-----Original Message-----
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en- us;q320159
Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page
Setting
SYMPTOM
When you try to change your home page in the Internet Options dialog box,
you may be unable to type in the Address box, and the following buttons may
be greyed out:
Use Current
Use Default
Use Blank
This can occur if you have a customized version of IE provided by your ISP
or a website has forced the change. One of the customizations they make in
the registry disables the ability to change the home page, so you are forced
to use their home page. This can re-enabled by making a small change in the
Windows registry.
WARNING : Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that
may require you to reinstall your operating system. Use the Registry Editor
at your own risk.
Note: You should back up the registry before you edit it.
Back up the registry
The first thing that you should do before attempting this is to back-up your
registry, this will avoid any major foul-ups (nothing should go wrong, but
just in case):
1. Click Start, then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
2. Type regedit and click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. Click the Registry menu and click Export Registry File.
4. Verify the following items in the Export Registry :
File dialog box:
Save in: Desktop
File name: Registry Backup
Save as type: Registration Files
Export range: All
5. Click Save.
6. Exit the Registry Editor.
7. Verify that an icon labeled "Registry Backup.reg" is on the desktop.
CAUTION: Do not double-click the "Registry Backup.reg" file on the desktop
unless you intend to undo the changes you are making to the registry.
To resolve this issue in Internet Explorer 5.5, use the following steps:
Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Go to Start | Run | type - "regedit"
(without the ["];
Locate and click the following key in the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control
Panel
NOTE : The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for
readability.
Right-click the HomePage value, and then click Delete .
When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes .
Right-click the SecChangeSettings value, click Delete .
When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes .
Quit the Registry Editor.
Reboot the machine.
Change your home page or your Internet Explorer security settings.
----
Once that is done, download this little app which is receiving good reviews
and stop home page hijacking period per there claim!
StartPage Guard v1.20 [636k] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://pjwalczak.com/spguard/spg12.zip
http://www.pjwalczak.com/spguard/index.php
http://screenshot.lockergnome.com/startpageguard.png
And to keep from having to manually edit the registry to unlock your
homepage settings, try this little script which allows you to turn this
feature on or off. Written by Doug Knox, MS MVP:
http://www.dougknox.com/security/scripts_desc/nosethomepa ge.htm
Great spyware-related information and resources;
http://www.spywareinfo.com
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml
Browser Hijacking
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com (Free)
Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans your
memory,registry and hard drives for known spyware and scumware components
and lets you remove them safely. It is updated frequently.
http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/ (Free)
SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY : Searches your system for so- called spyware,
adware and similar threats to your privacy and security. If such threats are
found, it can give you some information about the interloper and remove it
from your system; creating a backup beforehand.
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html (Free)
SPYWAREBLASTER doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever
being installed. How? By setting a "kill bit" for the spyware ActiveX
controls, it prevents the installation of any of them from a webpage. You
can run Internet Explorer with Active-X enabled, but you will never even get
a "Yes/No" box popped up, asking you to install a spyware Active-X control
(Internet Explorer will never download or run it!). All other Active-X
controls or plug-ins will work fine. The SpywareBlaster database contains
information on these known spyware Active-X controls. Make sure you run the
Check For Updates feature frequently to get the latest database! (And make
sure you check the new items to protect your system against them!)
A wealth of information on many of the spyware items that SpywareBlaster
protects against can be accessed here:
