This is the most annoying thing I have 
ever encoutered on a computer.  Anytime I put any web 
address into my address bar and press "go" or push "enter" 
it automatically takes me to pornspotter. com.  If I try to change a
favorite it chages it to this pornspotter.com site. What can I do to
make
this pornspotter go away?!?

I've tried to reinstall explorer and run mcafee and no luck.

I have windows XP and explorer 6.02.

jcadobe...

I would strongly suspect that your 'hosts' file has been
altered. Instructions for fixing this and other problems
involved in such a hijacking can be found on this page
at Microsoft's MVP ('Most Valuable Professional') site:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers4.htm#search_engine

The instructions provided tell you how to reset your home
page, your default search settings, and your 'hosts' file.
The 'hosts' file can be found by way of a search in Windows
Explorer. It has no file extension, and is simply named
'hosts'.


Searches done, via Google Groups:

pornspotter
http://groups.google.com/groups?num=50&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=pornspotter&btnG=Google+Search

From there, I found very few threads, indicating that 
pornspotter is relatively new to the art of hijacking.
Most threads did not offer any solution, except for one
in german, which I ran through Google's Language Tools:
://www.google.com/language_tools


Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by means of a dialog
established through the "Request for Clarification" process.

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by sublime1-ga on 18 Jan 2003 14:34 PST

jcadobe...

Snapanswer-ga's comment is quite correct, and I thank him
for adding it. I use Ad-Aware myself. In this specific
instance, I wasn't sure that Ad-Aware's current version
would detect the pornspotter hijack, since pornspotter
seems to be so new on the scene, however Ad-Aware is a 
very useful tool to keep in your arsenal of protective
measures, and if it is up-to-date, it will isolate
registry entries and files specific to pornspotter and
offer you the option of deleting them. Since it provides
a means to restore any changes you make, it is a very
safe way to proceed, and you might want to try this
first. If it doesn't detect pornspotter, you can always
fall back on the suggestions as the site I gave you.

sublime1-ga

In addition to sublime1's tips, you may want to try using the free
software Ad-Aware, which seeks out this type of problem.  It scans the
Windows registry, as well as your file system, for items that "ammend"
themselves to your browsing.

http://www.lavasoft.nu/

Hi,

I love SpyBot: http://security.kolla.de/

It comes in dozens of languages, goes after highjackers, ads, usage
tracks, registry changes, dialers, keyloggers; well, just about
everything. It is regularly updated; and is shareware.

Meego

SPYBOT DID IT!!!

Thanks!