malware/ trojan attacking browsers

phant0m2017 said:

After I had run the Sophos kit this morning and turned into normal mode, I did click on internet explorer . There was a slight difference though this time . It seemed like it was almost letting me get to it but it said I needed to be online and the wireless tab that sits alongside airplane mode down on the bottom right was not there ... I went into the networking part and I clicked on show wireless signals around me but nothing showed ... it's like my network connections have gone !!!

Check in Device Manager and see if there's a bang on the wifi adapter. You may need to reinstall the driver for it. You could try disabling/re-enabling it, or even delete it, and then search for new hardware and let the system reinstall the driver.

phant0m2017 said:

Where do I find search for new hardware ?

In Device Manager, highlight the top line which shows your computer, and right-click, and select Scan for hardware changes.

phant0m2017 said:

Surely I need to be online to get new hardware ?

Not new hardware, but sometimes drivers. It depends on the device. A lot of drivers come within the W10 operating system. You can select Update Driver Software, then Browse my computer, then choose the driver locally. But, if you select Properties of a device, see if it has an error or not. If there is no bang, and no error, and the driver is loaded and it says the device is working properly, then you don't need to do this.

phant0m2017 said:

I did try disabling the intel wifi link 510 AGN and the realtek PCle GBE family controller but nothing happened but there was no yellow triangle next to them when I got to device manager .

If no bang, then I suspect properties will show the device is working properly.

Where are you on the scans and browser resets? I'm pretty sure you can do that without an internet connection.

phant0m2017 said:

In device manager at the moment and highlighted what you said at the top . I right clicked and clicked on scan for hardware changes and it quickly flashes scanning plug and play hardware very briefly but nothing happens ?

Nothing would happen unless there was new hardware found.

EDIT: If, say for instance, your ethernet adapter had a bang on it, you could try to update the driver. If that didn't work, you could remove the device, then scan for new hardware, and Device Manager would find it, and reinstall it and the driver. That's all I was getting at.

phant0m2017 said:

I am now in safe mode trying to reset browsers - a blue screen in the centre hsd popoed up saying get started cant be opened using the built in admin. Account. Sign in with a different sccount and try again ...?

The Get Started App is not something we need - it doesn't work in safe mode, yes.
You are in your user account right?

phant0m2017 said:

I hope so !! My computer had always been in my sccount - never anyone else ...

Yes, okay. I just meant, not in the hidden administrator account, which is available when you boot into safe mode.:)