Member Avatar for JellyHead

Hey..

I may be stupid not to get this, but usually when I'm on the internet and I want to go to a site, I only have to type in for example www.daniweb.com. But today something strange must have happened. if I only type www.daniweb.com, I get an error message saying that there is no such page. if I type http:// first, than it works. it's the same thing with all webpages. I can't get to any websites without typing in the http:// first.

could it have something to do with the fact that I today removed the CoolWebSearch virus, and I also removed a whole lot of spywares, that I until this day didn't know existed on my computer? until today I haven't been able to choose the startpage myself.
I also ran Spybot, and Easycleaner to clean the register today. if someone could help me with this, I'd be forever greatful... //Gina the JellyHead

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Dani AI

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As discovered (and as suggested by trying another browser), the fact that Mozilla accepts "www.sitename.com" while Internet Explorer requires the full "http://" shows the problem is limited to IE. That pattern, and 's comment, points toward leftover hijacker/IE-setting damage: malware removers can remove the active files but leave IE-specific protocol handlers, proxy settings or registry entries broken.

Quick, low-risk checks (do these first):

  • Restore IE defaults: Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > click "Restore advanced settings" (or "Reset" on newer IE).
  • Check proxy: Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings — make sure no unexpected proxy is set. Many hijackers set a local proxy that breaks normal address handling.
  • Enable address Autocomplete: Tools > Internet Options > Content > Autocomplete > Settings -> make sure "Addresses" is checked. This does not harm anything and can expose whether IE is treating typed text as search instead of a URL.

If that does not help, moderately advanced repairs that often restore IE URL handling:

  • Re-register core IE URL components from an elevated command prompt (run as administrator):
    regsvr32 /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32 /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32 /s shdocvw.dll
  • Reboot and test. If comfortable with the registry, verify the HTTP protocol handler at HKCR\http\shell\open\command points to iexplore.exe; back up the registry first (File > Export) or create a System Restore point.

Other useful steps: run a fresh scan with an up-to-date antimalware tool (Malwarebytes/SuperAntiSpyware/AdwCleaner or equivalent), consider restoring Windows to a point before the infection, or repair/reinstall Internet Explorer if settings remain corrupted. Posting a HijackThis-style log is a common next step for volunteers to identify leftover hijacker entries. Always back up the system/registry before making manual changes.

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Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

Is this happening exclusively in IE, or if you have Mozilla / Netscape installed, does it also happen there too?

Christian

Member Avatar for JellyHead

I don't have Mozilla or others installed. Should I try installing another web-browser and see if it's still the same? Any idea what may have happened? thnx..=)

Member Avatar for JellyHead

Hello again.. I tried installing Mozilla simply to see if it would make a difference. Well, it did. If using Mozilla instead of IE, I didn't have to type the http:// before the page address. That must mean something's happened with my Internet Explorer, right? Does anyone know a way to fix this, or even an explanation to why it suddenly is this way? I could of course have Mozilla as my web-browser, but I'd rather not. I'm a bit fond of IE, and would like to keep using it. Anyone who might be able to help me..? What's happened?

Member Avatar for alc6379

You've got some type of spyware/browser hijacker. Do you use p2p programs?

Check out some of the suggestions in this thread to see what could be done for IE.

Member Avatar for JellyHead

Hmm.. No I don't use p2p programs.
I thought I got rid of the spyware already.. =( Well well..
I'll be back. =P

thnx

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