Computer problems!

Could someone help me? I was on my usual forum surf, when all of the sudden, the space where you put website URLs was gone. The back button, is gone too! It was really hard getting over her on TCS. Can any of you help me?

Hey doll, don't panic just yet. Look at the top menu, and click on the item that says "View" , then on "toolbars" that will allow you to check/uncheck the bars that contain the buttons and address line. If not, yell back, ok?

Originally Posted by Ilovecats

Could someone help me? I was on my usual forum surf, when all of the sudden, the space where you put website URLs was gone. The back button, is gone too!

It was really hard getting over her on TCS. Can any of you help me?

Click to expand...

I would bet all the cheese flavored popcorn I bought yesterday that your internet browser has been hijacked. I'm beginning to think we need a permanent thread on security. I'm not going to throw everything at you at once, but here's a start.

Download these things. Then install and run them.

CWShredder
Spybot Search & Destroy
Ad-aware SE Personal
Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta

All these programs are free.

*sighs* Two days later, I looked into the view and toolbars as told. Then I clicked "Standard buttons* They're back! Sadly, the URL space is not.

Originally Posted by Ilovecats

*sighs* Two days later, I looked into the view and toolbars as told. Then I clicked "Standard buttons* They're back! Sadly, the URL space is not.

Click to expand...

The URL space isn't back because your computer has been hijacked. Browser features don't disappear for no reason. Have you tried downloading those programs?

Are you sure? How is that possible? No, not yet.

Try the "View" again and see if "Address Bar" is checked. If it is, look up at the top somehwere where it normally is and see if you can see the word, or part of the word "Address" If so, click on it and drag somewhere else.

While it is possible your browser has been comprised, it may also be that you don't have your toolbars "locked" and can accidently drag them somehwere.

Did you look at this one, too? (below)

Not necessarily been hijacked, I have people running to me all the time at work because they did something to cause it & weren't sure what they did... and certainly not how to fix it. And it's not a big deal to fix if you were. Just download those programs listed earlier.

ah hah Tracey! GMTA!

Originally Posted by Talon

Try the "View" again and see if "Address Bar" is checked. If it is, look up at the top somehwere where it normally is and see if you can see the word, or part of the word "Address" If so, click on it and drag somewhere else.

While it is possible your browser has been comprised, it may also be that you don't have your toolbars "locked" and can accidently drag them somehwere.

Click to expand...

I did what you said. I see adress somewhere at the end of the screen, but I don't see how to "drag it over".

Take the mouse and click on the word address, hold it down and drag the cursor somewhere else. Hope it works!

Originally Posted by Ilovecats

Are you sure? How is that possible? No, not yet.

Click to expand...

Yes, I am absolutely sure.

It is possible by accessing the Internet without a firewall, without a properly set antivirus program and if you have any less then all four programs I listed. Even then it is still possible, but I have over 5 years of experience with home computer security for friends, family, ex-girlfriends and acquaintences behind me so I know what I'm talking about. There's no easy way out of what happened to you unless you had accidentally pressed the F11 key without noticing, but it doesn't sound like you did that.

Thank you so much. I'm still working on it.

I am sorry, but I am not good with this stuff.

Actually it is quite easily possible to accidently get them to go away or move, I've done it before - so have some of my over 500 users that I help support. Beleive me, if there is a way to screw something up, my users will find a way. (If any of them are reading this - present company exlcuded!)

Still a great idea to run those programs though - never know what evils lurk!

I'll do it as soon as I have enough time!