Re: Home Page Problem
From: Shenan Stanley (news_helper_at_hushmail.com)
Date: 04/24/04
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Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 01:02:13 -0500
somewhere wrote:
> I run Internet Explorer 6 on a Windows XP system,.. I have my home
> page set to the same thing for a few years now and have never changed
> it, about 4 days. It got changed, to "use blank", and instead
> of a blank page, it has like a search page on it.. I've tried
> changing it back to my original home page, and it acts like it resets
> its, but when I close the browser, and restart it again, its back to
> the "blank Page". without keeping it to what I set it to. I have
> done some research, and the only thing I could come up with at the
> time was that some spyware/adware somewhere got installed, but since
> I am the only one using this computer, and I have it set up for Admin
> acct, there has been no one else on here playing with it, I know I
> didn't install nothing lately, I use Norton virus protection,
> updated weekly, I have Zonealarm Pro running.. and all the critical
> updates to Windows are installed. I have also ran the virus program,
> it come back clean, I have checked the start-ups, everything there
> is normal., nothing running in the background that should be, I have
> ran Spyboy Search and Destroy, Lavasoft's Ad-ware, and a new one I
> tried tonight called Spysweeper. and all three of them come back
> clean. with no Spyware/adware installed... I have also changed
> the Reg keys, but with no luck... Nothing is working, I can reset
> my home page to what I want it to be, but the moment I close my
> browser and restart it, my home page is missing again... and it is
> back to the not so blank page... Does anybody have any Ideas on
> what else I can try,.. short of re-formating, and re-installing
> Windows Xp..
In addition to other fine advice - clean up and tighten up that install with
these tips:
Secure your system and keep it protected/updated by following these tips:
You may have spyware/adware infesting your machine, follow the
appropriate section for that, making sure you use at least
THREE of the tools I list to scan and clean your machine AFTER
updating them. Cleaning up spyware/adware/malware usually
solves home page hijackers as well.
Please Notice that if you use AOL, you should at least upgrade to 9.0 or
greater before doing any of the fixes. I know you can get AOL 9.0 at almost
any convenience store, gas station, super market or other retail outlet in
the world, so this should not be a problem.
Turn on that firewall...
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
(It has been reported that it now works with AOL 9.0+)
Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
(Scan for updates, Review and Install)
Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
(Yes - using MORE than one of these..
I recommend at least the first three. Also..
UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)
Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.net/
Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de
CWSShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
- http://www.moosoft.com/
- http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough processor
to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents browser
hijacking quite well. SpywareBlaster is a FANTASTIC free product, I suggest
getting this after you cleanup and keeping it updated as well....
And Assortment of Others:
http://spywareinfo.com/
After you cleanup your PC somewhat of spy/ad/mal-ware, verify your antivirus
software is updated and run a full scan of your computer. If you have no
antivirus software - get one NOW! Grisoft AntiVirus:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)
- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the
"Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to
"Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
- Re-open Internet Explorer.
Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is to
your advantage to remove it.
Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
Google Toolbar.
http://toolbar.google.com/
Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the startup
tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
malware infecting your computer.
Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
with SPAM:
SpamBayes
http://sourceforge.net/projects/spambayes/
or
Spamihilator.
http://www.spamihilator.com
-- <- Shenan -> --
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