Bkeela
August 17th, 2002, 02:59 PM
My system has gotten infected by a hostile java applet that repeatedly changes my homepage. Too late it seems I downloaded and updated that latest security patch from Microsoft.
Still this damned thing is haunting me, popping up at random intervals.
Could somebody please tell me how to hunt down and delete this annoyance?
Bkeela.
AnnMarie
August 17th, 2002, 04:09 PM
Hi Bkeela - Have you tried changing it back in Tools > Internet Options. If you have and have been unsuccessful, try this program AdAware (http://www.lsfileserv.com/index.html) and RefUpdate first. Make sure that you install the latest reference file and read the instructions carefully before installing.
Also choose to keep a backup when given the option. It gets rid of numerous browser hijackers and other nasties however you should know, that some programs that contain spyware may not function after the spyware is removed.
If you still have the problem after running AdAware, post back and let us know. It would be helpful to know where your browser is being redirected to and what happens when to try to change your home page manually.
Bkeela
August 21st, 2002, 11:03 PM
Thanks AnnMarie. I downloaded Ad-aware, but unfortunately it didn't solve my problem. I now suspect the applet was not installed upon my system, but was triggered by visiting a certain website, which exploited IE's pathetic security.
I ended up installing, and now using Mozilla, which not only has stopped this problem, but now I can avoid all pop-up ads. Microsoft is such trash.
My browser was redirected to a pathetic search engine site. Why these dumb spammers even bother, I don't know.
Bkeela.