Can't keep homepage set

[Christoph]

To set the homepage for IE, I go to Tools -> Internet Options and either
click 'Use Current' or 'Use Defalt'. The problem is that no matter what I
set the homepage to, it doesn't stick. While it will remain to whatever I
set it to for the current session, whenever I close and restart my browser
the homepage is set to:

http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&clcid=0x0409&pver=6.0&ar=home

Nothing I seem to do changes the fact that the homepage is *always* reset to
the above when opening the browser.

Everything was fine (it kept my homepage) until a couple of days ago. I
haven't made any changes or installed any software so I'm not sure what
could be causing this. Does anyone else have any ideas as to where I might
be able to look to rectify this situation?

thnx,
Christoph

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Christoph

You likely have a hijacker or other form of malware that is redirecting your
homepage.

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

also...

Download and install HiJackThis. This is one of the most important steps.
Follow all instructions carefully. This program should be run in Normal
mode.

How to download and install HiJackThis: Win 98-XP
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html

Please…. DO NOT post your log HiJackThis log to this newsgroup. DO NOT
delete anything from the list yourself unless you are an experienced user of
this program. It is important that you go to one of the HiJackThis Support
Forums below and allow the experts there to analyze it for you:
AumHa HiJackThis Forum
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
to allow the experts there to evaluate your log and advise you of any
necessary steps to clean your system.
(Note: You will have to Register before posting on these Forums. Please
follow all posting instructions carefully to avoid having your log deleted
or ignored.)

The forums are very busy, please be patient.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Guest]

1- Open the Web site that you want to set as your home page in Internet
Explorer.
Click Tools, click Internet Options, and then click Use Current. Restart
your computer, and then restart Internet Explorer. If the issue is not
resolved, continue to the next step.
2- Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
In Registry Editor, locate the following subkey, if it exists:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel
If the ResetWebSettings value or the HomePage value exists in this key,
right-click the values, and then click Delete.

Note You may also want to verify any Web site information contained in the
Default_Page_URL value and the Start Page value in the following registry
keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

 

[Christoph]

You likely have a hijacker or other form of malware that is redirecting

your homepage.

Possibly, but I don't think so. I would think that if it were a hijacker,
it would
be redirecting to their home page. However, it's redirecting me to the MSN
home page (www.msn.com).

I did a bit of research and here's something odd. In the registry, under

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

there is supposed to be a key called 'Start Page' with the home page you set
as it's value. However, IE (or something) seems to keep deleting that key
because every time I manually add it in, it gets removed every time I start
IE
up. Additionally, I was wrong before. It doesn't keep whatever home page
I set for the length of the browser session. It doesn't keep that value at
all.
I can open up the internet options and set whatever I want as my home page
but as soon as I open the internet options again, that value is gone and is
replaced with the default microsoft redirector:

http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&clcid=0x0409&pver=6.0&ar=home

I don't have HijackThis installed but I do have both Ad-Aware and Spybot
S&D installed and neither have detected any foul play.

thnx,
Christoph

 

[Jan Il]

Possibly, but I don't think so. I would think that if it were a hijacker,
it would
be redirecting to their home page. However, it's redirecting me to the
MSN
home page (www.msn.com).

I did a bit of research and here's something odd. In the registry, under

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

there is supposed to be a key called 'Start Page' with the home page you
set
as it's value. However, IE (or something) seems to keep deleting that key
because every time I manually add it in, it gets removed every time I
start IE
up. Additionally, I was wrong before. It doesn't keep whatever home page
I set for the length of the browser session. It doesn't keep that value
at all.
I can open up the internet options and set whatever I want as my home page
but as soon as I open the internet options again, that value is gone and
is
replaced with the default microsoft redirector:

http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&clcid=0x0409&pver=6.0&ar=home

I don't have HijackThis installed but I do have both Ad-Aware and Spybot
S&D installed and neither have detected any foul play.

Be aware, your Anti-Virus won't detect all types of warez, Trojans, malware,
worms, etc. Neither will other adware and spyware related programs. So
even if you run them and nothing shows up, it does not mean your system is
clean. It takes a series of programs to fully clean your machine.
Neither AdAware or SpyBot are programmed to find or remove a hijacker. That
is why I provided the information for HiJackThis. However, it is your choice
to use it or not.

It seems evident that something is playing with your registry, and a
hijacker does not always lead to a vile site. The Registry just does not
alter itself in such a manner.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm