web browser default page keeps changing to a search engine

[TMF Jeff]

Is anyone else experiencing this?, every couple of days my web browser changes it's default home page to some search engine. I must have some kind of software running illegally on my computer, but I can't figure out what.

 

[Limeoutsider]

That happens to my comp when my dad looks at porn, best I can figure out is that one of the web pages fuckes up your personal settings

 

[ticklishbbw]

I had that problem on a previous computer and it was due to spyware. I ran a program called spybot, and it eliminated the problem.

tbbw

 

[tommytikl]

Yep, run spybot. Good program.
Also if you have windows 2000/NT or XP you can type in a command window:
netstat -a and it will show all the open "ports" on your webserver and you can look around for anything that seems odd.
Also, if you have no windows open, check the router your server is hooked up to and see if there is any activity, if there is you have spywhere on your box.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Also, a good firewall properly formatted to block all unwanted incoming and outgoing activity should prevent this from recurring. Ours hasn't done it since we got our firewall properly set up. (The default settings are worthless in todays atmosphere.)

Ann

 

[Flatfoot]

I'm a bit curious about something, as well. I have Road Runner, and they've sent me e-mails from the abuse department saying complaints have been sent in about me "port scanning". After this, I installed Norton Internet Security, and it supposedly took care of any Trojan Horses, etc. that were on my computer. I keep getting alerts from Norton that people are trying to attack my computer and getting blocked, but it doesn't even seem to mean anything, because I've gotten more e-mail from the abuse department about "port scanning". Anybody got a clue as to what could be wrong or what I could do?

 

[venray]

Flatfoot you probably have a trojan in your system and if your anti virus cant isoate it you may have to wipe the drive. I know ANN had to do this more than once at one time and maybe she can offer more advice.

Jeff Like Ann said, a good block on all ports so that you monitor all incoming and out going should help along with running adaware or spybot or a similar program at least once a week should help eliminate that problem.

Ray

 

[Neutron]

I Have The Same Damn Problem...

I keep getting this extra search bar under my address bar. I have to right click it and turn off something that's just a bunch of letters. Trouble is, everytime I open a new window the bar comes back.

By the way, Download Webroot Spysweeper 2.2. It's a lot better than all the other spysweepers mentioned. Plus it's free. You can get one set of updates free too. To get around that, uninstall it. then reinstall it. It'll automatically update each time you do it.

Another suggestion. IE is CRAP. Use Opera instead. I switched to the free version of Opera and it runs rings around IE. Plus it has a built in Pop Up Stopper.

Tron

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Flatfoot you probably have a trojan in your system and if your anti virus cant isoate it you may have to wipe the drive. I know ANN had to do this more than once at one time and maybe she can offer more advice.

Yep. Flatfoot, if you want to PM me, I'll be glad to go over things in more detail. The main thing is to NOT stick with the default settings on Norton (or anything else). If you do, you may as well have nothing. It doesn't protect you enough. I'm locked up tight as can be and get the warnings all the time. Much of it is spyware trying to get outside...which it can't do since all outgoing connections are blocked. BTW, are you home? If so, welcome back, soldier! If not, come home safely and soon!

Mike, some sites have comet cursor and other things like that. If you've been to them, they often load things while you surf the site. The toolbar is just one of those things. If you have things backed up, you can try wiping and reformatting as well. Not much else gets rid of those pesky little buggers. The plus side is that they're only an annoyance and don't do any real harm as long as you have connections blocked for the embedded spyware. You're right about using spyware killers. But, not all is detected by the programs. So, having outgoing communications blocked is still your best bet.

Jeff...Any luck?

Ann 😉