Strange messages

[devadiva]

For a long time now I kept getting a message saying that my firewall was not switched on but when I checked it was. Now I get the following message "an unknown application is trying to change your default search engine" Why???

[Stormrush]

I would do a restore for just before when you first got the message, I had that and after a restore it went away but Im sure its something much more basic than that, thats just all i know lol.... maybe its worthw aiting to see what else advice comes up first :-)

[ChuckFickens]

Think it may be a good time for you to be runnng a full scan with both your anti virus software and more importantly some anti spyware/malware software.

If you haven't got any anti spyware software then adaware is a good free one

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2008/3000-802 2_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag =top5&cdlPid=10903602

[ACtheTROLL]

big question .... which firewall and when did you last run windows update.

Zone alarm (definately) and a couple of others (probably) were "ignored" (or as MS put it overlooked)

after a KB update (allegedly because they voted to exclude MS from the Virus update network all the other operators maintain between each other)

if you actually look at the firewall ... and it says it's working ... disable the warning in security ..... better yet - it's fixed now ... apply the latest fixes

Don't run restore ... all you'll do is remove any security update/patches applied since then and make yoyr system more vulnerable
restore is for the SYSTEM - not third party apps (the clue is in the name!)



slightly worrying ... if it is this ... 'cause it was quite a while ago

[devadiva]

Thank you all for your replies and apologies for the late response but there has been a death in the family and trouble with the computer is the least of my worries at the moment. Re Firewall and virus protection - I have AVG version 8. When things have calmed down I shal look into this further having printed out your replies.Many thanks again. Sylvia