Member Avatar for satp04

Hi. I'm using IE 6.0 (pre-installed). I got this Virus about 3 weeks before where the IE just loads 50+ active windows when certain links in an active IE window is clicked. It also does the same when and e-mail ad link is clicked on the Outlook. All the antiviruses I ran before did not detect it, so I ended up doing a System restore, and all was well...until I got it again.

i just installed ArcGIS and I don't want to do system restore (again). Please help. How can I fix this, and how can I prevent it from happening again.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by joshSCH

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Symptoms like many Internet Explorer windows opening from a single click are frequently caused by misconfigured protocol/file associations or a bad "mailto" handler rather than a stealth virus. Since later found a configuration issue, this short checklist focuses on diagnosing and fixing those handlers so a full reinstall or repeat system-restore is not necessary.

Reproduce and isolate: try opening a simple URL from Start -> Run (type "http://example.com") and then trigger a mailto link (type "mailto:me@example.com") to see whether one or many browser instances appear and whether the mail client or the browser is the one launching repeatedly. If the problem only happens when links are launched from a particular app, focus on that app’s settings.

Check and repair associations: on older Windows use Control Panel -> Folder Options -> File Types (on newer Windows use Default Programs -> Set Associations). Locate the protocol entries for "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" and "mailto", choose Advanced/Edit, and confirm the action's command points to the correct executable and includes exactly one placeholder for the URL (for example a single %1 or %L) with proper quoting. If you are comfortable with the registry, back up first and inspect HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open\command for stray extra arguments or broken quoting. Reinstalling or running the browser/mail client installer to "repair" will also reset these handlers.

Cleanup and prevention: run a current anti-malware scan (Malwarebytes, AdwCleaner), use Autoruns to spot unwanted startup items or BHOs, and use Process Explorer to watch the command line used when a link is launched. Create a restore point before edits, use a non-administrative account for daily work, and keep browser/OS patched. As and noted, safe browsing and up-to-date tools reduce risk, but checking protocol associations is the quick fix for this exact symptom.

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Member Avatar for Infarction

Don't click the links? I'd also recommend upgrading to IE 7, apprently it's a lot better security wise. Aside from that and keeping your anti-virus up to date, you just have to avoid getting the virus by changing your usage habits...

Member Avatar for satp04

Hmmm...I guess the problem is, I can't actually tell if a link will cause the multiple windows or not. So far I only found out today that the Virus is back again because I happen to click on a link by chance. My main concern is to remove from the system the virus that causes it. I suppose not clicking the link doesn't mean the virus is not there.

Member Avatar for satp04

Also, I just finished my scans with Norton, Spybots and bitdefender. All of them were updated a few hours ago, and all of them did not solve it

Member Avatar for joshSCH

Okay, do as Infarction said and update to IE 7. Also, download some good virus protection software like Avast or AVG. Both should be able to find and destroy the virus.. Perhaps you should try not to get any viruses to begin with.. ;)

Member Avatar for satp04

Thanks for the tips! This problem was finally resolved today. It is apparently not a Virus but a wrong setting in the default e-mail launcher.

Member Avatar for joshSCH

Glad you got the problem resolved.

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