enabled.

I've even been redirected when trying to log into a site, this one included. Or, when trying to go to a different category, I've been redirected. This is getting a bit annoying and I'd like to find out how to put a stop to it.

Thanks Ana. I've also left a topic in glitches concerning all the redirects I've been running into on this, and other, sites. I ran into one when I clicked on the reply button to reply to your post.

Hi Homer,

Try going into your browser add-on and extensions and disabling all of them.

(Draclvr posted this advice to kjos on an older thread that related to the same problem you are having.)

It is probably an annoying add-on that attached itself to something that you downloaded recently.

Hope the above helps.

Yup, I can almost guarantee it's an unwanted add-on. It won't hurt to run CCleaner too.

Yeah, but where, Drac? Except for the Ad Blocker Plus I installed today, after all this started, the only extensions I have are the ones I installed some time ago.

Well then I can assure you it is not GameBoomers. I will combine the two. No point in having two conversations.

If it happens with other sites, something is wrong with your browser and/or computer. Let's wait for the Glitches experts.
Ah - they helped you already. on getting things corrected.

That's fine, no problem.

I would uninstall or disable every add-on, including the ad blocker - and be doubly sure you are not using any toolbars. I assume you are using IE? If you have any other browsers on your computer, do the same with them. IF the behavior stops after disabling or uninstalling all of them, then add them back one at a time until you find which one is causing the problem.

If that doesn't help, I have come to rely on this website a lot - their directions are very clear and they include pictures. See if anything here will help.

Remove Browser Redirect Virus

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-browser-redirect-virus/

It sounds like it might be this "Object Browser" Adware
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/object-browser-ads-removal/

There are removal instructions on that page.
It looks like it's very stubborn, and has to be removed from more than one place.

Thanks all for your suggestions, but I found it!

As I said in a previous post, Malwarebytes, Avast, and AdwCleaner didn't find anything. Before going overboard trying this or that hunter program I gave Windows Defender a crack. It too found nothing. So either it's a program which isn't considered malware/virus, or it's something very obscure. And, because it was affecting both Opera and IE 11 it had to be a system wide something.

While letting defender to its thing, I surfed the web and saw several posts about hunter programs that would get rid of most unwanted. One of those posts suggested going to Control Panel --> Programs and features, and look for something that hadn't been on the computer before--several no goods were listed. I was about to grab one of those hunter programs from Bleeping Computers, when I remembered about looking at Programs and features. And sure enough, there it was, "Intelli Term 1.10.0.8", a program I didn't install but was on my computer.

Fortunately it had an uninstaller, because when I highlighted that program, hit uninstall, the uninstall wizard appeared and totally removed the program. I know it's worked because at the bottom of GB's post screen, where you submit your posts, the disable in "HTML is disabled" isn't highlighted.

So, here's another program to add to the DO NOT ALLOW ON YOUR COMPUTER list: Intelli Term 1.10.0.8

Again, thank you all for the help you provided. Keep your eyes open.

Thank you, thank you! I have bookmarked this thread. Wouldn't you like to know where this nasty thing came from... So glad you ferreted out the little "insert bad word." And you are very lucky there was an uninstaller. I would watch when you reboot to be sure it doesn't respawn in your boot record.

Drac, I think I picked it up when I was downloading something and clicked on the wrong "Download" by mistake; you know some download sites have a bunch of "Download" buttons showing. In fact, I think I picked it up when updating AdwCleaner, things started happening around that time.

Because it's actually a program, nothing normally used to get rid of malware/viruses/trojans/etc. will work on this program. Fortunately I could uninstall it once I found it in Programs and Features. Had I not been able to go that route, I just saw on Bleeping Computer a way to remove unwanted programs--Intelli Term was off my computer so I didn't pay attention what Bleeping Computer said to use in order to remove this unwanted program.

Anyway, it's gone, people here are informed, and I'm happy I'm not seeing garbage cluttering my screen. I'd say what should happen to those who host this manure, but it might get me reprimanded.

Did you catch my post on this subject a week or so ago. This writer just uses what used to be a reliable download site as an example, but it's a scourge.

A Cr*pware Paradise

This is why when I need something I always look on SourceForge first. Failing that, if I want something specific, I'll just go directly to the author's site. Even with the latter option you have to be extra careful to look for and uncheck any extra "rider" programs the installer want to install. In some cases I'll just write it myself if it is a small enough project to not take too long.

The developer or author website is usually the best. But even then sometimes I've been redirected to a download mirror which I refuse to use.

I cleaned up one computer where the user told me he had unchecked everything, but the crapware was downloaded anyway. I tried it and he was right... I think it's getting worse all the time. I was crushed when good old Tucows was even included on the "worst" list.

Thanks for the link, Drac, I did miss the thread.

I too have been guilty of grabbing a bundled download, thinking I was updating this or that. Once, before I realized what was happening, I'd allowed several of the programs to install, and had to spend the time to find and remove them. And once, when I thought I was updating something, I suddenly realized what I was seeing, canceled the install, and deleted the download.

Further report on the problem I encountered: Once the computer booted, cold boot, everything was fine. No ads popping up, no redirections, nothing. It looks like even though Intelli Term is a nuisance it's not malicious, for nothing was hidden in the Boot Sector on the HD. Some lessons take time to learn, some hit you hard and force you to learn immediately. This lesson should be considered learned.

IF you would have been unlucky enough to have gotten one that infected the boot sector, one of the links Jenny and I linked you to at Malwaretips also gave you links to use a couple of VERY handy little tools that scan your boot record. They have been very helpful for me on a couple of badly infected laptops I worked on.

Three on that site, which I don't have, were the direction I started to go before remembering to look at Programs and Features. Had I not found it as I did, I would have given all three a chance to remove it.

If you Google Intelli Term, you'll find a lot of sites which tell how it's to be removed. And what I've seen, explanations as to what it is and how it being what it is could allow someone to do worse to your computer by using it as a front door.

I realize people need to make a living to live, but this is NOT the way to go about it!