Thinkpads Forum

This belongs in the 'weird & [decidedly NOT] wonderful' file . . . but can anyone help me track down why I keep getting Yahoo tabs opening in Firefox 3.0? Here are the only clues I have: it often happens after my kids have watched a DVD (with WinDVD), but sometimes I come back to my computer and it's just opened another Yahoo tab . . . Not much to go on, I know, but maybe that's what I'm asking--how do I track this down? I do not have any Yahoo toolbars installed, I do not use Yahoo mail or anything like that, I searched my registry and didn't find anything Yahoo . . . Where else should I look? Thanks.

Just curious... Is it the main Yahoo site (http://www.yahoo.com) or some other page? There's a couple of things which may help in trying to figure out where they are coming from:

- I'm assuming that you're using XP so if that's the case, launch the MSCONFIG program (Start/Run/msconfig) and check the Startup tab for any "strange" programs. By this I mean ones that you can't recognize by their name, or where they are started from (under the Command) header.
- Check the Task Manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL, then click the Processes tab) for any programs which you can't readily identify. Click the "Image Name" title to sort the programs in alphabetical order. Google the names of the .EXE files and see if they lead to any malware reports. It's a good idea to be familiar with the "normal" programs which are running in the background so it becomes obvious if and when something gets added.
- In Firefox, click Tools/Add-ons and check the Extensions and Plugins sections. Look for any Yahoo related extras that might have been installed, as well as anything which might have been installed without your knowledge.

Do you have a pop-up blocker turned on? That is de rigueur these days.

Offhand, it sounds to me like some kind of malware is installed. You might try running a scan of MalwareButes Anti-Malware.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/ ... ware.shtml

...and Spybot S&D. Spybot is particularly very good at removing benign malware

Thanks, guys. Here are some answers / more info:

- it is the main Yahoo! page; I am using XP (see sig )
- Firefox 3.0 Tools > Options > Content > Block pop-up windows checked with no Exceptions
- Spybot 1.6.0.30 Resident running, scanned clean with latest updates
- MSCONFIG > Startup was enlightening (there's a lot starting up on my machine . . . time for some maintenance), but nothing untoward
- same with Task Manager
- Firefox Extensions (which was my first guess) has fairly benign looking stuff (AVG SafeSearch 8.0 and DownThemAll)
- I ran HijackThis and tried to "Upload to TrendSecure" but got a page with a list of forums . . . Am I supposed to submit it to one of the fora? Does someone here know what they're looking at? I can identify a number of the things, but some are not clear to me . . .

Thanks again for your guidance so far. I'll keep looking.

Paul Unger wrote:I am using XP (see sig )

How did I know that? I gave you a Windows answer!
[didn't realize I was posting in the Linux forum]

GomJabbar wrote:How did I know that? I gave you a Windows answer!
[didn't realize I was posting in the Linux forum]

Sorry GomJabbar, I was clarifying for rkawakami (who was "assuming" that I was using XP). It's my fault for making you all assume and not making it clear from the get go . . . Next time.

I think you misunderstood the tone of my last post. I was laughing.

In my last post, I was inferring that I mistakenly gave you a Windows answer although this thread was posted in the Linux forum.

I guess I should ask why this is in the Linux forum?

EDIT: Now I see this thread got moved to the Windows OS forum. Disregard last comment.

GomJabbar wrote:I guess I should ask why this is in the Linux forum?

EDIT: Now I see this thread got moved to the Windows OS forum. Disregard last comment.

What the . . . ?! I thought I had posted it in the General Hardware/Software forum. Must be cyclone season around here--everything's getting spun around. Thanks to the mod who moved this.

I´m sure it was in the general forum... The OP issue can happen to Vista users as well, none of them would take a look in the windows forum...

Marin85 wrote:I´m sure it was in the general forum...

I almost put my foot in it and was going to disagree, however the Moderator logs shows it was moved twice (neither time by me).

Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:29 am Moved topic
» from Thinkpad - General HARDWARE/SOFTWARE questions to Linux Questions

Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:14 pm Moved topic
» from Linux Questions to Windows OS (Versions prior to Vista)

Hm, ok, I must have missed the Linux part...

The admin 'birds' must be in migration mode! Any chance this could fly back to General H/S? Thanks.

Paul Unger wrote:Sorry GomJabbar, I was clarifying for rkawakami (who was "assuming" that I was using XP).

My recollection is that this thread started out in the Thinkpad General HD/SW forum so it wasn't entirely clear to me exactly which OS Paul was using. My assumption was based upon the systems in his .sig. I also thought about moving the thread into a Windows OS forum but with the inclusion of Firefox being possibly involved, decided to leave it where it was, even though it doesn't really seem to be a specific Thinkpad-related issue.

but we are still in the windows OS subforum...