My home page keeps getting usurped by another website.  Now everytime
I go to my home page, another web site pops up, even though I keep
changing it back through the internet options function.  My computer
keeps getting invaded by this website, and of course, all of its
associated pop up ads.  Any solution ?

---

Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 30 Apr 2004 12:26 PDT

What is the other website that keeps appearing?

Scriptor

---

Clarification of Question by bill23-ga on 30 Apr 2004 12:33 PDT

www.findthewebsiteyouneed.com

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 30 Apr 2004 13:46 PDT

A program called Spybot Search and Destroy may solve your problem. Let
us know if this helps.

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download

From one of the TechSoup forums:

"findthewebsiteyouneed
 Posted: April 21 2004 12:03 PM  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About 2 months ago, I started to have problems with my IE homepage
setting. No matter what I set it to, every morning I open IE and a
terribly useless search engine called findthewebsiteyouneed.com comes
up.

I've tried erasing the so-named cookie, but that doesn't help. Any advice? 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sounds like you have some spyware installed. Check out Spybot S&D to
get rid of it:

http://www.safer-networking.org/ 

Many times, spyware will 'hijack' your browser and redirect startup
and search pages. If you install the above program, update the
definitions and run a full system scan. It will help you determine
what is installed and what you can get rid of.

There is also a handy 'Immunize' feature that can keep pesky spyware
from returning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had the same problem (different annyoing useless search engine) but
the Spybot S & D really worked!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.techsoup.org/forums/index.cfm?forum=2029&fuseaction=read&id=53518

There are a number of seperate issues that might have resulted in your
current situation.. Your security level of your browser is probably
too low. If it is IE I recommend it be set at medium as I have found
it inconvenient at higher levels. I also recommend that you update
your current - I assume windows operating system with the latest
patches. Most of microsoft's updates seem to relate to security for
the world wide web.

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp 

You can investigate firewalls. Microsft XP has a some built in
firewall settings that you can investigate. You can download some good
freeware spyware and firewall included from download.com. Whenever I
am looking for good freeware I am not familiar with I try to find a
editor's pick. Finally I use google's toolbar as it has free popup
blocking. 118 popups blocked so far for me. I hope my comment is
relevent to your question.

There are two useful programs to combat spyware (seems to be your problem). 
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de/
Spyware Blaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

I looked at this question yesterday as it is exactly the problem I am
having.  I have installed Pop Up Guard and SpyBot Search and Destroy,
but the main spy ware which is driving me mad is still there!  It is
www.amazingautossearch.com, and it keeps redirecting my google home
page to its own horrible "search bar", which sometimes has options to
go to porn channels etc, and as this PC is used by 4 children is
annoying in the extreme!

Download the software HijackThis:

HijackThis 1.97 
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10227352.html 

--or ----
HijackThis 1.97.7
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html 

and then run it. Try the following steps: 
---------------------------

Step 1: Back up the registry.  
=====================
(1) Click Start, click Run, type REGEDIT, and click OK.
(2) Click "Export Registry File" under Registry menu, choose All under
Export range, type filename for this backup registry, and click Save.

Step2: 
======================
1. Close all Internet Explorer (IE) windows and double-click the
HijackThis program to run it.
2. Click 'Scan' button
3. Check all items and then click Fix it.
4. Restart IE and check the issue again.

Looking around on the web, found this:

Startpage Guard:

StartPage Guard (SPG) monitors the status of your web browser
StartPage address and prevents it from being changed by any script or
program. It also can be used to remove or change unwanted startpage
address, even if the change-startpage-button has been disabled. The
browser start page is sometimes changed by software installations or
web page scripts without the users consent. While it is not a big deal
to change it back, it can be an annoyance, especially since you didn`t
ask for it. StartPage Guard will prevent any of this and keep your
start page settings the way you want it. Also provides an effective
cure against more "persistent intruders" as well as an option to lock
the SearchPage as well (as of v2.0)

Its free, legal, and looks like it works.

Download it at:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/startpageguard.html

Hi,

Install Poup blocker (popup buster, adware, popupkiller etc), upgrade
your IE to 6.0 with SP1 and increase the saftey level by customizing
the security level to Middle.

Cheers!!!
Sanjay