[LEN]

Just recently, trying to get to certain websites (www.macys.com and www.bloomingdales.com) I get "server not found 404 error." Not long ago, I could access these sites with no problem. I've disabled the phishing and the pop-up blocker. Still no luck. Help!

LEN

 

[LJC]

Len: I just tried both links, and they worked. I would try again a little later.
Could be the route your sever takes. Larry

 

[Dale]

Maybe your wife has them blocked

She can't have you running up the credit cards at those stores. That's her job!

Actually, I usually see those type messages when either their web site is down for one reason or another or just when things get busy.

Dale

 

[dcb]

Just recently, trying to get to certain websites (www.macys.com and www.bloomingdales.com) I get "server not found 404 error." Not long ago, I could access these sites with no problem. I've disabled the phishing and the pop-up blocker. Still no luck. Help!

LEN

Sounds like junk post?
he gets credid for hits on his links

 

[LEN]

Kinda quick to judge the DCB

Been here a few days longer than you and if you would have been here since about the time this site began you would recognize the name.

Stll got the same problem, I think I have a redirector(takes you to a porno site) and I have the porno blocked so I get no where.

How do you find and get rid of these things////

LEN

 

[LanceInOregon]

LEN, here are some programs to help fix security on your PC

I will make and assumption that you are running Windows 2000 or XP If so, follow these steps: (note: all of these programs are free to download and use )

1) Download and run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool from this site:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

It can find and remove a number of harmful programs.

2) Download and install Microsoft's Free Defender Spyware Protection program

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Once it is installed, do a full scan and remove anything that it finds.

3) Turn off Windows Messenger. To do that, download and run the Shootthemessenger utility from this web page:

http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

4) Download and install the Lavasoft Adaware program from this web page:

http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm

and then run a scan with it to remove anything it finds.

5) Finally, download and install EWIDO from this page:

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

and scan with it to remove any software it finds.

I am assuming that you an AntiVirus program installed and running. If so, make sure that its virus definitions are fully up to date by using the update feature in it.
If you don’t have any AntiVirus installed, or if your AntiVirus software has expired, and can no longer get updates, then be sure to install an AntiVirus program also. First uninstall any old AntiVirus programs by going to the Windows Control, and using the ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS program. Select the AntiVirus program from the list of installed software, and then click on the ADD/REMOVE button for that program to uninstall it.

A good FREE AntiVirus utility that you can download and install is the AVAST program. It can be downloaded from this web page:

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

So install this program, if you don’t already have a working AntiVirus program. And then after installing, be sure to run a full system scan.

Finally, Microsoft has a lot of good information about Computer threats available to read on this web page. So if you would like to learn more about computer security threats, I highly recommend that you read the articles on this page:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/computer/viruses/protectyourcomputer_viruses.mspx

In particular, check the article titled: Browser Hijacking, to learn more about this type of threat.

Some would consider doing all of the above overkill. But if you get and use all of these programs, you will have an excellent chance that you will be able to clean any malicious software of any kind from your computer.

Good luck to you in getting your computer healthy again.

Lance in Orygun

 

[dcb]

Been here a few days longer than you and if you would have been here since about the time this site began you would recognize the name.

Stll got the same problem, I think I have a redirector(takes you to a porno site) and I have the porno blocked so I get no where.

How do you find and get rid of these things////

LEN

Still sounds funny. stay off the porn sites my youngest son got me a few times.. try to explain that to the wife..
You can down load adware or spybot to help clean up your computer.
also there is a program called hijackthis that will create a log so you can delete the culprit those varmints can be hard to get rid of
Go to http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html
you will find every thing you need.
This computer fix site is real good lots of help here all you do is register and post your problem and they will take you through it step by step
http://forums.techguy.org/

 

[LEN]

Bump

So I can find this tomorrow

 

[LEN]

Ok went thru everything Lance said and I got tons

of crap off the puter, thought I was well protected already sheesh!!!!
But I still cannot get to the 2 sites, says
Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

Most likely causes:
You are not connected to the Internet.
The website is encountering problems.
There might be a typing error in the address.

What you can try:
Diagnose Connection Problems

More information

This problem can be caused by a variety of issues, including:

Internet connectivity has been lost.
The website is temporarily unavailable.
The Domain Name Server (DNS) is not reachable.
The Domain Name Server (DNS) does not have a listing for the website's domain.
If this is an HTTPS (secure) address, click Tools, click Internet Options, click Advanced, and check to be sure the SSL and TLS protocols are enabled under the security section.

Any Ideas Still help

LEN

 

[LanceInOregon]

See if you can load either of these URL's

Do these links below also not work for you??

http://www.macys.com/index.ognc

http://www.bloomingdales.com/index.ognc

Let us know if they work, or don't.

Obviously you do not have any security issue. But doing all of that stuff will not hurt your PC, but will give you greater peace of mind.

it sounds more like you do have an issue with your Internet Explorer software. Make sure that you have run Windows Update and your Internet Explorer is fully updated with the latest updates from Microsoft. Go to this web page:

http://www.windowsupdate.com

And then download and install any Internet Explorer updates that show as being available.

What version of Windows are you using? Microsoft has stopped supporting the older releases of Windows.

Another option would be to download and install another web browser, and see if it has the same problem, or not.

If you are using Windows 2000 or Win XP, you could download and try FireFox.

If you have Windows 98 or ME, you could try using an old version of the Opera Browser, available on this web page:

http://arc.opera.com/pub/opera/win/606/en/std/

See if any of the above helps. Good luck,

Lance

 

[LEN]

Got XP with all the updates

Can't use either link in Explorer or Firefox.
I think the wife got this thing(gotta blame someone) through the E-mail adds she receives from both stores.
This is a though bird as I have dealt with others computers and have been able to fix them but this one really has me.
Tomorrow I with try to run everything again with a deep scan in safe mode, maybe I can catch it that way. Thing that bugs me is its only those two sites that I know of. I at random tried other stores and vendors, everything works great.

LEN

 

[nutria]

Len, if you are using Windows XP, there is a file called 'hosts' that can be found in C://Windows/System32/Drivers/ETC. Open notepad and navigate to this directory, choose 'All Files' in the file type, and open the 'hosts' file. It should really only have one entry that doesn't have a # sign in front of it. Sort of like this:

127.0.0.1 localhost

Some programs change the 127.0.0.1 to something else and then you go there instead of where you wanted to go. Not good sometimes..

198.34.45.1 www.macys.com or similar should not be there.... If it is, erase it and save the file.


Check and see what's there ...It may not be the problem. Hope this helps you..

 

[LEN]

Here is what was xtra in the file

64.237.37.47 auto.search.msn.com

Didn't think it was the culprit but removed it and still the same probem.

Think I have Varmints LOL

Lucky its only these two sites and its really not a porno site, its an adult toy store with links to the porno sites.

Anyone else with any Ideas?

LEN

 

[Snake River Marksman]

Find their physical address, hunt them down and torture them till they tell you who they paid to do the computer work. Then, hunt them down, and torture them till ALL OF US feel better about it. Then force them to fix your computer.

Ok, so maybe that doesn't help but we were all thinking it and somebody had to say it.
I'm not much of a computer expert, but it sounds like it is deep in the registry. You'll probably have to find it, delete it, empty the trash bin, and then reboot the computer. I recently bought the XP for dummies book, and I haven't gotten to that chapter yet, so that's about all the help I can give. Lance will be able to walk you through this given a little time.

 

[nutria]

Len, I remember something like that happened a while back at the store where my wife works. The browser had been hijacked. Anyway, I think that Lance has the key. I remembered they used 'Hijackthis' first and then Ewido. I think Ewido gives you at least one free scan. That maybe all you need. I also remember that the Hijackthis wasn't as straight forward as dummies like me need.

Lance could probably tell you more......

Good luck but I'm sure you'll get it straight.

 

[LanceInOregon]

Of interest here is index.ognc

Which is what both Macy's and Bloomingdale's use on their main web pages. ( see the direct links that I posted earlier to their sites )

I've done some searches, and I can find no other web sites anywhere that use this type of file. Quite unusual. It has got to be a factor, since no other websites seem to be affected.

You will probably need to hire a professional to track this down. Consider contacting Microsoft Tech Support. They would have the resources available to research this for you.

You might want to even contact Macy's web site about the problem, since it appears to be so specifically related to their sties. They may well be aware of what is causing this.

Lance in Orygun

 

[LEN]

Still there after about 20 hrs

Of running every spyware malware adware program I can find. Hijackthis gives a couple indicators of where the problem is but it is SOOOO involved at removal that the wife can use the other computer to get to these two sites.The biggest trouble was she waited so long to tell me of the problem and then I could not use system restore to go back before the problem. Well we will live with it for a bit and I'll give it a shot at removal every now and then.
Thanks to all that gave it a shot for help, I did get rid of a lot of garbage I didn't know was there.

LEN