Internet Explorer is a pile o' poop. Talk to me about Google Chrome

[KatieMiddIeton]

i am running the latest version of IE. Since downloading it is always having errors, running slowly and has now started doing funny things to my email and Survey Monkey accounts. The previous version wasn't great but this is a joke.

I downloaded Google Chrome with an Adobe Flash update and it seems to be so much faster. Is it really better or am I just lucky so far? If it isn't what's good and is there any way or importing all my preferences from IE to my new browser.

Thanks Barry. I'd never even heard of it until I search for new browsers and realised I'd already downloaded it

It just looks so... empty compared to my clutter IE toolbars and Google bars and what not. But it hasn't frozen once today which is a flipping miracle.

Is that IE8? If so its shite, much worse than 7. I like Chrome but I think I have this browser hijacking virus thing at the moment which is pissing me off immensely and I think you have the option to import preferences when you install the new browser.

IE's bad, but it shouldn't be that bad....

Have you checked your computer for Malware? Malware is different to a virus so something that is just a virus scanner may not do the trick, use this if you've not got a tool already:
[[www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free]

I ran my antivirus stuff again today to make sure and the time before when I ran it it picked up a virus and a trojan.

I will have a look at the Malware thing Badgers.

I think I'm using IE 8. It's the most recent one anyhoo. I orginally thought it was my laptop but it's less than a year old.

"I ran my antivirus stuff again today to make sure and the time before when I ran it it picked up a virus and a trojan."

Do try that Malware Bytes then... Something just doesn't feel right here.

IE is known to be shite. Chrome is fantastic. Current firefox version is rubbish. Go for Chrome.

The whole thing has just stopped working - both IE and Chrome. When I went to the malware site I got different pages on the different browsers. It wouldn't load at all at first.

Tech thinks my iPhone might have a virus too Have no clue what to do about that but it's still working ok. Just every so often I get a nice picture of a Korean shopping site instead of Mumsnet

I have McAfee anti v software.

I feel I should say I am good at using applications and can even do a bit of HTML but I'm so ignorant about what's the best software and operating systems.

I only get it on the iPhone. My laptop doesn't do such things. Yet.

"The whole thing has just stopped working - both IE and Chrome. When I went to the malware site I got different pages on the different browsers. It wouldn't load at all at first."

Something is definitely going on, this is just about IE being rubbish.

Are you able to download MalwareBytes? If not do you have another computer that you could download it with?

"Tech thinks my iPhone might have a virus too"

Not convinced, as long as you've not jailbroken your iPhone I don't think there are any viruses out there. Why would you see a Korean site? I'd blame a networking problem rather than a virus for that one.

So focus on the PC, something is very not right with it.

It's currently running Windows Memory Diagnostics tool. Thankfully I save everything online and back up so I'm not fretting yet.

Will see what it does in a bit.

Now you mention it tech did say something about the router being compromised as it only happens when on wifi. It's a newish router as well.

The memory diagnostic thingy was fine and I've just managed to get the Malware thingy to run.

There are 641 registry errors I'd done a full system scan, updates, diagnostics and what not and it had all come back clean! I've bought their software because clearing 15 for free isn't really gonna cut it...

Thanks Badgers

"Now you mention it tech did say something about the router being compromised as it only happens when on wifi. It's a newish router as well."

That's possible... There should be a way to reset the router back to its original factory settings. Which should help flush it clean, but you would need to know the details to enter to get it back onto your broadband connection. Once the PC is fixed and clean you do need to get that router cleaned up as well.

The free version of Malwarebytes is usually enough, I've used it and not bought anything. What exactly did it ask you to pay for?

So I'm now a bit worried about exactly what you've downloaded and where it really came from. I'd get to a computer that you know is clean and isn't using your router and download Malwarebytes Free again, then boot your machine in safe mode, install it and run it.

It's ok I just bought the upgrade because the free one only cleans up 15 errors and I had over 600! Don't worry I checked it out. It's also running much faster now.

I installed the router so I expect I could fix it. What do I need to do? There's a reset button and I could delete and reinstall. Would that do it? I'm ok once I know what I'm doing but I lack the imagination to work it out.

Dh's computer is ok. He works for a bank so has super-duper software on his. It's not picked anything up. I think I had a virus which has been removed by the McAfee but it might have done some damage and/or there were lots of bits that hadn't been updated or removed when they should have been on system.

"I installed the router so I expect I could fix it. What do I need to do? "

It depends on the router, so you might need to find the manual. There should be an option somewhere to do a rest back to its original/factory settings. The reset button might do it, but sometimes it takes something a bit more deliberate as this is a powerful thing to be doing.

In the end if you can't trust your router you cannot trust anything you are doing through that router.

"I think I had a virus which has been removed by the McAfee"

Possibly... Is your McAfee completely up to date?

Windows does have an amazing capacity for getting itself into a bit of a mess, but still....

Yup the McAfee is up to date.

I used the manual to install the router. It's probably near the router. It wasn't long ago. I'll go and have a look.

Thank you

Evening Katie, a couple of years ago when I first got access to the wonder that is the innernetz I used IE7, and within an hour got a nasty malware infection. I fixed it by myself and now use Firefox, which is great for everything except Arsebook. But my "friends" on there say their browsers lag and scripts run slow. Anyway, a great free product to have is CCleaner which erases your history and cleans your registry. MBAM free will clear mal/spyware, as will Superantispyware (I have both). Many of the new viruses (viri?) only work after you reboot your pc, which is how I got done, so running CCleaner before shutting down removes any rubbish IE allows. Fr'instance this morning it removed 29.9MB of shite, mostly from IE. Yes, you still need it for updates from Microsoft. Also, CCleaner updates automatically. Why pay for stuff when there are so many free programs out there to use? Get Avast, Superantispyware, MBAM and CCleaner and you're protected. Just remember to update MBAM and Superasw every week and run them manually every time you feel necessary. I've run neither for a couple of weeks as Avast has picked up on the couple of times that Mywot has let me down.
Sorry it's all one paragraph, I got carried away. Trying to watch Nirvana on BBC4 at the same time.

Thank you that's very helpful. I think I've reset the router (couldn't find the manual and Talk Talk and manufacturer's sites are useless). It has one of those little holes where you need to get a pin.

I checked the router and it seems ok. I am going to run WiFi Sniffer from www.Paessler.com/download which I got for free recommended on eHow and will monitor activity on my router. I will then change the password on the router.

Hopefully that will do it?

I will save this thread so when my McAfee runs out I can update for free. It came free from Dell when I got the laptop. I used to pay for Norton but I download Avast or AVG (I forget which) for MIL and it is apparently just as good.

Thanks again