Member Avatar for homerj

MY computer has been hijacked. Saw an article on system file checker for windows xp. Tried to getting running through start-run-sfc.exe . A quick window comes up really fast and then disappears. Ran adaware and spybot and hijack this. Wife is getting really upset . Any thoughts please help me!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

Dani AI

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Brief, practical next steps based on the symptoms in this thread and the replies from and .

reports a changing homepage and a persistent popup that bypasses blockers, and that a System File Checker attempt produced only a flash of a window. That pattern strongly points to a browser hijacker or a persistence mechanism (proxy/hosts change, browser helper object, startup/reg entry) rather than a simple missing system file. Also note that the System File Checker is for restoring protected OS files, not for removing active malware — it can help after the infection is removed, but it will not eliminate a hijacker by itself.

A practical workflow to follow (in order):

  1. Isolate the PC: unplug network or disable Wi‑Fi so the infection cannot download more components or steal credentials.
  2. Boot to Safe Mode and run up‑to‑date anti‑malware and antivirus scans from a trusted vendor (use a cleaner that’s current). If scans cannot be run or are blocked, use a bootable rescue environment (vendor rescue CD/USB) to scan offline.
  3. Check browser configuration: reset homepage and browser settings, remove unknown add‑ons/BHOs, and verify there is no proxy configured. Inspect the hosts file for unexpected entries and remove them if present.
  4. Inspect startup/persistence points (startup folder, scheduled tasks, Run keys). Use a trusted startup viewer to disable suspicious entries rather than deleting blindly.
  5. If the System File Checker tool will not run even in Safe Mode, the scanner executable may be damaged or blocked. Back up personal files (use a Live CD if needed), then consider an offline repair or an in‑place repair/clean install if the machine remains unstable.

Cautions: do not run random “one‑click” removers without reading what they change; avoid deleting files solely based on name; change all passwords afterwards from a known‑clean computer. If the posted diagnostic log did not produce a working removal, consider posting the log to a malware‑specialist forum or getting professional assistance before attempting a repair install.

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Member Avatar for goga

hijacked by what? what does it do (or not do)

Member Avatar for homerj

I don't know what is causing the hijack. My homepage on IE is always changing and there is a little pain in the neck pop up that follows me that has bypassed my pop up blocker. I have a thread in here that has one of my hijack this log files. I followed the instructions on how to remove files but didn't work.

Member Avatar for caperjack

To use SFC in xp you type this in run .
SFC \SCANNOW
Having said that SFC isn't going to fix a Hijack!!

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