> I have a problem. For the past 6 months, whenever I tried to access google
> through it's main site at google.com, I've always been taken to a page telling
> me that my comp has been infected with a virus called "QHosts" that redirects my
> DNS server to that specific webpage, and that I should install the Microsoft
> cumulative patch.

Trojan.Qhosts

and a removal tool

> I've tried to install their patch, but I don't have IE anymore. Technically, the
> problem should be gone-- I've been upgrading the computer with new downloads and
> everything and I use Opera... and before you ask, YES I'VE RUN AN ANTIVIRUS
> PROGRAM. But it doesn't work. It doesn't seem like a very good prog-- someone
> gave it to me on a disk one time. It's Symantec Corporate Edition... I've
> updated its definitions and everything but... well, I think the program sucks,
> frankly. It won't delete viruses, only quarantines them, saying "Could not
> delete." I think it's working in concert with the viruses like the police in
> league with a narcotics ring. Every so often it'll pop up saying it found a
> virus, but it couldn't delete it. Fucker.

Some viruses fuck around with the antivirus software (Trojan.Qhosts doesn't, but some do). Usually they block the proper installation of the AV software, but I wouldn't be surprised if some patch or replace the AV program, preventing it from deleting viruses. NAV has a way to scan and destroy before you even install it (boot with the NAV CD), and since the .exe is on the (non-writable) CD, viruses can't fuck with it beforehand. The only downside is that you'll be stuck with the supplied definitions (no updates), so a fairly recent virus might not be detected. Try it out (after the removal tool).

> Not only Google, but Altavista is blocked. I can't search for anything on MSN or
> Yahoo! either. And it's been like that for six months now. The only reason I'm
> telling you this NOW is because I used to use google's alternative numbered URL
> (http://216.239.37.99/) and that would work, but recently they must have changed
> it, so now it only directs me to google.com, which, as I said, I cannot use.
>
> If you have a suggestion, let me know.
>
> NOTE: I'm not spending money on an antivirus suite, so forget that.
>
>
>
> Fett seal of approval™

And everything fuuma30 said.