Question for a computer person who knows more than I........

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 6:11 pm

The other night I had some time to look for some Christmas gifts on the web. While browsing, I was using google & yahoo. Sometimes a popup window of some weird serch engine kept openning and some how set itself as my home page. Now everytime I re-open my explorer it resets the homepage to that weird serch engine. I keep puting THIS DEAN SITE page as my home page & it holds as long as I am logged on, but after I shut down the computer & log on the next time..... THE DARN THING IS BACK!!!!

HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM & HOW IS THIS HAPENNING??

I did just installed AOL 9.0 a few weeks ago, could that be the problem??

HELP!!!!

Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 29

DeanMann wrote:

The other night I had some time to look for some Christmas gifts on the web. While browsing, I was using google & yahoo. Sometimes a popup window of some weird serch engine kept openning and some how set itself as my home page. Now everytime I re-open my explorer it resets the homepage to that weird serch engine. I keep puting THIS DEAN SITE page as my home page & it holds as long as I am logged on, but after I shut down the computer & log on the next time..... THE DARN THING IS BACK!!!!

HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM & HOW IS THIS HAPENNING??

I did just installed AOL 9.0 a few weeks ago, could that be the problem??

HELP!!!!

maybe some spyware had been installed on your harddrive.

do you have any program to get rid of these ?

you can download AD Aware on download.com for free (it's version 6.0 I think). You can scan regularly your hadrdrive for any crap that was installed on your hardrive such as ad pop ups programs and such. Very easy to use. Give it a try and let us know !

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 4406 Location: Hostile Territory

Sounds like something installed itself and is hiding.

There is a program called "SpyHunter" that is free to download and run, however to make it work they want you to buy it. The SpyHunter will tell you what cookies and registry keys are installed on your computer and their location. If you are comfortable working in your registry you can go in and delete that key(s) and the problem will be gone. Cookie spyware always loads when you load your browser, or visit certain websites. I delete cookies and files almost daily.

I haven't tried Adware, but some people say it's OK

Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 2

Find and use a program called spysweeper. You can get it from winmx or kazaa.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 10 Location: Owasso, Oklahoma

60srocker wrote:

ad aware is fine and free. Just search for it and install it. You can also run MSCONFIG from the start/run window and deselect the offending program from the startup list. Then when you set the home page, it will stick to your selection.

I have a similar problem. I think I have finally blocked the "spyware" offenders from attacking my pc, but I still have problems that I'm not sure are attributed to the spyware issue.

1st, when I click on "E-bay" links that are posted in the Dean Forum a browser pops up, but the screen never loads. I am able to click on other links not associated with E-bay and they work fine.

Also, I ran the MSCONFIG that "60srocker" suggested and found numerous programs on the start up tab. I know what some of them are, but many of them I don't have a clue about. Is it normal to have 15 or more programs on that start up tab and if I don't know what they are is it safe to "deselect" them?

Can anyone help with these issues? Thanks.

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 10:16 am

AdAware it's free and wil get rid of the spyware that's not supposed to be on your PC. You can get it here...

http://ftp.pcworld.com/pub/new/privacy___security/aaw6.exe

You should have a firewall on your computer to help stop these things from getting there in the first place. If you don't have one here's a good free one called Zone Alarm, you can get it here...

http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/1012_zl/zlsSetup_45_530.exe

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2131

Ditto to everyone above...

You can also pay Sad

for something with Firewall, virus scanner, IP blocker...etc. bundled together...like PC-cillin.

Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 12 Location: Columbus , Ohio

I had the same exact problem as you are descibing. I am in the computer software business and brought my machine into MIS to look at. Bottom line.....I ahd to back up all my files and reload windows due to a virus that attached the system. I had the identical problem of my home page not being accpeted after I would log off and also had problems opening up IE and other windows. I don;t think Spyware or Adware will you on this, you proably have to reload windows and start over. That is what I did and it works great now. Also make sure you laod a copy of Norton on your machine and perform a scan at least once a week...Good luck !

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 3:30 pm

Moral Never click into a POP-up ad

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 697 Location: Colorado

Ah yes.
This big ole internet of ours boasts a plethora of annoyances and ill conceived scripts.

Sometimes it's just a little app installed on the browser by a horrible and worthless ad site disguised as a search engine.

This is really simple and you most likely already checked it, but I'll mention it anyway because it resolved a similar issue on my machine a few weeks ago...

Go to internet options from tools at the top of I.E.
On the general tab under temporary internet files you'll see a settings button. {hit it}

Click on "view objects" and scan the list for any app that shares it's name with your intrusive homepage.

I find that *almost* every entry in this list including the word search is likely to cause problems.

If that doesn't help, any of these other responses should resolve it.

Travis

Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 33 Location: Va

Once you get I.E. under control a Firewall is a must . You might checkout a program called Guard-IE does most of the cache file history thing with explorer but guards against pop up's and allows you to fine tune the options per website. All of this controlled on the the toolbar as well as in the icon tray.
-Benny

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 189 Location: Austin, TX

Don't revert to reloading windows just yet. Do a few searches regarding "IE hijacked homepage" and you will probably find a solution. I had this happen long ago and was able to fix it with a registry tweak.

Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 33 Location: Va

This is too funny

This morning I get to work and my guys are complaining bout the same thing. I do the dance clear the cache and latter on find a download script in start up 'pornkings dot com'. Maybe have to send a nasty script back, hate this new internet Bullsh****T. Like people have nuthin better to do, I'd rather shut up and play my guitar!!!!

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:45 pm

Thanks for all the great information. I'm going to do a lot of this stuff with downloads & junk. I was able to reset all of my settings to a date prior to when all this crap started, and that fixed the problem, or so it looks as of today.

I did get a note from google saying my computer has been hacked & I needed to go into regit, or something. I followed the directions & found all kinds of crap that wasn't supposed to be there, BUT it still didn't fix the problem. SO then I loaded one of the anti spyware & it too found ALL KIINDS OF CRAP that I have NO IDEA WHERE it came from. This really SUCKS that people do this to others that have small children using the computer. I don't let the little DeanMann use it unless I'm with him or his mother is with him. Which is what I REALLY WANT TO DO............... WATCH CARTOONNETWORK. COM ON MY FEW FRIGGIN' NIGHTS OFF!!!

As Charlie Brown would say...........
AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!

So thanks, & I'll keep looking!!!!!!!!!!