Avast WEBforum

Other => General Topics => Topic started by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 08:26:20 AM

Title: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 08:26:20 AM
This browser slips in unnoticed - it slips in unnoticed because its originator has morphed the genuine "google.co.uk" for "google.uk.com" There's very little about it on the internet but it is highly suspicious and it seems to masquerade its presence under 'Google'. Any ideas please?

Thanks.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: Pondus on May 26, 2012, 08:54:32 AM
virustotal 
https://www.virustotal.com/url/a6f68dcdcae741fbd17ae8dd78ba2e26df10ad4d673d52ca00b2bc521f96b210/analysis/1338015094/

URLVoid
http://www.urlvoid.com/scan/google.uk.com/

Sucuri
http://sitecheck.sucuri.net/results/google.uk.com/

Zulu risk analyzer
http://zulu.zscaler.com/submission/show/184767df2d75a64e20cd418a51c9e09a-1338015126

urlQuery
http://urlquery.net/report.php?id=59836

Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: AdrianH on May 26, 2012, 11:00:30 AM
http://www.goglogo.com/s.asp?lo=Search%20engine%20for%20suspicious%20people    ;D ;D


It is not a browser,i t's just a custom Google search, Google supply the tools to do this http://www.google.co.uk/cse/
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 12:52:59 PM
Thanks,

Kripes - how are we supposed to protect ourselves when people like Google start playing around like this: absurd!! Did I ask Google for this service? No, no, no!

Best regards.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: bob3160 on May 26, 2012, 03:27:55 PM
Thanks,

Kripes - how are we supposed to protect ourselves when people like Google start playing around like this: absurd!! Did I ask Google for this service? No, no, no!

Best regards.
It's hardly something that just pop up. It requires user interaction to set it up:
http://www.google.com/cse/ (http://www.google.com/cse/)
http://googlecustomsearch.blogspot.com/ (http://googlecustomsearch.blogspot.com/)
http://support.google.com/customsearch/?hl=en (http://support.google.com/customsearch/?hl=en)

Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 06:37:40 PM
Indeed. But how do I get rid of it? I've tried to identify it under various 'tools' or 'settings' folders and it does not identitfy itself, just like adware. It's not listed under programs on Control Panel. It is possible that I have typed "google.uk.com" by mistake at some time instead of "google.co.uk". But now that it keeps appearing instead of the basic Google search engine, how can I make it go away? It may not be a browser hijacker but it is certainly proving to be a nuisance, to me at any rate.

Many thanks.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: bob3160 on May 26, 2012, 06:54:08 PM
You may have to ask Google to help you with that question.


You never mentioned which browser you're using.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 07:01:38 PM
Groan - [lol]

Many thanks :)
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: AdrianH on May 26, 2012, 08:23:03 PM
In your browser look for "manage search engines"  , it should be a drop down menu in your search box, edit the entries there.

Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 10:39:27 PM
Thanks, I can assure you that GUKCOM does not appear there - that's when I became alarmed that it might be a stealth adware like searchqu_406. I am still basically alarmed that I cannot get rid of it. I am furious at Google for removing their search-cache option and the unwanted appearance of GUKOM as a browser is salt in the wound.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: Pondus on May 26, 2012, 10:44:37 PM
if you attach a OTL log.... maybe jeffce can solve it for you?
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 10:50:51 PM
if you attach a OTL log.... maybe jeffce can solve it for you?

Many thanks - will update!

meanwhile ...
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: bob3160 on May 26, 2012, 10:52:41 PM
if you attach a OTL log.... maybe jeffce can solve it for you?

Many thanks - will update!

meanwhile ...
What browser are you using ???
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 10:54:02 PM
In your browser look for "manage search engines"  , it should be a drop down menu in your search box, edit the entries there.

I did try that thanks. Someonelse complaining about GUKCOM here (top post): -

"I'M
STUCK WITH IE8 AND SOMETHING CALLED GUKCOM!  ... WHEN I GOOGLED FOR GUKCOM, IT
RETURNED WITH 'DO YOU MEAN KLUGMAN?' ANYONE KNOW HOW I CAN GET RID OF GLUK THICK GOOGLE ITS USELESS"

https://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_thread/thread/8a8b968f6a4d9a40 (https://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_thread/thread/8a8b968f6a4d9a40)
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 26, 2012, 10:55:37 PM
Browsers: Google Chrome, FireFox.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: bob3160 on May 26, 2012, 11:03:58 PM
Why are you stuck with IE 8 ???
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: mchain on May 27, 2012, 02:55:40 AM
Maybe has XP SP3?

To a_vast,

Before we go off on a tangent here, please keep in mind all members in this thread are avast users, like you.  If you have a problem related to avast, or believe you do, (did it miss this detection yesterday?).  If there is a problem with the way Avast is operating or working, can help you there.
Thanks,

Kripes - how are we supposed to protect ourselves when people like Google start playing around like this: absurd!! Did I ask Google for this service? No, no, no!
OR if you believe you are infected with malware, we have jeffce and/or essexboy who will assist you.  At the very least, they can get rid of the Google modified browser for you.  And make sure your system is clean.
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 27, 2012, 08:41:33 AM
Why are you stuck with IE 8 ???

I have this thanks: http://uk.msn.com/?ocid=OIE9HP (http://uk.msn.com/?ocid=OIE9HP)
Title: Re: nuisance browser: GUKCOM or google.uk.com
Post by: a_vast on May 27, 2012, 08:49:03 AM
Maybe has XP SP3? Before we go off on a tangent here, please keep in mind all members in this thread are avast users, like you.  If you have a problem related to avast, or believe you do, (did it miss this detection yesterday?).  If there is a problem with the way Avast is operating or working, can help you there...OR if you believe you are infected with malware, we have jeffce and/or essexboy who will assist you.  At the very least, they can get rid of the Google modified browser for you.  And make sure your system is clean.

Many thanks - I just found google.uk.com set as the homepage in IE9 - I may even have put it in there by mistake thinking I was typing google.co.uk. Last time I visited Avast I was advised to maually type in defaults because I had been visited by adware malware in the past. Hence my alarm at finding (to my eye) an odd looking version of Google suddenly appearing - it did not restrict itself to IE9 btw & kept on migrating to Google Chrome.

Kind regards.