IE11 Google user profile virus / malware issue

Hello Everyone,
I have never seen this before but Google fixed my user profile issue. I still have concerns about my computer.

A little History:
While browsing a comedy website I pickup a VERY unusual virus or malware problem.
Whenever I was logged into Google and tried to search, it would just loop back to the Google search and show me no search results.
If logged out of Google and performed the same Google search everything seemed ok.
I DO sometimes get an error that a page failed to load and I have to do a manual refresh when logging onto a secure website.

Testing:
I went to two other computers and just by logging into Google, Google searches would fail. Logging out caused all to be good again.

Partial Solution:
I posted this problem on the Google Search forum and the next day it was fixed. No acknowledgement of course...

Remaining Issue:
If I open IE11 from the desktop and close it. I can see an internet explorer task still running using task manager. I have not NOTICED this before so I don't know if this is a piece of spyware or if IE11 just stays loaded for future access as a TSR.

I have tried turning off the IE11 feature of W8.1, rebooting and turning back on and this issue remains.

I first noticed this when I tried updating Spybot Search and Destroy and it complained that a browser was still open. I had to kill the task to make Spybot S&D happy.

I have tried various malware products and have not found anything.

Your thought are appreciated!

Thanks!