So I click on my SimHQ bookmark and instead of SimHQ.com/forum it get this:

http://lab(dot)search(dot)conduit(dot)com/HP/SH

It is not only just SimHQ this happens on but does seem to happen after visiting the ED forums.

Sounds like a redirect.. I would run Malewarebytes and Microsoft security essentials..

You may want to check your Network Cards Properties and see what DNS IP's it is using ..

Thank you.

Sounds like your bookmarks got hijacked. Do you use Firefox? Check the links behind your bookmarks, change them back to the original URL, or even better, delete and create new ones, delete cookies, browser history, etc.

You could also download HijackThis (freeware tool) and run a scan.

Conduit is a PITA. It's one of those things that requires a multi-step removal. Different sites suggest different approaches. I don't think it actually does anything bad other than really annoy you. And from what I can tell, it's a hidden part of a voluntary download, not a virus. Made it past Norton 360 on both my kids' laptops.

I'd follow the instructions here, it's worked very well for me in general, not just that one virus:
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/pup-optional-suptab-a-removal/

All freeware, 30 day trial, or free for personal use and known good tools.
Run all in safe mode, except Hitman Pro, which needs a connection.
Each will likely find a different component and take care of it for you.
Run in the order they give you.


AdwCleaner
Junkware Removal Tool
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
HitmanPro


Just download those and keep them in a dedicated folder in case you need them again.

Norton 360 (which also includes a separate but powerful tool, Norton Eraser)
Malwarebytes (free version)
free ad block additions to google chrome

I made the mistake of using a registry cleaner last week. I should have known better because I recall using it once on another system all the time (crap cleaner) and it messed me up. Sure enough my pc and hard drive seem to be running real rough lately.

You can only be hacked if you're a robot. You....you're not a robot are you?

CCleaner is a powerful tool it works really good, unfortunately you can remove more than what is needed to fix a problem and end up with a bigger problem

i used CCleaner some years ago ...one thing i noticed ..when i stopped using it i didn't notice any difference lol

One thing I have noticed with all these so-called 'system tweakers',and I have used plenty over the years,is that they make very little (if any at all) difference to the speed of the system.Yes they clean out junk files but that's all they are good for really.

I use the reg cleaner and general cleaner sections of Ccleaner, and the full version of Ashampoo Winoptimiser but apart from saving disk space they seem to do nothing. Plus a lot of these 'system tweakers' only give you access to options already in Windows,they just make it easier for you to use them.

Maybe,just maybe if you ran them on an old system that had never seen any maintenance ever you may get a benefit.

There an many ways to speed up Windows without using these tools,check out YouTube,there are loads of tutorials on there.