Member Avatar for gbear0403

I am new here. so new that I haven't figured out how to do all this here. I am hoping someone will answer and help out a damsel in distress. everytime I try to go to yahoo.com or my yahoo email.. it resets itself to "about:blank" I think I've been hijacked. I can go to , or google.com but can't do anything on yahoo. please help me.. I do have hijack.exe and can run the log but I am so totally frustrated right now. It doesn't help matters much that a teenager who just got her permit drove her car through my garage tonight (literally). Please make my night a bit brighter and at least help me solve this computer problem. I will be eternally grateful.. Gbear0403

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Dani AI

Generated

Short summary: "about:blank" is a browser-internal blank page. When a request to a real site (for example, yahoo.com) immediately collapses to about:blank, something on the system is intercepting or blocking normal web resolution — common causes are a HOSTS-file redirect, a proxy or browser helper object, DNS or Winsock corruption, or adware/spyware that specifically interferes with certain domains.

Common diagnostic steps include:

  • Verify whether the problem is browser-specific by trying an alternate browser or using a simple network tool (ping/nslookup) from the same machine.
  • Inspect Internet Explorer proxy settings (Tools → Internet Options → Connections → LAN Settings) for unexpected proxies left by malware.
  • Check the HOSTS file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts for lines redirecting yahoo.com to 127.0.0.1 or other addresses; restore to defaults by removing suspicious entries.
  • Clear DNS and reset the network stack:
    ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset

    (reboot after the winsock reset; use a winsock-fix utility if netsh is not available on an older OS).

  • Run a full, up-to-date anti-virus + anti-malware scan and remove anything found. Produce a HijackThis (hijack.exe) logfile if the infection persists — save the logfile and post it when requesting targeted analysis.

Post-cleanup and prevention: change important account passwords (Yahoo and e-mail) from a known-clean machine, clear browser cache/cookies, review mail forwarding rules, remove unknown toolbars/BHOs, and run a secondary on-demand scanner. For households with younger users (as noted), use a non-administrator everyday account and basic browser/OS updates to reduce repeat infections.

Acknowledgement: the combined approach suggested by — malware removal plus network-stack repair — is often what resolves this exact symptom. If redirection continues after the steps above, an offline rescue scan or a clean reinstall will reliably remove deeply rooted infections.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for steosaur(oWn)

download, update, and run this spyware cleaner:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=506&file=11&evp=8dbaff7daca8f4b55bf695220993fc0f
then download and run this:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=4372&file=11&evp=4578a0d2691013178f302c260093894b
The first cleans off spyware, the 2nd restores winsock files.
When you click the links just wait the download will begin automatically.
They are pretty self explanitory to use just be patient and read.
If that doens't work let me know. (By posting again in this thread)

Member Avatar for gbear0403

Thankyou very much for your suggestions...DMR, Crunchie, and another also made similar suggestions and the computer seems to be back to normal. Now if you have any suggestions on handling my 15y/o son who caused the problem in the first place, those suggestions are welcomed-LOL... better yet, still seeking out a buyer for him..going cheap-LOL! J/T, he is a good son, and I wouldn't know what to do without him(except have a problem free computer for a while)

Member Avatar for DMR

Hey again gbear,

I think some of us might have already responded to the "teenage son" issue, but basically: that problem really is up to you and he to sort out; technology doesn't have the Ultimate Answer there. You can certainly install all sorts of different software "solutions", but any teenager worth his/her weight is going to be able to bypass most of it unless you're very dilligent about things.

Also keep in mind that it doesn't take going to "questionable" websites to get infected with adware/spyware/etc. anymore; I have single, 50+ year-old clients who have no "bad" surfing habits at all, but due to not taking , even they get infected.

As for selling him goes- I can tell from experience that you can often pawn teenagers off to the Bedouins, but as they barter primarilly in camels, you need a heck of a lot of real estate available if you want to cinch the deal. :mrgreen:

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