The Problem
Author: Mike Healan
There is a despicable trend that is becoming more and more common wherein the browser settings of web surfers are being hijacked forcibly by malicious web sites and software which modifies your default start and search pages.
Sometimes internet shortcuts will be added to your favorites folder without asking you. The purpose of this is force you to visit a web site of the hijacker's choice so that they artificially can inflate their web site's traffic for higher advertising revenues.
In some cases, these changes are reversible simply by going into internet options and switching them back. Not always, however. Sometimes it's necessary to edit the windows registry (gasp!) to undo the changes made. Sometimes there is even a combination of registry setting and files clandestinely placed on your hard drive that redo your settings every time you reboot the computer.
No matter how often you change your settings back, they are changed again the next time you restart. There have even been cases where internet options have been removed from the tools menu by registry hacking to prevent you from controlling your own computer!
Even AOL has become a browser hijacker by placing their web site free.aol.com in Internet Explorer's trusted sites security zone, thereby bypassing the most frequently used security settings. This occurs after installing their AOL software, AOL Instant Messenger, Netscape 6.x and ICQ2001b has reportedly done this. AOL then exploits this by downloading ActiveX components to your computer without your consent. The CWS trojan also does this.
Preventing a hijack
This section has been superseded by a new article which focuses specifically on hijack prevention. That article is available at http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/prevent.php
Hijack Removal
Any of the products below will remove most hijackers completely, unless it is one which has just started spreading.
Spybot S&D [recommended]
Ad-aware
SpySweeper
If you have a hijack that is not fixed by any of these products, you may use these solutions below that I have gathered after helping to fix these same problems countless times through email and at the forums. Read on...
(Lots of other info from a Google search ! - Mel)
PPS
A TEMPORARY approach - which MAY work:
Put a suitable
page in your 'Favourites'
Bookmark
My Home Page ? (blatant advertising !)
When you open any web browser (e.g. your Home Page or the AOL
page, Open the 'Favourites' list and select any page (preferably
mine !). This should come on top of any previously opened pages
(maximize if not). If the AOL page rears it's head again
simple MINIMIZE it (-) but DON'T close it (X).
This MAY work
in the short term.
When the AOL page opens, minimize it (-) but don't close it
PPPS
If you haven't taken a look at Betty & Barney's pages, try now ?
http://www.bettyandbarney.co.uk/
Check out their illusion - take it serious - it's a good illusion (but will only work if you have Microsoft 'PowerPoint' installed).