Browser hijacked...?

Sometimes when I open Internet Explorer (5.5) shortly afterward I am
re-directed to one particular site that has nothing to do with my links or
search results. I don't want to advertise for them but it is some porn site
that I am NOT interested seeing. There does not appear to be any way to
contact them or I would demand a fix and tell them what I think of them.
More importantly, where is the software on my computer that causes this and
how do I get rid of it? I have tried AdAware 6.0 from Lava-Soft and Spygone
but neither was able to detect anything. I usually surf with java
permissions disabled as I hate those annoying little pop-ups so I have no
idea how the heck this stuff got on here. It also places a bookmark in my
"favorites" everytime I am sent to the site. Aaaargh! This pisses me off.
There must be some way to protect against this. Thanks.


Mike Hawk

 

http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=about
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

"And keep AdAware, too."

 

When using AdAware you often need to do an update to get the latest
spyware definitions.

Look in your startup by typing [WINDOW KEY]+[R] then type in msconfig
then press [OK]. go to the 'Startup' tab. If you see anything you can't
recognise or are not sure of, un-check the check box. Then press [OK] and
restart your machine. If something that's supposed to work but doesn't
repeat the above steps to turn the item(s) back on.

Don't know what an item does? Type it into google and you should get a
page that tells you what that particular program does. (i.e. systray,
ctfmon, etc...)

One thing that'll let you know something is terribly wrong and may need
professional help is if there are more than a dozen items at startup.

-=/ www.PC-Component.com /=-

 

Open the registry and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

If you don't see anything related, try searching for the dot com address and
delete any items found.

 

Some suggestions:

1) Download, install, and run both PepiMK Software's Spybot and
Lavasoft's Adaware. Both are freeware, remove lots of undesirables from
your system. Both are updated somewhat regularly, but by using both, one
*should* catch anything the other misses.

Spybot:
http://security.kolla.de/

Adaware:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

2) Install and run a web proxy to filter your HTTP connections. I use the
Proxomitron, but I've heard good things about Privoxy also. A web proxy
might not be the easiest to learn, but it's going to be worth complete
control (as close as you can get, anyway) over what goes into & out of
your browser.

Proxomitron:
http://www.proxomitron.info/main.shtml

Privoxy:
http://www.privoxy.org/

3) Better safe than sorry, IMO. Surf with Javascript/ActiveX OFF. Turn it
on for only sites you trust, or put the sites in your "trusted zone" with
custom settings.

4) Go to add/remove programs and look through the list. If there's
anything you don't recognize there, do a Google search on it, and delete
it if it's malware of any sort.

5) Run msconfig (if you're running W2K, you can dl and run the XP version
of msconfig) and do the same for your startup items.

6) Use a personal firewall. There are several freeware firewalls to chose
from -- I'm personal to Kerio Personal Firewall. A Google search should
turn up several hits, find one that you like. ***And learn how to
configure it properly!***

7) Keep your antivirus software up to date, and run it regularly. There
are several free AVs out there also.

HTH,

 

[snip stupidity]

Troll-o-meter: "Richard" = Richard Bullis; Category = Kook
-----------------------
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-----------------------
/\
||

Don't listen to "Richard". If there is ever any truth to what
he says it is for the same reason a broken clock is correct twice a day.

An example of Richard Bullis' technical knowledge:
"Ho hum. another loudmouth wise ass.
first of all buddy boy, newsgroups are not attached to the internet.
they are two seperate entities.
as a matter of fact, the newsgroups were on line before the internet
was."
Message-ID: <6rki6o$cqd$>

A recent reply to Richard Bullis:
"I really hate to say this, but Bullis....you are an absolute idiot. I
am in awe at your complete lack of comprehension ability, and your utter
ignorance."
Message-ID: <>


---*For More Information On NetKook Richard Bullis*---
http://www.lart.com/rtsfaq/
http://www.cabal.net/cenkoc/index1.html

 

"Jimchip"

You're right, but it was very misleading. Error,error,error.......

Yes, because what was in quotes were the first three words and last four
words of what he said.

Coincidence? Yeah, it probably was.

10-4

 

It seems you have a problem with intro/attribution lines. Maybe that's
the source of your confusion. There isn't a standard (as there is with
the signature) but there are some conventions:
http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/outerspace/netnews/son-of-1036.html#4.3

It's not really coincidence. It's a case of a moron repeating the same
bad advice, over and over again: http://tinyurl.com/gce5