Weird virus thing

[Mystic Muse]

I keep getting this thing that says "TrackID" added on whenever I try to do a google search, and it gives me irrelevant results. I think whatever it was, I caught it when I had to download some school related software from SourceForge, but Avast can't find it, and I'm not sure what to do to get rid of it.

It installed something called "Vosteran" apparently.

[JeminiZero]

Try this set of instructions (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-vosteran-search/).

[huttj509]

I like Malwarebytes for my malicious stuff removal. Most times when I've had something other stuff won't find, MB scoops it right up.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Free version just doesn't have real time protection and scheduled scanning, so I use it for "huh, is something wonky" scans.

[007_ctrl_room]

If malware scans come up empty you can always try and use window's System Restore function to roll back to a date in time before the problem arises; that's saved me quite a few times haha.

[veti]

Try this set of instructions (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-vosteran-search/).

Unfortunately, those require you to install something else, to get rid of the thing you didn't want installed in the first place. That doesn't sit right with me.

According to Vosteran themselves (http://www.vosteransearch.com/how-to-remove/), you can uninstall the program just by using Windows' native 'Uninstall Program' or 'Add/remove programs' function, and then manually updating your browser settings. I'm inclined to believe them.

And SourceForge has become notorious for this sort of thing. I'd use it only as a last resort nowadays - always search to see if the original creator of the program you want maintains their own version on their own private website somewhere - if so, you're probably better off installing it from there.

[Mystic Muse]

Yeah, if the school had just given a link to a friggin' trustworthy site, I wouldn't have this problem. :smallsigh:

It should definitely be fixed later, since I've used a few things to get rid of it, as suggested.