Now I've lost...

[CanSocDem]

This discussion thread was locked by steve2470 (a host of the Computer Help and Support group).

...the video images on DUHome(...and within OP's). Is Google doing this to dissuade me from dumping their invasive ass??? Am I too paranoid to own a computer?

My lifelong tech guru died recently. He used to fix all this shit, either in his shop or via a remote access program...

I see now that that dependency, while wonderfully convenient, has made me weak and suspicious....AND frightfully hooked on the internet. Thank you all for your enabling....


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[trotsky]

1. Why don't you just envision your computer getting better?

Surely that will work. I mean, you think disease isn't real and that people bring ill health upon themselves because they don't have the right attitude. Aren't computers the same? Use your mind and create a reality in which your computer is working perfectly.

[earthshine]

2. I'm sorry the response above is so nasty.

It may be the case that your Chrome browser is corrupted.

Try a different browser. I use Firefox, for example.

From your previous OP here, it may be the case that you do not know the dif between your browser (Firefox, Chrome, IE) begins and the Operating System (Windows).

To oversimplify, the OS runs your hardware. Programs like Word or Chrome (sometimes called "apps&quot run on top of the OS to allow you to do things like type, print, display stuff on screen, create documents, etc.

When your computer has problems with a particular program, often uninstalling and reinstalling that program (like Chrome) can fix it.

When your computer has problems running multiple particular program, one has to reinstall Windows and then reinstall all of the programs on top of Windows.

I hope this helps.

[CanSocDem]

3. Thank you for your reply.

You're quite right, I don't know the proper terms. Having had time to think about it, I can confidently say that my 'browser' is IE. I actually do better on multiple choice exams.

But back to the problem at hand. Losing the images of video's on DUHome and within the various OP's. They are still visible and play on youtube but not in DU. I became frustrated having a google search engine pop up -"EasyPDFCombinebyMyWay" whenever I tried to send a video. So I went into 'programs' and un-installed all things 'google'.

Are you saying I should re-install google-chrome'???

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[earthshine]

4. No, do not reinstall the Chrome extension.

Ouch! So, we have Google extensions in IE. One browser piggy backing on another.

Something in IE is corrupted.

I've had minor problems like this before and not actually solved them. I usually just reinstall the whole system.

But, the first thing I try is a different browser.

Why don't you try downloading Firefox, and see if that works for you as an alternative to IE?

Also, since you have actually NOT been using the Google Chrome browser (you've just used a piece of it in IE), you could conceivably download that one.

I like FF over the others because the makers of FF (the Mozilla Corp.) do not engage in rampant spying on its users.

What version of Windows do you have? Surely not Win 10.

P.S. I also believe that we make ourselves sick based on our internal emotional states. Not all illnesses, but many of them.

[CanSocDem]

5. "Ouch" indeed.

I didn't wait for your advice and went back to "restore" and turned google chrome back on. So now I have all the video images back. But, like you say, still the ominous presence of google.

I recently succumbed to the pressure of installing Win10. It was a total disaster. Shipped my PC to the city and my now deceased tech guy and had Win7 re-installed. I am hesitant to change browsers because of my lack of knowledge and the inevitable "blank screen". Have you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? There's a character near the beginning that drives a BMW-because he doesn't like to tinker with motorcycles. I'm that way with computers....

"So, we have Google extensions in IE. One browser piggy backing on another." This is it.


P.S. Some people are making themselves sick worrying about my beliefs.


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[earthshine]

6. Sounds like your problems are solved, at least for now.

The Win 10 reversion to Win 7 is a nasty thing and may have contributed to your problems.

> Some people are making themselves sick worrying about my beliefs.



If you break a leg, it's because you fell. If you get a cold because your system is run down due to depression, you did it to yourself.
As far as I know, no one manifests the measles with ill thoughts.

[Egnever]

7. You have an adware infection

EasyPDFCombinebyMyWay

is adware.

Myway itself is a large suite of adware apps of which the PDF program is one of them.

You machine needs a good cleaning.

Chrome is the most used browser in the world. Take that however you will. That said here is a fairly straight forward article on browsers without getting too buried in the weeds. http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/best-browser-which-should-you-be-using-932466

What I would suggest you do is go here https://www.malwarebytes.com/ click on free download and when the little box pops up on the bottom of your screen in EDGE click run. It will install malwarebytes and when it finishes installing you will be presented with a screen that allows you to run a scan after it updates. Run a full scan and have it remove whatever it finds. That should help immensely and should remove any tool bars including the PDF nonsense.

After it finishes you will likely need to restart your machine do that. Do not skip that part.

You can run the scan for free and it even gives you a free two week trial of the full program. It is well worth the $30 for the full program that monitors your machine 24/7 but a manual scan periodically works too if you don't want to can't afford to pay for it.

Best of luck. I clean these things every day and that PDF viewer is 100% positively an indication of a spyware/malware infection. https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/9882-easypdfcombine-toolbar that is a page describing what it does and even has instructions for removal. That said Malwarebytes will most likely get rid of it with no problems. That is a pretty nasty one though the whole myway thing can be insidious and can put many unwanted programs on your machine and alter it's behavior sometimes pretty radically. Occasionally the only way to fix it right is to completely wipe the system and start over. Start with the malware bytes though and see where that leaves you.

[CanSocDem]

8. Thank you for all that.

I downloaded Malwarebytes, ran the scan and am now ready to turn it off for the night. I'll read more of your links in the morning. Thanks again.


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[trotsky]

9. What's truly nasty is blaming sick people for their own illness.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=219075

[hunter]

10. People visiting sites selling snake oil...

... frequently bring upon themselves malware.



But yeah, ultimately it's the malware maker's fault, and even people who don't deliberately visit sketchy sites occasionally get malware infections.

Myself, I end up in the hospital when I don't take my meds and I've had it with people who tell me I could overcome my medical problems with positive thinking, prayer, or any other new age or purportedly ancient wisdom. I tried that again and again as a young man, either positive thinking or powering through by sheer force of will, and for all my efforts became a frequent flyer to the Emergency Room.

I hate my prescription meds, some are expensive and have irritating side effects, but the alternative are worse.

[Sunlei]

12. I also love the "internets", I have found a cure.

Have a second and even a third (or more!)PC, notebook, tablets as back-ups incase your current favorite is giving you grief. Even new is fairly inexpensive, used one can find real bargins. I find it 'fun' to work on old broken PCs and raise them from the dead.

do NOT register with google if you can help it. logoff google and never logon again.