What The Hells Up With Google??

http://www.google.com/

We NEVER have any problems accessing Google. so whats up with it??


this is page i get..


Are you trying to get to Google?
Your computer is running software that doesn’t allow you to use Google.
You’re seeing this page because your computer is trying to send you to a website that is pretending to be Google. Over the past few weeks, you may have seen a website that looks like Google, but launches pop-up windows and does not work like Google. That page is not affiliated with Google in any way and is intended to deceive you.
Why is this happening?
Most likely a program was installed on your computer automatically and without your knowledge when you downloaded an otherwise harmless piece of software. Or you may have been tricked into clicking on a disguised download button while visiting a website.
What can I do about it?
This problem can be fixed fairly easily, but will require that you make changes in a file that is part of your computer’s operating system. You should always be cautious when making these kinds of adjustments, as they may affect the performance of your computer. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, you may want to print out this page and show it to someone whose technical knowledge you trust.
What steps do I take?
The first step is to remove the entry for Google from your hosts file. This entry is telling your computer where to send your computer instead of to Google.
In Windows, open the Notepad program. You can do this by going to the Start menu in the lower left of your screen, selecting “Programs,” then “Accessories,” then “Notepad.”
In the Notepad menu, click on “File,” then “Open.” You will see a new window asking which file to open. You may need to change "Files of type" to "All Files" instead of "Text Documents". The actual file to open is listed below:
If your computer is running Windows XP, Window NT, or Windows 2000, the file is located in the folder found by following this path:
My Computer >Local Disk(C) >Windows >System32 >Drivers >etc >hosts
If your computer is running Windows 98, Second Edition or Windows ME, the file is located in the folder found by following this path:
My Computer >Local Disk(C) >Windows >hosts

Once you have opened this file, remove entirely any line of text that contains “google.com”, “www.google.com” or other Google domains (such as “google.co.uk”). To remove the text, highlight it by dragging your pointer across the line while holding down the mouse button. Once the text is highlighted, hit the Backspace or Delete button, then save the file by going to the File menu and clicking “Save.” You can now exit Notepad.
What else can I do?
You might want to try software that attempts to detect and uninstall programs like this one. While we do not have a relationship with anyone who offers this software and we cannot endorse a particular product, the most popular programs for doing this seem to be Spybot Search and Destroy and LavaSoft's AdAware. The particular program affecting your computer is relatively new, so these products might not be able to detect and repair this type of problem yet.
The next step is to learn more. You can visit http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ to review information about a number of known self-installing software programs. Several articles on the web may be helpful, such as
• http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...172507212.html
• http://news.com.com/2100-1023-877568.html
• http://news.com.com/2100-1023-257592.html
Investigate individual programs using search engines. Try keywords such as "spyware," "scumware," and "adware."
Once you’re informed, take action. Help your family and friends avoid these annoying programs. If you can find the site that installed this software on your computer, let them know how you feel about it. You might also want to track down companies that benefit from having your web visits redirected, and share your feelings with them.
Finally, it's quick and easy to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This U.S. government agency handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices. To file a complaint, visit: http://www.ftc.gov/ and click on "File a Complaint Online", or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. Or write to:
Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
Washington, D.C. 20580
If your complaint is against a company in another country, you can file it at http://www.econsumer.gov/.



Nightfalls_Girl

I can get to it fine... your link is also fine - loads up the normal google page. Think it must be something on your box - never seen the page your on about - got a screenshot you can upload?

Z

no as it is working fine for me now.. thats the weird bit..

tho that is the msg that was displayed, no graphic or anything else.


Nightfalls_Girl

I did a quick search, trying to find that page, or any other references to
it on the net (just copy and past a sentence of it into the "exact phrase"
field of Google or any ither search engine), but found nothing.

The advice is good though. When you go to places on the net, your browser
goes first to a name server to convert names into numerical addresses.

google.com might resolve into an address like 216.239.53.100
The "hosts" file mentioned on that page has entries that will
override a name server lookup and send you to the address
listed there Most people only have the addresses of other
computers on their local area network listed in the hosts file

Code:

---

# Copyright (c) 1998 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP stack for Windows98
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97    rhino.acme.com          # source server
#      38.25.63.10    x.acme.com              # x client host

127.0.0.1                localhost
192.168.0.1                rcgreen
192.168.0.2                stacy
192.168.0.3                acer
192.168.0.4                kirby

---

If there was an entry in there for a well known site like google, directing you
to some alternate address, that would explain the wierdness.
:cool:

this used to be a well known prank

get access to a friends computer for a min well start adding new entries to host file so that hotmail.com pointed to some anal porn site etc etc etc and watch them scratch their heads in wonder but as for why u got this page I dunno

check your host file make sure everything is ok & get a spyware cleaner just to be sure

v_Ln

yah ill let Nightfall no about it when he gets gome, he can deal with it if he thinks it needs acting upon..

thanks,

Nightfalls_Girl

I read this same thing in another forum tonight so, yours is not an isolated incident.

The suggestions there were mostly to run Adaware and Spybot. I believe the feeling was basicly that spyware was the culprit.

Did you get to Google from a bookmark in your favorites?
Maybe the link has been changed to point somewhere else prob by one of your mates for a joke.

Ive had this done to me a few times and it can be annoying as hell but fun when you do it to someone else!!!

no it was not like that. it is set to default home page....
we fixed it we ran a spy wear proggy........

****HOLY ********

THATS ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT...


Nightfalls_Girl

I was going to suggest running a spyware removal prog, but you already did....lol. That sounds like it'd be a pretty good prank! And since I live in a dorm.... :lildevil: . j/k, I don't feel like being expelled any time soon, but it *would* be pretty funny.