Am I infected with malware or could it be something else?

People who tell you to use system restore to remove a virus don't know what they are talking about.

A well written virus will infect system restore, so turn it OFF before following my directions so the virus can't resurrect itself. After malware is removed you can turn system restore back on.

Many forms of malware are able to remove the executable part of antivirus and anti malware programs WHILE you are downloading them, so my suggestion is this.

What you should do is use a second computer to download a copy of malwarebytes and then update it. Next, copy the updated malwarebytes to a CD or DVD(if your pc can read DVDs) and insert the CD or DVD into the drive.TURN OFF your infected pc, not restart, TURN OFF.Wait 2 minutes then hit the power button while continuously tapping the F8 key. You want to enter safe mode (WITHOUT networking) and run the malwarebytes from there.

If you have problems doing this, register at forums.techguy.org/

They will walk you through it.

I would also suggest that you install some kind of antivirus, there are many free ones. I have used !avast quite successfully for well over a year, and it's FREE!

ok.AVAST and spybot are of little need to the subject you're dealing with( through fact they are unfastened-ware and has a constrained function) i desire to propose which you employ webroot's spysweeper.it particularly is the perfect available contained obtainable immediately.preserve your workstation and your id from prying secret agent ware with secret agent Sweeper. This antispyware software is supplied to triumph over off malicious, suggestion in seek of purposes to maintain your records private and secure.

Try this, it is an on line scanner ,so you do not have to download it:

http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner

Hope that helps a bit, Bob.