My internet search (google) keeps redirecting me to a different page than the one I selected. Is it a virus?

Carley R: My internet search (google) keeps redirecting me to a different page than the one I selected. Is it a virus?
For instance, I will search “blueeberry scones recipes” and google will pull up the results. Now lets say that the first result is at www.cooks.com. But when I click on it, it will say redirecting and brings me to an obvious virus site. It happens with almost all of the links, not just the first one. Is this a virus? How do I get rid of it? I have tried system restore and went back a few days, but it didn’t do anything. Help?

Answers and Views:

Answer by arou42
Download a new version of your browser (IE8, Firefox, Chrome etc.) but don’t install it yet.

The key words here are SAFE MODE!!!

Download, (if you can’t get on-line, have a friend download and copy to disc/flash for transfer) install, update and then in SAFE MODE* run full scans with these programs…

** https://www.malwarebytes.org
https://www.superantispyware.com
https://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Free-Antivirus/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?tag=mncol;1Ad-Aware free

*** Important, when downloaded/installed/updated disconnect from the internet ***

Then re-start.

If you can’t run a scan, go into the scanner’s folder and re-name the .exe file to something like ‘MyFile.exe’ and try in safe mode again. Some malware prevent the execution of anti spy/mal/virus scans by blocking them by name.

Reinstall your browser.

You should consider getting a good Anti-Virus program.
Try one of these free ones…

https://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-…

https://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avi… (Avria)

https://download.cnet.com/AVG-AntiVirus-Free-2013/3000-2239_4-10320142.html

***Never use more than one, active, anti-virus program at any one time***

*Note: On start up (before Windows loads) keep tapping either F5 or F8 (be aware that some manufacturers use F8 for system recovery!) then use arrow keys to highlight ‘Safe Mode with networking’ and hit Enter/Return, click on a user account, enter the Administrator password (if you don’t know it, there probably isn’t one so leave it blank) and hit Enter/Return.

**Note: Malwarebytes should be run in ‘Normal Mode’ unless that isn’t possible!

© arou42

Answer by Bob
Well then it’s further back then a few days. Who else was on your computer? Delete anything they install, purge your cookies, delete your temporary files, look for anything that you haven’t put on there yourself. Check your prossesses. What’s running? Ctrl+Alt+Del works wonders.

Answer by Nordite
I does sound like a virus. This kind of thing can be very complicated to fix. The first thing I would suggest is get everthing important off of your computer. If you have music, photos, documents, move them onto DVD, CDs, Flash drive, or and external hard drive. This way you can get you computer fixed and then scan the DVD, CD, Flash drive or what ever before you put them back onto your repaired PC. For your situation I would suggest finding someone in the family or a friend that know how to work on computers to look at it or take it to a professional. It might be easy to fix or they might have to wipe the hard drive clean and reinstall everything to get rid of your virus. Just make sure that before you put anything back on your repaired computer that you scan for viruses with a good program like Norton or Mcafee.

Answer by Jan
check this article