browser redirects and can not access gmail

it looks like and never seen this before where when I search via google, yahoo using latest explorer browser and mozilla firefox either way it redirects to other sites, but when I type the url I know i want to get to on the browser it gets to it just fine. This only happens when searching via those search methods. Never seen this behavior before. Probably there's a malware that's causing this, but not sure where else to look.

Program I've ran:
--------------------

spybot search and destroy
hitman pro
AVG
symantec corporate edition
ashampoo
CCcleaner
Ad-Aware
The last one I ran which was suggested by a posting I read on a forum, was to run combofix
The combofix did not resolve the issue either to my disappointment , I'm still getting redirects when searching via using explorer or mozilla. It redirects to unwanted advertisements and so forth. Also,
gmail still doest work. When i go to www.gmail.com i get a 'problem with this website's security certificate" and an option to continue to this website and when I do that, i get
not found, the requested URL/accounts/ServiceLogin was not found on this server.

On another machine connected to my home network I'm able to browse via these methods just fine w/out redirects or anything and can get to gmail just fine. On the troubled machine, I modified something on the host file by going to RUN: C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts then opened with notepad and deleted 2 lines containing IP addresses that is not "127.0.0.1 localhost." Right now the only entry I see when I open through notepad is "127.0.0.1 localhost". This was only done per some suggestions people made on some postings I read, but that didnt seem to help out either.

At this point Im out of ideas. If someone can look at this and provide me suggestions in resolving issue, I would appreciate it greatly ! Thanks again.

Edited by deejay_manix, 03 February 2010 - 07:36 PM.

Hello and welcome to Bleeping Computer

We apologize for the delay in responding to your request for help. Here at Bleeping Computer we get overwhelmed at times, and we are trying our best to keep up. Please note that your topic was not intentionally overlooked. Our mission is to help everyone in need, but sometimes it takes just a little longer to get to every request for help. No one is ignored here.

If you have since resolved the original problem you were having, we would appreciate you letting us know. If not please perform the following steps below so we can have a look at the current condition of your machine.

If you have not done so, include a clear description of the problems you're having, along with any steps you may have performed so far.

Upon completing the steps below another staff member will review and take the steps necessary with you to get your machine back in working order clean and free of malware.

If you have already posted a DDS log, please do so again, as your situation may have changed.
Use the 'Add Reply' and add the new log to this thread.


Thanks and again sorry for the delay.

We need to see some information about what is happening in your machine. Please perform the following scan:

• Download DDS by sUBs from one of the following links. Save it to your desktop.
  • DDS.scr
  • DDS.pif
• Double click on the DDS icon, allow it to run.
• A small box will open, with an explaination about the tool. No input is needed, the scan is running.
• Notepad will open with the results.
• Follow the instructions that pop up for posting the results.
• Close the program window, and delete the program from your desktop.

Please note: You may have to disable any script protection running if the scan fails to run. After downloading the tool, disconnect from the internet and disable all antivirus protection. Run the scan, enable your A/V and reconnect to the internet.

Information on A/V control HERE



Please download GMER from one of the following locations and save it to your desktop:

• Main Mirror
  This version will download a randomly named file (Recommended)
• Zipped Mirror
  This version will download a zip file you will need to extract first. If you use this mirror, please extract the zip file to your desktop.

• Disconnect from the Internet and close all running programs.
• Temporarily disable any real-time active protection so your security programs will not conflict with gmer's driver.
• Double-click on the randomly named GMER file (i.e. n7gmo46c.exe) and allow the gmer.sys driver to load if asked.
• Note: If you downloaded the zipped version, extract the file to its own folder such as C:\gmer and then double-click on gmer.exe.
  
  
  
• GMER will open to the Rootkit/Malware tab and perform an automatic quick scan when first run. (do not use the computer while the scan is in progress)
• If you receive a WARNING!!! about rootkit activity and are asked to fully scan your system...click NO.
• Now click the Scan button. If you see a rootkit warning window, click OK.
• When the scan is finished, click the Save... button to save the scan results to your Desktop. Save the file as gmer.log.
• Click the Copy button and paste the results into your next reply.
• Exit GMER and re-enable all active protection when done.

-- If you encounter any problems, try running GMER in Safe Mode.

Due to the lack of feedback, this topic is now closed.
If you need this topic reopened, please PM a staff member and we will reopen it for you (include the address of this thread in your request). This applies to the original topic starter only. Everyone else with similar problems, please start a new topic.