Homepage is blank?!

[Bennos]

What would cause my browser (ie6) homepage to change to "about:blank"?
Changing it in options to a website I want doesn't work, it keeps reverting
to "about:blank". There's also always a pop-up when I click the homepage
button or when I open a new ie6 window.

 

[jopa66]

fix and remove the About Blank adware attack
http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/about-blank-adware.html

Quote: "Note: CoolWWWSearch.SmartKiller (v1 and v2) is a newer, real ugly
variant of CoolWWWSearch. When running, it will close every browser window
you use to visit a large list of anti-spyware-sites, and even will close
Spybot-S&D and some other anti-spyware applications as well."
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html

 

[PA Bear]

Hijackware, that's what.

Check your system for "hijackware":

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

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

WinXP SP2 Release Notes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;835935

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[Bennos]

Do you know if there is any problems with the CWShreeder website? I can't
get onto the website!

 

[jopa66]

You can download from the majorgeeks link below. Many of the Spyware
removal sites are being attacked lately so people can't get to them.

 

[hardhead]

those thing were good at first, but this hijacker is
getting better. look up about buster, or hsremove.exe and
there's more. look in computer cops.

-----Original Message-----
Hijackware, that's what.

Check your system for "hijackware":

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

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis

(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe)
is the preferred

tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or

http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger

(http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...