subject: My Search Engines Keep Getting Redirected! [print this page] My Search Engines Keep Getting Redirected!
Search engine redirects are actually quite a common problem, which is caused by a virus. The issue is caused by the virus called the "Google Redirect Virus" - a common infection which works by hijacking any redirect your computer may follow online, and then work to send your PC to a fake website. The likelihood is that your computer somehow contracted this virus and is now being sent to various random websites each time you get redirected online. Because search engines actually redirect you through their own site before taking you to their target, you really need to be able to clean your PC to ensure that your system is working correctly again.
Your PC has a virus which is very difficult to remove. The problem is that this infection works by changing various files / settings that your computer uses to run, and then disappears from view. Not only does this make it very difficult for you to get rid of the infection (as anti-virus applications work by first identifying the infection and then removing it), but will also mean that other infections could potentially come onto your system whilst its struggling to run correctly.
The virus your computer will have will either be a trojan horse infection, or a browser hijack object - both of which will inject a fake link into the redirect when you browse the Internet. The reason why you're seeing the virus when you browse on the likes of Google & Yahoo is because when you browse these sites, your computer will actually take you to Google.com / Yahoo.com first, and then to the target page. This is because all the big search engines will actually store the information about your visits, and so need a way to anonymously track your clicks.
The way to fix the problem on your PC is to basically ensure that your system has no problems with any viruses. To do this, you need to use two different programs, neither of which are "anti-virus" or "anti-spyware" (because they don't work to get rid of it). The best removal method is to use a tool called "Hitman Pro" (a trojan horse removal program) and then a tool called "ComboFix" (which will fix the various infected Windows settings of your PC). The best method we've found to get rid of the virus is to use a tool calledFixRedirectVirus.org - an application designed by a UK Computer Technician to remove the virus from your PC.
