search hijacked

[Guest]

Somehow a program has hijacked my ie search. I cannot get
it back to original config. It will not let me customize or
anything. I have run adware and spyware programs but still
cannot correct problem. How can I get back the search
system that is part of ie. I have 6.0 sp1

 

[mac]

Somehow a program has hijacked my ie search. I cannot get
it back to original config. It will not let me customize or
anything. I have run adware and spyware programs but still
cannot correct problem. How can I get back the search
system that is part of ie. I have 6.0 sp1

Run the "Cool Web Shredder"
http://www.merijn.org/files/CWShredder.exe
Close all instances of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express,
click on the executable above and follow the prompts.

 

[Guest]

I found the answer to my question on page 3. It worked.

 

[war17]

You need to run a HijackThis log and post it here. First check these:

A Search site has downloaded something into your computer.

1. If you have Windows Messenger Service, disable it. The Messenger service
is typically not needed for home users.

Right-click My Computer and click Manage.
Fold out the Services and Applications option and click Services.
Right-click the Messenger entry, select Properties, and choose Disable under
Startup Type.
Click OK.

You should no longer receive messages sent via the messenger service.

2. Use the following scanners to find and remove the website.

SpyBot S&D searches your harddisk for so-called spy- or adbots;
http://security.kolla.de/
or
Adaware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

3. Some porn websites redirects links to their websites using your HOSTS
file. Do a search for the HOSTS (without extension) file and remove the
entry.

4. If still no joy, download HijackThis from Spywareinfo download page

http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads.php

Run the program and you will find many entries. Most are OK. Post the log. I
will find the problem for you.

5. For future preventive maintenance, make sure programs cannot just
download on your computer without your permission. From the Internet
Toolbar, go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced. Make sure "Enable
Install On Demand (Internet Explorer)" and "Enable Install On Demand
(Other)" are unchecked.

 

[Mike Burgess]

mac,
CWShredder is NOT a cure-all for every hijack. It ONLY addresses
hijacks caused by Coolwebsearch and it's affiliates.

It's best to advise the poster to run Ad-Aware\SpyBot, then HijackThis
and post their log to one of the suggested Forums.
____________________________________________________________
Mike Burgess [MVP Windows Shell\User] http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 01-01-04]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
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[Mike Burgess]

war17,
Please do NOT advise posters to post their HijackThis logs here,
there are several dozen Forums that handle that sort of thing, but
this is not one of them ..... for many reasons.
____________________________________________________________
Mike Burgess [MVP Windows Shell\User] http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 01-01-04]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
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