Chambers wrote:
> If anybody here could help me with some advice, I'd appreciate it.
> 
> Lately, I've been getting crashes when Windows starts*, and something has been
> interfering with my web browsing.
> 
> Searching with Google or Yahoo never finishes** (it just loads the page for
> several minutes, and then quits).  Other functions of Google and Yahoo (ie,
> Google Webmaster Tools, or My Yahoo) work fine.
> 
> Downloading files in Firefox gets interrupted (it asks me where to save the
> file, but never actually saves - or even begins downloading - it).  Downloading
> in IE sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't.
> 
> I get random popup ads and new tabs opened in both IE7 and Firefox 2, most of
> them advertising antimalware software (which I've never heard of, and don't
> trust).
> 
> I *do* have Safari installed (just to try it out), but I haven't tested for
> these symptoms in it yet.

Then try it, and see what comes up.

The symptom of unwanted windows and new tabs is a classic malware sign. 
  I had an infection which would take me to certain sites at five minute 
intervals.  If IE was not open at the time, the malware would start it.

A complete reinstall of WinXP got rid of the beastie.  A complete 
install of Ubuntu probably would have gotten rid of it as well.

Regards,
John

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