Question

My computer just decided to be retarded and I can't connect to the internet now. I'm using Firefox, but I can't connect using FF, IE, or Opera. On FF it gives me a message that says "This proxy server is refusing connections. Firefox is configured to use a proxy server that is refusing connections."

I don't want to mess with the proxies cause I have no idea what I'm doing. Any ideas as to what I should do? The interesting thing is that all my downloads keep working and I can update my anti-spyware stuff.

Downloads and anti-spyware will go through different ports to your internet browsers.

First of all, has there been any change to your system in the past 24 hours?

Besides connecting to different wireless networks and removing small malware, no. Used Malwarebytes to remove adware.

Ah. Could be a few things then. What firewall are you using?

None. I turned the Windows Firewall off. No interference on that front

Hmm. Can you see the active connections via your firewall? When I use Comodo, I can see the ports that are being used.

I suspect this is due to the adware. What was it trying to get you to buy?

"Antispyware" stuff. I kept getting popups that told me to buy it. And a thing popped up that said I had 227 pieces of malware on my computer

The adware could have shut off the ports that your internet browsers usually use so that you become desperate enough to buy their product. If you could find out what the specific name of the intrusion, then googling it would be a good option.

Oh heck, I'm advising people about computers on the internet. Geeeek.

So, let me do that thing...

What should you do then... On another pc (yes another) install malwarebytes and do all the updates... Then, using a flashdrive that you're going to format later, copy the folder into it...

Put the flashdrive into your infected pc (pray that it didn't shit down your usb ports), and then run malwarebytes...

If it works (Usually it does), run a scan, and again, if it starts scanning, you should hope that it makes everything clean...

If something it's still remaining, get a trial version of Avast! Pro, so you can use the feature that allows you to scan and clean your pc before the OS boots...

If you still have something, and you're really desperate... You should use the cd's that came with the computer to put it back to factory mode (and probably saying goodbye to all your stuff)

He's already used Malwarebyte's, Joao. And don't rush the poor guy with telling him to reinstall.

But if he installed it without the updated, the virus wouldn't allow him to do them (at least the similar virus did that with my XP)...

Also I'm not rushing him to reinstall... I'm just telling him to put that in mind, in case he needs to use the last resort...

I'm pretty sure it's not a malware problem or anything. I cleaned all of it out; my Malwarebytes can update and everything. Spywareblaster too.

I didn't pay attention to all the types of things that I had though, so I'm not sure what I do. I'm pretty sure I just have to open some ports though. Not sure which ones.

Reset your firewall, restart your modem, your router, anything in the midle, restart your computer (or reset your IP adress) and you should be done...

How do you reset your IP address? I never knew how to do that

Never mind, I fixed it. I disabled the proxy settings on Firefox

Don't give me that. I'm inept with computers.

(there isn0t double facepalm, so...)

Locky-locky now?

One question - how did FF proxy settings affect Opera?

or IE?

NO clue. Maybe they all use the same proxy server to access the internet? O_O That would be really stupid, actually.

I think I will do some tuturial to update the old one that DW had... About Windows Pc security

Heh. Security wasn't the problem. It was never an issue actually, for me anyways.

Of course not... But it's always recommended

Speaking of which, where ever did the tutorial section go?

I sure don't know... I'm now installing Camtasia Studio, but I guess I will place it into the member projects thing...