Haunted by Google... ?

I have to say, this is really odd. Lately, when browsing, I've run across a problem: occasionally, when clicking a link or typing in a URL, the page that loads is... Google. Just your typical Google search page, in English -- the URL is always the one that I clicked/typed, but the page is definitely Google. Restarting my browser (Firefox 2.0.0.13) solves the problem for the moment, but it tends to come back.

Smells like a virus, but all scans have run and come up clean -- maybe it's something that other people have come across before, and I've just never caught wind of it? (I may be a tech, but I'm a young tech, and I'll be the first to admit I'm inexperienced.) It's a bit of a complicated problem to Google, too (to say nothing of the irony).

Any help/advice/obvious solutions?

Thanks,
Cassandra.

Casandra,

Welcome!

I've never had or seen the problem you recounted.
But I'm wondering how much Google junk you've got installed on your PC.
Like, Google Desktop, Google Tool Bar, etc.

I won't allow any of that Google Stuff on my PC and I encourage my customers to do likewise. My start page in Firefox is www.google.com but that's it.

Just curious,

Doc