Can't connect to Google or Yahoo search Solved/Closed

Question

Hello,

I have a very strange problem that I can't figure out.  I can not connect to Google or Yahoo search.  I can do a search with Bing and Lycos.  I can't hit anything on Google or Gmail.com.  I can hit Yahoo.com and mail.yahoo.com and other Yahoo sites (not Yahoo answers though), but when I click "search" on yahoo.com the connection times out.  I can get to all other non-yahoo search or google sites I have tried.

I have tried with IE and Firefox.  I have also run a spyware program and nothing was found.  I have an old Norton definition that finds nothing.

I have a Linksys router and Netgear wireless card.  It worked perfectly before, then all of the sudden the search functionality of Yahoo and Google disappeared.

It appears to be virus based since I can get to Bing (new) and Lycos (nobody uses), but I have been unable to find anything b/c a) its weird, and b) I can't get to some sites b/c of the problem.

Has anyone come across something like this before?  I am open to trying anything.

Thanks in advance!!

brian · Accepted Answer

I found the resolution.  The hosts file (C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc) was apparently altered by some sort of virus or spyware.  The file contained numerous entries, including those that were blocked on my computer.  I removed all the entries from the file and all the sites were assessable (taking a backup first, of course)

The corrupt file contained several hundred sites that would have been blocked if I had tried them.

Anshuman · Answer

I think there might be a virus on ur computer so install AVG with latest updates ...and then try....

or if nothin helps Re install ur windows.

bryan007w · Answer

Hi, I did have a similar problem some time back. According to my knowledge, this is more of a spyware rather than a virus. (possibilities are that a virus infection maybe downloaded as well via this infection) so before you do any formatting, you have to clear the infection. Try downloading "Super Anti Spyware" and run a full sys scan+ you could download the latest updates for your virus guard or even try AVG as suggested.

Good Luck!

Brian · Answer

I downloaded AVG b/c my Norton definition was old and required a new subscription (note that the Norton download site is also one that is blocked).  AVG found no viruses (it vaulted some cookies, but that is all).  I use Malwarebytes for spyware and it finds nothing new when I run it.

I am writing this response from another computer on the same router, so its not router-based.

I downloaded a fix for the Conficker work from Norton:
https://fr.norton.com/

This was also not found.  Having trouble resolving this and don't want to reformat my computer just to clear it.  I assume someone else has had the same problem.

Can't connect to:
google.com
gmail.com
maps.google.com
ask.com
search.yahoo.com
yahoo answers
shop.symantec.com
avg.com
some message boards regarding security/viruses/etc, including kioskea.net (this one)!!

Can connect to Yahoo mail, bing, lycos, pretty much everything else I try.

tixylick · Answer

Well I am having the exact same problem. But I used to have 112 different viruses (eg trojan, backdoor, worm, spyware, malware, adware & more) I have tried all those and they don't work. But I highly  doubt its a browers hijacker. What I did that worked on everything except google was running a scan and changing my internet settings. Hoped it worked

deepz · Answer

y no try deleting d cookies...

bernie ramone · Answer

If you have spyware or virus ...remove it.
 Never reload your system...thats a losers way to fix things.

jem · Answer

I had this problem running apple os leopard. problem traced back to peer guardian, uninstalled peer guardian and problem solved immediately. Don't know if its the same for P.C.s. Hope this helps somebody.

Jimmy.

Problem:
Suddenly unable to connect to any google domains or yahoo.

Apple mac OS snow leopard.
Mac pro.

Solution.
Uninstall peer guardian.

trafficninja · Answer

Thanks. I solved my problem!

Sonita · Answer

Not in all cases the problem is same like you JEM, these a days people are having problem with a browser hijacker, that sometimes dos,nt let user connect to search engines

anon · Answer

I was going crazy with this but finally managed to connect to google again. I updated AVG and ran a Rootkit scan. It found 2 threats and I removed them both. Problem solved.

Hope this helps someone. After almost despairing with good hosts file and no malware found by a few programs, this is what worked for me.

Can't connect to Google or Yahoo search

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