[vox-tech] Linux Computer Infected

[Bob Scofield]

I've got an infected Linux desktop and I don't have the technical 
expertise to fix it.  I live in Woodland and I'm willing to hire someone 
to come over here to fix it.  So I'll explain the problem and then 
explain what I think I can do on my own, but if that won't work I would 
like some professional help.

I was on the CNN news website and saw an article with a title something 
like "Mama Bear Hugs Man Who Saved Cubs."  I wanted to read the article, 
but checked out another story first.  Then I could no longer find the 
bear story on the CNN website.  So I Googled and found it.

When I clicked on the link to the story or video or whatever it is, 
Firefox crashed.  It crashed permanently.  If I try to start Firefox all 
I get is the "Mozilla Crash Report."  I've removed Firefox 3 times.  
I've purged Firefox twice.  I've reinstalled and the problem persists.

In the meantime I tried to read the story with Chromium.  Chromium now 
constantly crashes.  It will not stay up for more than about 30 seconds.

What's more, Cinnamon (I'm using Linux Mint) is now crashing every once 
and awhile and I've never seen Cinnamon crash before.

One idea I have is to reinstall Linux Mint.  But /home is on a separate 
partition.  And I've got a feeling that if I reinstall, then something 
in /home/.mozilla will prevent Firefox from working. So if I do a 
reinstall, do I first wipe out /.mozilla?

I've got ESET Linux antivirus on this computer and it didn't find 
anything during an in-depth scan.

This is a dual boot system.  I use Windows 7 for work.  Given that 
Windows 7 is expiring next January I was planning on taking some time in 
November to re-partition this computer to wipe out the Windows partition 
and use Windows 7 in Virtualbox (keeping Windows more isolated from the 
Internet).  So I guess I could download Chrome and use it until I do 
this big computer switch in November. But even then I have to worry 
about whether .mozilla should be deleted.

If one of these fixes don't seem like they'd work, please contact me and 
I'll hire you to drive over and do the fix.

Thanks.

Bob