daniel...
It sure can be frustrating. Fortunately you have several
options. The Pest Patrol site has detailed instructions
on how to manually remove the powersearch intrusion, here:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/p/powersearch.asp
They also have a page instructing you on how to secure the
Internet Explorer browser so that this doesn't happen again:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/Support/HowTo/How_To_Clear_a_Hijack.asp#DisablingScripting
You can also download the Pest Patrol software and use it
to search your system for powersearch and other pests:
"There are two ways you can evaluate the software - online
or by downloading the program files to your PC. Note that
both approaches only detect pests currently hidden on your
system; to clean your PC, you should purchase a license for
the full-function software."
http://www.pestpatrol.com/Downloads/Eval/DownloadHomeEvalNew.asp
The online scan is here:
http://www.pestscan.com/
You can purchase it for $39.95 from their vendor, DigitalRiver:
http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry17c?CID=82090&SID=35715&SP=10007&PN=5&PID=316686&DSP=&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=82090
If you would rather not pay for Pest Patrol, Kephyr.com offers,
in addition to manual removal instructions on this page:
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/library/powersearch/index.phtml
...a link to Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner, which can
detect powersearch and 400+ other intruders, and is freeware.
The link to download the program from Download.com is found
on this page:
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/supportus.phtml
Bazooka, like the trial version of Pest Patrol, will only
detect the intruders, and it then provides you instructions
for manual removal:
"The scanning process will only take a fraction of a second
and tell you how to uninstall the invasive spyware or put
you in contact with the spyware developer for the most
up-to-date and safe uninstall instructions."
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html
You may also benefit by downloading and running the
following 3 free programs which search out malicious
adware, spyware and BHOs, or Browser Helper Objects:
Ad-Aware:
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://spybot.eon.net.au/
BHODemon (removes unwanted Browser Helper Objects):
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm
Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog
established through the "Request for Clarification" process.
A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here:
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify
Additional information can be gleaned from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google searches, outlined below.
sublime1-ga
Searches done, via Google:
remove powersearch
://www.google.com/search?q=remove+powersearch |
