Strange homepage change...

[Dennis]

My son has Windows XP Pro. He had www.google.com for the Internet
Explorer home page. Some how the homepage has changed to a white
blank page that says Hi in the upper left corner but the web address
still shows it to be www.google.com... What may have happened and
how can it be fixed?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested logs
in an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

 

[Don Phillipson]

My son has Windows XP Pro. He had www.google.com for the Internet
Explorer home page. Some how the homepage has changed to a white
blank page that says Hi in the upper left corner but the web address
still shows it to be www.google.com... What may have happened and
how can it be fixed?

Using a different computer, not this one --
google for "hijack virus." Malware has found its way
into your son's PC, hence this visible malfunction.
There are various types of cure, depending on diagnosis.

 

[Dennis]

Malwarebytes found nothing on it. Will have to do more looking...

 

[Elmo]

Malwarebytes found nothing on it. Will have to do more looking...

Try superantispyware too.

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

And look in Internet Options to see what is listed as your Home Page.
See if there's a second line there.

Try clearing the cache (TIF) on the General tab too.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repost:

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum.

 

[The Real Truth MS MVP]

Use my Remove-it software, it will remove that malware from your system.
Choose yes for all options when prompted. Download it here
http://www.ms-mvp.org/

--
The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/
*WARNING* Do NOT follow any advice given by the people listed below.
They do NOT have the expertise or knowledge to fix your issue. Do not waste
your time.
David H Lipman, Malke, PA Bear, Beauregard T. Shagnasty, Leythos.

 

[antioch]

Use my Remove-it software, it will remove that malware from your system.

Whoooooooops - something has slipped in via the back door.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Whoooooooops - something has slipped in via the back door.

Yup. And it's a back door Trojan.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Use my Remove-it software, it will remove that malware from your system.
Choose yes for all options when prompted. Download it here [URL to malware
redacted]

** Do this and you will have more problems than you started with. **

Despite the impressive URL, this poster, who distributes malware, is not a
MVP and has no connection with Microsoft. .

If you don't believe me then Google 'PCbutts1'.

 

[Dennis]

My son has Windows XP Pro. He had www.google.com for the Internet
Explorer home page. Some how the homepage has changed to a white
blank page that says Hi in the upper left corner but the web address
still shows it to be www.google.com... What may have happened and
how can it be fixed?

It was a hijacker program. He e-mailed Google on a different PC and
they told him how to fix it.