Best Browser For Win 8

[karma mechanic]

Rather than keep trying different browsers I'd be wondering why browsers that give a very satisfactory experience for other users on other machines don't seem to work at all well on yours. IMHO something else is wrong.

 

[elbmek]

I know but my machine is large, fairly new and up to date with updates, drivers etc.

Here's one for you, same subject. I downloaded FF 19 on advice - new software - I thought it would alleviate the problems I had in the past, which it did BUT.....

There are 9 virus' embedded within FF19 which direct the user to sites for advertisements that he (or she) did not ask for, pop ups open and display ads, all since I installed 19 on my laptop (win 7). I was advised by a Tech friend to download and run Sophos Virus Removal Tool, which is running now in the background. Before I did, I ran iobit malware fighter and it found the bugs. I checked the paths and all were inside Firefox 19.

My default browser is Lunascape 6 and so far its running fine with minimal hold up on start (loading engine) and no hold up on closing.

 

[karma mechanic]

I think you need to get to the point where your machine is clear of malware before doing much else - FF19 doesn't arrive with 9 embedded viruses. Once the machine is clean I suspect that your browser problems will be gone, apart from matters of personal preference between browser behaviour.

 

[FuturDreamz]

Did the user oinstall any toolbars? Firefox shouldn't do that.

Speaking of Firefox, when is it supposed to FINALLY bring it's metro version out of beta? I think that may solve my browser dilemminal once and for all.

 

[elbmek]

Ref Karma - thanks but .....

On wednesday last my laptop was running fine on landscape browser and was clean, having not long before run a check. I downloaded nothing at all except FF19 on the Thursday and then used the laptop in work, and got these bug ads almost immediately. When I ran a malware fighter program the resulting path was contained within Firefox software - so what am I to believe, your scepticism or my software?

what I should have done before I removed it was copy the path for you to see for yourself.

 

[karma mechanic]

Which seems more likely - that your browser has been hijacked or otherwise screwed up by something else, or that a fresh legit install of FF19 already contained some undesirable exploits? You also described a number of cases where browsers failed to close or were otherwise unpredictable, so on that evidence I'd lean towards malware first. So I'm still skeptical given the accounts so far.

 

[4wd]

FF19 doesn't arrive with 9 embedded viruses.

Very correct. The problem is definitely not in FF itself, but whatever is creeping around inside that pc may show up trough the FF installation.

 

[elbmek]

Ok lets face this - there were no bugs before. I have KIS 2013 on my pc and MSE in my laptop. I run a complete checking program at least twice a week. It cleans out the junk, modifys broken shortcuts and many other things, but it also checks auto for malware.

There was nothing on my laptop on Wednesday when I switched it on and downloaded and installed FF19. I switched it off. On Thursday evening, at work, I plugged in, attached the rj45, FF19 as default and off I went - oops! what the hell is this, I never clicked on it. It was one of the 9 bugs in FF, followed by another window and another.

Removed FF19 as default to lunarscape and problem ceased. Then got a note off a tech mate - run this link it said - a link to Sophos. Clear report as I had removed the bugs with Iobit Malfighter. After that I deleted FF19 and installed IE10 for win 7 x 64, made that default, and all ok.

Whilst I do not doubt your reasoning and sincerity I cannot dispute what happened or what I found. It may be a coincidence but hackers at a conference in Canada where bragging about how they had hacked FF and other browsers, this was on the internet news.

 

[elbmek]

Firstly an apology its not firefox as such. But here is a screen dump of the offending item, which suddenly appeared as I entered THIS forum. When I did a search for it I found only one: firefox/space.com. Remember this is after I got a zero after the last clean. When I deleted FF I also deleted all history, etc. This does not go any way to explain why a ff file is still 'somewhere. Will be running a reg clean tonight in case thats it. The banner is phoney, it selects one based on site opened.

 

[FuturDreamz]

I don't know. Check your DNS settings? Some viruses change them.

 

[karma mechanic]

Firstly an apology its not firefox as such. But here is a screen dump of the offending item, which suddenly appeared as I entered THIS forum. When I did a search for it I found only one: firefox/space.com. Remember this is after I got a zero after the last clean. When I deleted FF I also deleted all history, etc. This does not go any way to explain why a ff file is still 'somewhere. Will be running a reg clean tonight in case thats it. The banner is phoney, it selects one based on site opened.

No need to apologise...

That particular scam is associated with programs like Yontoo or Tickle that are installed on your machine in the past, they then subvert the browser addresses to display their scams.

Try Spybot Search and Destroy (free) and it should find that sort of crap and, er, destroy it.

 

[elbmek]

completely mystified now. I will check the dns settings later, but something is cutting into my web choices, and I have no idea what. I was entering this forum via IE10 (win 7 x 64) version as well.

Anyway, my sincere apologies for doubting you all, but still do not understand why embedded in FF ???

 

[elbmek]

Update: I found ad links appearing in words in posts on my own forum. I had a hunch and went searching and found a folder called firefox that was allegedly deleted, its is now. The ads vanished off my forum, but I am not holding my breath.

Currently running Sophos viral removal tool (takes about 3 hrs to scan) to see if any 'bits' left.

 

[karma mechanic]

Just take it one step at a time. Since you mentioned getting the survey popups I noticed this very thing in another thread in this forum:
http://www.eightforums.com/browsers...e-add-ons-but-how-do-i-delete-completely.html

 

[elbmek]

Hey could be the answer, have ad links appearing in my own web sites now! And a forum so it has to be originating from this laptop. Searching for anything yontoo now .....................

 

[elbmek]

Karma - you genius!!

Opened IE10 win 7 x 64 version, default, opened internet options and found manage add ons and list current add ons - the little bar steward was hiding in there called tidy network, I have disabled it. Thank you Microsoft for the crappy day I have had.

Carrying on my search I found tidy network.com lurking in my programs and features in control panel, now uninstalled. IE10 must have downloaded it when I installed it last night - no connection then with the pop up consumer thing.

 

[karma mechanic]

Glad you got there. I still think you should run Spybot S&D even if only once, some other such junk might be lurking there.

 

[elbmek]

I just ran adw?? from that link you gave me, it found numerous entries in the registry regarding ads and torntv and others, I went for broke and told it to delete it all, it appears to have done so!! But I will download spybot for future reference and use. Thanks Karma, lets hope this sorry mess helps someone else to clear the decks without a heart attack!!

 

[FuturDreamz]

Karma - you genius!!

Opened IE10 win 7 x 64 version, default, opened internet options and found manage add ons and list current add ons - the little bar steward was hiding in there called tidy network, I have disabled it. Thank you Microsoft for the crappy day I have had.

Carrying on my search I found tidy network.com lurking in my programs and features in control panel, now uninstalled. IE10 must have downloaded it when I installed it last night - no connection then with the pop up consumer thing.

I think what you should do is go through control panel and uninstall anything that is obviously adware or is adware after a quick google search.
To be frank, that's one of the first things I'd do so I assumed you already tried that.

 

[elbmek]

I only installed IE10 last night and did not think Microsoft would stoop so low as to insert this pathetic annoying ad machine into IE10, that really is kicking below the belt. I wonder if Bill Gates knows it in there, or did someone make a little side earner by adding it in?