Microsoft Antispyware

[Ryan K]

After installing Microsoft AntiSpyware I was ver surprised
to find that it had changed my default search engine from
Google to MSN along with several other default IE
settings. I should have known better. Run the "System
Explorer in the MS AntiSpyware App if you haven't done so,
it is very enlightening.

 

[Alan]

These are the default settings that MSAS uses. It DOES
NOT change any IE settings unless you tell it to. To
prove this, launch IE and see what page it goes to. My
guess is it goes to the page that's currently set in IE,
not the restore URL set in MSAS, unless you have restored
the home page to MSAS' default setting.

You MUST go to Tools > Advanced Tools > Browser Settings
Hijack Restore and change those default values to the
ones you want to use. It would be IDIOTIC for MSAS to
use what the current settings are. Let's assume that
some form of spyware/malware has changed those settings.
Now let's assume that you want to restore them with
MSAS. When you try to "restore" them to the "original"
settings, they are never changed. Now the "original"
settings actually refer to your settings, not the
original default settings that were set when the system
was manufactured. It's the original default settings
that MSAS uses, and as I said before, you MUST change
them to what you want them to be restored to.

Alan

 

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

After installing Microsoft AntiSpyware I was ver surprised
to find that it had changed my default search engine from
Google to MSN along with several other default IE
settings. I should have known better.

MSAS only does this if you, the user, ask it to. It asks you whether you
wish to recover from a hijack of your browser, and restore its default
settings. If you say Yes, then it does what you describe.