Somehow I Have Acquired A Search Engine....

[askyourgran]

How do I get rid of it. http//search,conduit. I usually open my laptop with google but this has overtaken it and even though I can change it to back to Google by clicking on the google bar at the top the 'conduit' page opens instead,

[galeck1947]

You have a browser hijack virus and needs to be removed. If you have Malware Bytes then run a full scan to see if it picks it up. If you don't have it download the free version from their website. Failing that if Malware Bytes doesn't pick it up you can download a paid program called Spyhunter 4 which will remove it but it costs $40.00 US but will remove it.

[Alex_Higham]

Hi ayg.....Before following the fully comprehensive instructions provided by Methyl, you could try removing the offending toolbar without actually resetting your browsers back to their default position, which could involve having to re-establish a number of items you wish to retain. (add-ons etc).

The following could possibly be the answer. :-

http://support.conduit.com/HelpCenter/Uninstall

[askyourgran]

Sorry I haven't been logged on for a few days missed your info. I was downloading a programme to unzip a music file which unfortunately downloaded a lot of other whizzbangs with it as well. I though I'd uninstalled it all but this is hanging on. I can't find it on any of the installed programmes on the Control Panel, it's really bugging me and I'm not very good at the inner workings of this. I may have switched off things that I shouldn't have ie my security protection is off at the mo. I am on IE 8 and I have Microsoft Security Essentials - running a scan at the moment and also Mcafee.

[factor-fiction]

There is probably something you can change in your IE settings regarding default search engines

[sir.prize]

This tells you what you need to do - depending on your browser

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/conduit-search-removal/

Good luck

[askyourgran]

Phew! Thanks for the link sir.prize I've just read though it. I had no idea it would be so difficult to get rid of. I will try that. Thank you.

[askyourgran]

I'm unable to log in very often at the moment. Hope someone catches this. Just to give a follow up. I followed the instructions to get rid of conduit, to find I haves now completely lost my Google homepage, and ended up with Bing/MSN and I think uploaded IE8, loads of adverts and my laptop doing overtime busy uploading/scanning?? = whatever - in the background as I try to type. Just my luck I always seem to go wrong somehow.

[Alex_Higham]

I am not sure where things are at present. Consequently, I think a few more facts need to be established.

Did you reset your Browser.? In which case you may have to re-establish a number of items. Are you saying that you have two Anti Virus programmes. (MSE and McAfee.)? If you have two AV programmes they will conflict and can cause all sorts of problems.....You should remove one of them.

Please post again with your latest up-dated position and I'll try to help you further.

[askyourgran]

Hi Alex I followed the instructions on the link provided by sir-prize and finally got rid of the conduit problem but I wasn't aware that I'd altered my browser. The Mcafee was part of the package with the BTinternet I recently signed up to and not noticed it doing anything. I use Microsoft Security Essentials for scans. When I logged on tonight I searched for Google and it asked if I wanted to make it my homepage default, so I assume I can get it back that way? I'm a bit tied up to spend a lot of time on here at present, just when I can. Thanks for taking the time to answer, just leave a message if you think of anything. :)

[Alex_Higham]

Hi ayg, I'm now off to bed but would advise you to get shot of McAfee if you are using MSE for AV Scans. It is more than likely that you have two Anti Virus programmes running in the background on your laptop and each is regarding the other as a virus. Consequently all sorts of weird things can happen....I heard of a case where a person sent an e/mail and, because of conflict with the AV programmes, the recipient of the communication received hundreds of the same message.