Slow Google searches

[Steve Burke]

For some months Google searches have been painfully slow, taking a minute or so to load a page. Even when a page is loaded I can't scroll down for some time. It doesn't seem to co-incide with instaling any new software.

 

I have the paid for version of AVG doing a daily scan. I also do a scan with Malwarebytes from time to time. I also use CCleaner on a daily basis to clear out temporary files etc.

 

However every now and then Google searches speed up for a few days. It seems to be after some kind of Google update, but like an idiot I can't remember what it said.

 

I use Vista Home Premium with IE9, Google Mail and have the Google toolbar.

 

However I've just done a search using Firefox (no Google toolbar on this) and there's no problem.

 

Any ideas please?

[Andy_1984]

since its fine on firefox the issue must be with IE9 ? since i dont use IE im not sure where you would go from here apart from not ever using it again. personally i think its rubbish anyway.

[Andrew]

I had nothing but trouble with IE9, ispell checker not working, some site problems, and a host of other stuff. Changed to firefox, and all gone.

[kirisute]

IE9 is perfectly good...considering in the last few months firefox has been found to have major security flaws I think your just slinging mud in a glass house.

the issue is with IE being on the majority of systems then the majority of average user will use it and it will become compromised....the only thing different with Mozilla is that they do tend to be very swift on their addressing of security flaws...with version 16 being patched to close 11 CRITCAL security flaws within 24 hours of its release!!

so im sorry..if you think firefox is somehow safer that IE or Chrome then your sadly wrong...its just they tend to be a bit swifter to cover them up in actual fact I tend to see more infections on systems running Firefox simply because people have this illusion its going to somehow be safer for them....and that little bit of knowledge is usually attached to people who are downloading torrents and other stupid things without protecting their systems correctly.

every browser; without fail has security issues and will become compromised!!

 

as for the OP:

head into your IE TOOLS:

choose INTERNET OPTIONS

choose ADVANCED

click RESTORE ADVANCED SETTINGS

then click RESET and tick all the boxes in the next window

restart IE and reset any prompts you might have; also reset your homepage to whatever you wish.

 

if that doesn't resolve the issue then download and run this:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20359976/Roguefix_3.008.bat

 

download it to your desktop:

right click it and choose RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR

follow on screen prompts

when you restart open IE and reset your homepage etc

 

I would imagine your system has been compromised by a crappy toolbar that is trying to access the internet when you your opening your browser. both the above methods will remove or disable such browsers.

 

on top of that with the last update to google stuff they decided it would be nice to install a google update service that you simply have no choice but to use. its a pain in the arse and it will connect to your internet almost every hour to check for updates....you can disable the service in the registry and via services in your system properties but the cleanest way to deal with it is not trust a company that install hidden update software that even a system admin cant diable in a easy and efficient way! in other words...uninstall ANY google software you are using..you don't need it...IE 9 will access your google mail quite happily without any google software installed!

Edited February 6, 2013 by kirisute

[Andy_1984]

my gripe is not with security Kirisute its from a web development point of view.

[Phone]

Andy,

 

You do show a bias.

 

"""since i dont use IE im not sure where you would go""" then you say, """"its rubbish anyway"""".

 

Current value $230.42 billion.

 

Phone

[Andy_1984]

Ok i should explain myself i suppose. I dont use it personally "anymore" I do however have to use it to check that websites I have created are working across all browsers.

 

A major pain in the rear as IE has different ways of doing things on each different version too!!!!, 1 line of code in other browsers can take 6 lines in IE.

 

I also have to use the piece of crap on other peoples computers when they break and the amount of infections and problems caused by IE being exploited to allow a rogue website to install software on the pc and run it.

 

i also used it in the past when first starting to use computers. I would go on adult sites and torrent sites with up to date IE and virus scanners but still there was always times when IE failed.

 

now i have never experienced once where Chrome or even firefox have ever allowed a website to download and execute virus/ad software EVER.

 

so stick that in yer pipe phone old boy

[kirisute]

Ok i should explain myself i suppose. I dont use it personally "anymore" I do however have to use it to check that websites I have created are working across all browsers.

 

A major pain in the rear as IE has different ways of doing things on each different version too!!!!, 1 line of code in other browsers can take 6 lines in IE.

 

I also have to use the piece of crap on other peoples computers when they break and the amount of infections and problems caused by IE being exploited to allow a rogue website to install software on the pc and run it.

 

i also used it in the past when first starting to use computers. I would go on adult sites and torrent sites with up to date IE and virus scanners but still there was always times when IE failed.

 

now i have never experienced once where Chrome or even firefox have ever allowed a website to download and execute virus/ad software EVER.

 

so stick that in yer pipe phone old boy

 

top bit fully understandable...that's a pain in the rear.

infections on others computers...sorry that's user stupidity...nothing more...ANY browser will become infected if the user isn't competent enough to protect their system or surf the internet wisely.

chrome or firefox never downloading or executing a Trojan or a bit of malware? ROFLMAO!!

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/malware-authors-target-google-chrome/3162

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/25/chrome_web_store_malware_hijacks_facebook_profiles/

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/mozilla-firefox-hit-by-malware-add-ons/5408

http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/firefox-malware/

and that's the tip of the iceberg.....

IE is just as bad....but and I REPEAT THIS: IT ISNT THE BROWSERS per say that are at fault..its stupid users and people who don't protect their system correctly; or simply take risks that they don't understand and click on things before they check them out or read whats going on on the screen in front of them!

 

sorry mate; but to think Chrome or Firefox are somehow safer in this day and age is simply not the case! Jeesh in the early days of firefox it was THE browser that channelled multiple infections across the globe!! it was almost he case that if I PC came into the office with Firefox on it then I knew it also had a virus of some kind or another! LOL!

if you want a "safe" browser then I would truly suggest Safari! the pc version is very stable, quick and comes with some really great cookie protection and malware protection stuff. why? well simply because the pc version of it isn't being targeted much as of yet by the people that write infections..the same with Opera!

do I use it? nope I don't..i don't like it at all! LOL

but then again I don't install shitty toolbars; I only use trusted websites (inc adult ones or torrent ones); I regularly restore the settings and advanced options as well to ensure any BHO files are disabled etc

 

as for any arguments about speed and suchlike:

http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-20047314-12.html

https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/2012/11/14/ie10-how-does-it-really-stack-up/

again that's open to interpretation! but oh dear...on the second one firefox died a death didn't it?

 

in the end the browser on ANY given system is only as good as the person using it when it comes to downloading nasty stuff that will ruin your day!!

and as the malware and virus writers target specific systems more and more then each and EVERY browser will have its own pitfalls to overcome.

in the end NONE of them are safe! it really is that simple!

IE is an integral part of Windows and THATS why it is exploited...most malware comes as a bolt on of a toolbar or shitty bit of software...its a "tickbox" install that a user just doesn't bother to read as they install a bit of software.

scripts running via browsers are far more the roll of anti virus protection and malware protection via third party software than the browser itself. though all modern browsers will protect to some extent to assume they will protect fully is just stupid.

in the end the writers of virus and malware will target the systems they will likely get the most hits from...the easiest way of doing that is to target IE! but be warned:

http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

take a look at the July stats...with Firefox hitting 60%+ then your browser of choice wont be "safe" for very much longer!! in fact its already being targeted considerably more with its latest release than ever before!

Edited February 7, 2013 by kirisute

[Andy_1984]

I stick by what i say from personal experience and IE is far more susceptible to exploiting than firefox or chrome, im only talking about websites executing programs so no need to run off on a mad rant. Notice how i said "i have never experienced" that doesnt mean the entire world. ROFLMFAO

 

I never said chrome or firefox was 100% safer. Just safer than IE when it comes to stopping dodgy websites downloading and executing things without the users knowledge & despite having security and virus scanners set properly and has nothing to do with toolbars so watch what you say about end users

 

I admit to using torrents and porn sites and regularly got flagged up for adware etc when using IE then switched to firefox back in the day and it all stopped. funny that isnt it.

 

last time i used IE8 on a less than reputable website and BAM virus downloaded in the background, luckily i have all my settings and virus scanner setup properly so it never got a chance to execute. same website on chrome and it never got a chance.

 

so yeah IE is shite.

[kirisute]

Watch what I say about end users?

Kiss my ring! Last time I looked free speech was still allowed! And if alot of end users used half their brain cells then systems wouldn't become compromised as often as they do!!

I see systems daily with no AV software but torrent software all over the place...I see browsers stuffed with toolbars for emoticons and all manner of crap, systems that haven't even had windows updates installed for months! Users who don't know how Chrome got on their system, users who don't know how to reset their homepage.

None of that is the software programmers fault!

That's end user stupidity!!

Stupidity and not knowing isn't an excuse! It's a problem!

It's not about toolbars?

Primary infection of adware is via toolbar or third party software install. Crap like YouTube down loaders and torrent software.

In the past year the only malware infection that has seen an increase in browser auto scripting has been the fake AV type of Trojan and hijack/ blackmail software. They are usually coded to slip past most pop up blockers and script auto run routines because in most cases they require user interaction.....ie you have to be stupid enough to believe the screen telling you you have 2000 infected files is real and click OK to resolve the issue.

The reason they work so well is that technically they are not a virus or malware attack at all! Just a program that runs a scripted animation with a hyperlink that does the real damage! The damage is done when the end user clicks the link and provides payment details or whatever.

In your line of work you might enjoy the section on advertising in this PDF:

http://www.sophos.com/medialibrary/PDFs/technical%20papers/sophosfakeantivirusjourneyfromtrojantpna.pdf?dl=true

Also note the payload checking of security holes; java, flash and PDF...all browser add ins, not browser coding itself!

So again the browser takes the blame whereas in fact poorly updated or less secure plugins actually allow the infection to occur.

 

Mad rant? No...stating facts...yes.

Personal opinion that something is shite is fair enough...posting in a thread of someone asking for help and simply suggesting the software they are using is shite I don't think is!

I'm holding a discussion posting my knowledge on the subject....which I guess you are too.....though you seem to be taking it personally!

I don't think your use of torrent or porn sites needs to come into it! (At least not twice!)

Your thoughts on IE's coding issues I utterly agree with....

The rest I don't; that's all there is to it!

Your thoughts or your opions really don't effect me enough to warrant a "mad rant" mate! Sorry your not that important in my life!

If you wish to carry on our discussion that's fine....but try not to take it personally.....

 

To the OP; I'm not including you in my comments about end users...by your own admission you have done all you can and your system would appear adequately protected. These things happen to all of us! No system is infallible! I've as systems myself where AVG has ailed to detect an infection but Avast will find it in an instant! It's actually worth whiles uninstalling your AV software occasionally and installing a different one; just to check!

Edited February 7, 2013 by kirisute