I think I have a computer virus

[Crusher Disciple]

Or, that's my best guess right now. I haven't been able to access Gmail since last night, and just now when I was going to go onto Facebook to ask if anybody else had a problem with Google, now I can't get onto Facebook either.

I can get on here, and on LinkedIn, so I know my ISP is at least giving me a connection. But as I type I'm getting an error message from both Google and Facebook.

Since I haven't seen any upturned burning cars on TV, I'm going to assume that Google is working just fine for the rest of you out there. And so is Facebook.

I'm on a Mac, running Snow Leopard. Is it possible that I picked up some kind of crazy assed virus that blocks some websites? Normally, I'd Google this to see what's going on, but you know....

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Ugh, it's getting even more frustrating. I was using Firefox, so I started Safari to see if it was Firefox. I can get to Google, but not Gmail. I can't open Facebook on Safari, either.

But at least I can Google things on Safari. That's an improvement.

*sigh* this only happens on days when I intend to do a shitload of work on the computer.

 

[Roger Wilco]

What does the error message say?

 

[auntiehill]

Have you tried clearing your cache and restarting?
How to Clear Your Browser's Cache

 

[rhubarbodendron]

This doesn't sound like a virus. Malware works differently and doesn't normally shut out selected sites. Particularly if those sites are very popular and therefore an excellent way of spreading viruses.

I agree with Auntie. Try to delete all cookies, cached and temporary files and restart. That's always a safe strategy with browser problems and solves most of them.
Also, like Roger Wilco said, it'd give us a clue as to the nature of the problem if you could quote the error messages you got.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Unfortunately, I got the "clear the cache" advice a little late. I completely uninstalled Firefox, and then DLed it and reinstalled it.

I don't know if it's Firefox's fault or not, but I think I might stick with Safari from here on out.

 

[Australis]

I was going to suggest, if you can't access from your Favourites/Bookmarks list, did you try using google to go to the site?

 

[rhubarbodendron]

well, uninstalling certainly cleared the cache thoroughly
I've never used Safari. Is it very different from other browsers?

 

[Crusher Disciple]

well, uninstalling certainly cleared the cache thoroughly
I've never used Safari. Is it very different from other browsers?

My main beef with Safari is that I can't figure out how to set multiple tabs as my Home page. I need that feature when I'm going between tabs to do research, type, e-mail an editor, and goof off on Facebook. So I tried FF once again.

I still had those problems with Facebook and Gmail, so I kept "Binging" to find some advice. I went to Advanced and saw that under "Encryption," both SSL and TLS were checked.

So after that, I started Firefox in Safe mode. I could open both Gmail/Facebook in safe mode, so I just reset FF to the factory settings.

Now I have all of my tabs, everything loads, and I'm back to harassing editors via e-mail.

If anybody has this problem in the future, call me. I'm now an expert.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

LOL I know what you mean. Friends of mine had a message board and couldn't afford to host it anymore, so I volunteered. When I caught my tech admin redhanded installing spyware to the board that would tell him everyone's password when they logged on, I kicked him out and became tech admin myself. Classical case of learning by doing. After 12 years I now know every bug's first name, heehee

What I find quite shocking is that the young generation that grew up with computers often has no idea about even the most basic things like that a byte is a group of 8 bits or how and why you should defrag your harddrive regularly. I bet many don't even know where the cookies are stored on their harddrive (though with Vista even I had to perform a full harddrive scan to find them. Damned well hidden! Still, I like to delete them on a regular basis. IMO cookies belong on a plate, with a nice cup of tea or cocoa, but not on my harddrive.)