[When I type "Skype" into the address bar, which is set to Yahoo search, I get immediately directed to URL skype.internetvisitation.org . Malware?
[UPDATE1: It also does it when I set the search bar to google default] [UPDATE 2: I've tracked the problem to Firefox's location bar reading this URL as an Open Tab when nothing is open. I refreshed Firefox via the troubleshooting option, and that initiated the option to suggest open tab URLs when typing something into the address/location bar. That's how I figured out that it reads the URL from an open tab that either does not exist or is hidden. But I still have no solution]
I closed the tab before it could load the page.
Other search terms doesn't give the same problem.
Just prior to this I updated to Firefox 40.0.3, Skype to 7.8.0.102, and Java update from the Oracle page. Running Windows update.
using Windows 7 PC
Is this a malware problem? Could anyone please check if it happens to them?
I am normally very strict on where I browse. I vet each cookie before it is set. My antivitus preventative settings are fairly strict too.
Upravil(a) rabidraccoon dňa
Všetky odpovede (6)
When typing into the address bar, the browser may check if it is a link. google = google.com for example.
What is your current search engine (check and make sure).
Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.
Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.
FredMcD said
When typing into the address bar, the browser may check if it is a link. google = google.com for example. What is your current search engine (check and make sure). Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article. Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.
That's not correct. When I type google, it doesn't automatically go to google.com. It goes to the Yahoo search page, and lists the search options. Besides, even if it redirect to related urls, it would go to skype.com, not internetvistation.org.
Upravil(a) rabidraccoon dňa
FredMcD said
When typing into the address bar, the browser may check if it is a link. google = google.com for example. What is your current search engine (check and make sure). Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article. Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.
Check out my "Update 2" in the original details. I've made some progress in tracking down what's going on.
delete your all history , cookies and recent activities and try after that
Ashish Mishra said
delete your all history , cookies and recent activities and try after that
No, I do that daily. And also tried it here several times. I did a clean install, and found the problem to return after I install my backup bookmarks. I traced that URL to a very old bookmark ( I have many bookmarks).
What I don't understand still is why the search bar/address bar takes me to that bookmark URL when I just type "skype". My settings are such that firefox should not suggest bookmarks/history, etc. when I type into the bar, much less decide where I'm going to.
I've deleted those URLs and will later report back on if it worked, but I'm worried that there is some script somewhere randomly doing this for other bookmarks I don't know about. Just wondering if this is a malicious thing or not, at this point.
I might have to not install my backup bookmarks :(
rabidraccoon said
Ashish Mishra saiddelete your all history , cookies and recent activities and try after thatNo, I do that daily. And also tried it here several times. I did a clean install, and found the problem to return after I install my backup bookmarks. I traced that URL to a very old bookmark ( I have many bookmarks).
What I don't understand still is why the search bar/address bar takes me to that bookmark URL when I just type "skype". My settings are such that firefox should not suggest bookmarks/history, etc. when I type into the bar, much less decide where I'm going to.
I've deleted those URLs and will later report back on if it worked, but I'm worried that there is some script somewhere randomly doing this for other bookmarks I don't know about. Just wondering if this is a malicious thing or not, at this point.
I might have to not install my backup bookmarks :(
So update: I've deleted those URLs from my bookmarks and no longer get directed there, but other than that, I still don't know what the problems was or if it was restricted to just this. Oh well.