Something went wrong updating the new version

Let me explain.

I’m using Avast! Free Anti-virus version 8.0.1497. I’ve been using it since late May. Tonight I got a message that said I’m in need of a critical update. When I open up the page everything either says “Up to Date” or “Ignored” except the Java Runtime Environment 7 32-bit at the bottom, which persistently says I need to update the latest version (this is the Software Updater page). Turns out downloading that Java update was the worst thing I could’ve done, because once it downloaded, it also updated my Avast! to the latest version without me realizing it with a whole new layout. At first I’m thinking “Oh cool, a new look” so I do a quick scan. So far, so good.

Afterwards, I open up my Internet Explorer 7 (I can’t use IE8 by the way because it won’t run on my Windows 7 without MAJOR slowdown problems). But… Internet Explorer 7 won’t function. Instead an error message occurs that says “Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage” and despite how many times I close/re-open the page, the same message occurs over and over again. It’s supposed to take me directly to google since google’s my home page, but instead in the address bar it was saying “ieframe.dll/acr_depnx_error” every single time. Luckily I can open Internet Explorer in two spots (in the taskbar on the bottom of the screen where it wouldn’t function, and at the top of the screen where Internet Explorer 7 is beside the “My Blog” and “Parental Controls” options- thankfully this one was working correctly).

Furious, since I’m confused, I ended up doing a System Restore to yesterday which not only helped me open up Internet Explorer 7 correctly without that “ieframe” message, but it took me back to the previous Avast! version I’ve been using for 6 months now. Any idea what happened and why? Is this an Avast! or Java problem? Let me mention the Java’s I currently have installed in case it’s necessary to mention them-

Java 7 Update 21
Java ™ 6 Update 21 (64-bit)
Java ™ 6 Update 37

Another problem has occurred.

Something seemed suspiciously quiet about my internet exploring the last few hours… somehow, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware disabled by itself. I had to open it up and turn on the settings so it returned to saying “Protection Enabled”. That’s definitely strange. Never had that happen before. I shut down my computer to make sure everything is fine, but not before the updates that actually took place last night had to occur again due to the System Restore. This makes no sense, but when I turn the computer on, it says Windows Updates are 30% loaded… but then it says “Shutting Down” but doesn’t shut down (nor should it)- instead it takes me back to the start-up screen for a few minutes, and then I can finally type in my password to get on the computer. It doesn’t make sense to say “Shutting Down” after I turn on the computer while it’s busy loading Windows Updates, right? That was a weird message!

Now everything is almost the way it was before… except I’m still not receiving any Malware messages that says “Malwarebytes blocked a potentially malicious website, etc” (which is concerning to be honest- wanna make sure I’m protected). I’m also getting several gray block error script messages. These are persistent, much like the “ieframe” problem I mention above. What would be causing these?

Now everything is almost the way it was before... except I'm still not receiving any Malware messages that says "Malwarebytes blocked a potentially malicious website, etc" (which is concerning to be honest- wanna make sure I'm protected). I'm also getting several gray block error script messages. These are persistent, much like the "ieframe" problem I mention above. What would be causing these?
can you attach screenshot of any popup message you see....

also read this
Oh, the Sites You Will Never See http://blog.malwarebytes.org/development/2013/05/oh-the-sites-you-will-never-see/

Since Pondus is addressing this situation you are in good hands (follow his instructions), ill just add this:
my mom’s pc had similar symptoms, its says protection isnt enabled , then when you update it crashes , and when you restart it its continues from the last update (like its didnt update in the first place)
also her iexplorer.exe (internet explorer launcher) was infected
since you said something about java, their is a possibility you might be a victim of java exploit (ie7 isnt safest browser, and support will be discontinued in 2014)

Unfortunately I can’t attach any photos, sorry. :frowning:

Uh oh!!! If they disable Internet Explorer 7, I’m screwed because IE8 doesn’t work on my computer. That’s really bad news! Any options for when the time comes? Do you know the exact date when it’s going to take effect?

Hehe, I have the same Air Supply album in my bedroom avastreally. Is there any way to tell whether my iexplorer.exe is infected? Like maybe a quick test I can run?

Pondus, thanks for the link. It appears my Malwarebytes is working fine but it’s just really odd how I’ve suddenly stopped receiving those “Malwarebytes blocked a potentially malicious website” messages on the bottom right of the screen.

Is there any way to know if the problems I was having last night are the result of Java or the new Avast update? Is there a website that explains what each of those 3 Java’s I provided are supposed to do?