Hello,

I opened Google Chrome, it doesn't ask me for an update. But strangely on the startup page I have a search engine with an error message (a sad face in a square). 

Let's do some cleaning for possible infections.
Search engine is part of it
Reimage repair too, it's a bogus software that installs a lot of junk
Start by uninstalling Reimage repair, be careful as it can be stubborn, if you can't do it
use Revo

From another operational PC, download these softwares:
- AdwCleaner
-Malwarebytes

Save them on a USB stick then run them on your PC
Delete everything that is found and restart the PC as requested.

Once finished AdwCleaner put it in the trash
However, uninstall Malwarebytes. (do not keep it on your PC, it is of no use other than causing slowdowns among other things, the services also run in the background)

Later type a word in the browsers to see if you have a connection

Next:
You have Bitdefender installed as antivirus which could be conflicting with Windows Defender
Update its virus database, as a patch was recently released.
The latter was blocking encrypted connections in the options: "Scan encrypted connections at the request of protection modules".

But also Bitdefender scans SSL sites.
Disable this option:
Bitdefender → Settings → Privacy →Antiphishing → And disable the "SSL Scan" feature.
or
Bitdefender→ Protection →View modules → Web Protection
Temporarily disable the SSL Scan feature

If you haven't purchased it, uninstall it as this or that depending on your version
It is really ideal to uninstall it before everything.

Windows Defender will reactivate after a restart, enable protection in the security center.

Try typing a word in your browsers.

For now, let's forget about the Wifi driver.
You could later try using an Ethernet cable to see if you have a connection For the
moment it is not necessary.
Take action to start disinfecting your PC.

See you later

A note for CCleaner:

Here is the message from CCleaner for a new update when you launch it:


During the installation of the new version:
Choose → Customize


You can set it up like this:


Then launch CCleaner
Go to → Options → Settings


Go to → Options → Smart cleaning
Disable all the boxes:


Go to → Options → Privacy
Uncheck the box → Help improve CCleaner by sending anonymous usage data
You will notice that it is written in English, this is intentional and done on purpose by Piriform, the developer
In short, it's a tracker that wants to know things about your usage.


Finally, if you use it to clean the registry, make sure the box Ask if to create a backup of changes made to the registry is checked


A+
--
pistouri

Hello,

A network connection or driver issue seems to be one avenue to explore, among others:

What version of Windows are you using (Windows 10, Seven, Vista, or even XP)?

Which browsers are you using, and are they up to date?

Is Windows Update up to date?

Do you have a red cross on the network icon on your taskbar?

You should check if you have a static IP and your DNS settings in the network card properties.

Are you using Wi-Fi or an internet cable?

Have you restarted your router?

What antivirus do you have (this is important)?

Talk soon!

Hello,

Thank you for these responses.

Windows :
To find out your version of Windows 10, press the Windows + R keyboard keys, then type → winver
You can also type it in the Cortana search box
If you don't see Cortana or don't know what it is, check:
Right-click on the taskbar → Cortana → Show search box

Browsers:
Windows 10 has 2 default browsers, IE11 and Edge.
We won't worry about Internet Explorer for now.
Check if you have a connection with Edge.
In Cortana type Edge, or click the Start button located in the top left of the taskbar then
go to the letter M, open Microsoft Edge, clear everything in the address bar and type any word of your choice.
Does the page display?

For Google Chrome installed on your PC, we need to check if it is up to date as a new version was released 3 days ago.
Open Google Chrome, go to the 3 dots located in the top right → Help → About Google Chrome
If you are not up to date, Google Chrome will download and install the update, you just need to click on Relaunch Google Chrome at the bottom of the page
The latest version is → Version 70.0.3538.67 (Official build)
Clear everything in the address bar and type any word of your choice.
Does the page display?

Wifi Network:
On the taskbar, right-click on the network icon → Open network and internet settings
In the left column we check:
- Airplane Mode → everything must be set to Disabled
Additionally, you would see an airplane icon on your taskbar next to the time.
- Proxy → you should only have: Automatically detect settings.
If you see lines displayed in the manual proxy configuration, let me know, that's not a good sign
it's a sign of an infection or a virus.
- Status → click on the line: Change adapter settings
Your network profile must be set to → Private
Still in Status click on the line: Network and Sharing Center at the bottom of the page
In the new window that opens we will check if you have a static IP
Click on the line → Change adapter settings (left column)
In the new page that opens you can now see your Wifi and Ethernet network adapters
Ethernet should have a red cross since you are using Wifi
Right-click on your Wifi network adapter then → Properties
Double-click on the line → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
Select if not already done:
- Obtain an IP address automatically
- Obtain DNS server addresses automatically


Antivirus:
Windows 10 has the security center as the default antivirus called Windows Defender
it can be found in the taskbar, sometimes in the hidden icons (an upside-down V next to the time

I don't know yet if you have another antivirus or conflicting protection software
Download or save Revo and post a screenshot of the installed software like this
You can also do this with the control panel
In the Cortana search box type → control panel
View by Category (top right)
Go to Programs → Uninstall a program
Post a screenshot
Screen Snipping Tool here

Drivers:
Right-click on the Start button then on → Device Manager
Expand and look for Network Adapters
Do you have any alerts?
Right-click on your network adapter (you should see the word Wireless indicating that it is your network adapter) → Update driver
Click on → Search automatically for updated driver software.
If it finds one, restart the PC once installed.

Reset Connection:
Don't do it yet, the procedure is very simple with Windows 10
Right-click on the network icon in the taskbar → Open network and internet settings
At the bottom of the page → Network reset.

Ps: it's a bit long to read, but the procedures are quick which will help eliminate some paths to move forward.

A+

Hello Natha62400,

We have made good progress, but it's not over yet.
''search engine'' is not a program:
It's a browser hijacker that sneaks into every nook and cranny of Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

AdwCleaner will remove it from your PC.
It should appear in the text file report.
This report can be quite long depending on the number of threats detected.
You could post it with cjoint

Malwarebytes will finish the job if needed.

Info:
AdwCleaner takes about 2 minutes to scan.
Malwarebytes takes a bit longer for the analysis.
In both cases, remove the detected threats (items).
Don't forget to uninstall Malwarebytes with Revo for example:
Revo is simple, you select Malwarebytes for example, then right-click → uninstall (there's also an Uninstall checkbox) then move on to step 2, registry scan. At this step, select the advanced option; otherwise, leave it by default, check all boxes, and click delete, continue to Next. If you have other boxes displayed, check all of them and delete them, then close Revo and restart your PC to apply the changes.

Now that you have internet connection, you can download the 2 software directly onto your PC.
Then go to your Downloads folder to run them one after the other.
Don't forget to save Revo (it's a good uninstaller) with interesting options like a startup manager.

By the way, if you can post a screenshot of the Startup tab of the Task Manager.
Right-click on the taskbar → Task Manager
Go to the tab → Startup
Take a screenshot.

You can already disable Ccleaner and iTunes (seen in one of your screenshots)
just right-click → Disable

See you later
--
pistouri

I am giving you the 3 software to save:

- AdwCleaner

- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

- Revo Uninstaller

A+

--
scalpel

Hello Natha62400,

Thank you for the screenshot of the task manager, Startup tab

Disable Ccleaner, right click → Disable
When you launch Ccleaner to clean, for example, if there is an available update, a message
will pop up to download the update.
Ccleaner is not very useful for cleaning because Windows 10 does it automatically.
Settings → System → Storage


Change how we free up space automatically


You also have → One Drive
Sometimes it's not easy to disable it with the right click, the option is directly in OneDrive

If you don't use it, you can uninstall it
Check the method here

As you have Ccleaner
Open it
Go to → Tools → Startup → Windows
Select highlighted One Drive then disable it (there is a box located at the top right) otherwise
just right click then → Disable

You can keep Ccleaner if you want, but it seems that with each major update (once a year) Windows
removes it, so you'll need to reinstall it sometimes... To be continued.

One last question:
Do you have Microsoft Office 2016
Did you buy it or is it activated?

See you soon

pistouri

Happy for you, discussion resolved.
Have a nice day.

--
pistouri