My Internet Explorer, both at home and work has been invaded by
unwanted home pages, probably through Optimum Online.  I have tried on
both systems to change the default home page through Explorer Tools,
but every time I sign on, the unwanted home pages are back.  They are
search and shopping pages.
I have also gotten unwanted folders added to My Favorites, probably
from the same page.

How can I get rid of these pages safely.

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Request for Question Clarification by inquisitive-ga on 10 Aug 2004 06:42 PDT

Dear photoman_6-ga,

You most likely have a trojan or virus, but I need to know a few more
specific things before I can help you remove the unwanted pages.

1) What version of Windows are you running? (98, ME, 2000, XP)

2) What version of Internet Explorer are you running?

3) What are the URLs of the unwanted pages - the search and shopping
pages which are coming up as your default home page, as well as the
ones in your Favorites folder?

Regards,

inquisitive-ga

---

Clarification of Question by photoman_6-ga on 12 Aug 2004 20:06 PDT

Im running Internet Exploer 6.0 in xp Professional.
The url of the unwanted home page is search200.c0m

All of the unwanted Favorites have extremely long names.  An example of one is:
pqrgaqywkzdpblmbqsmjldc.uk/

Hi photoman_6!!


At "search200 - Help" page I found a possible solution, so please try
the following:
"- You can go to your Start Menu--Control Panel, then choose the 'Add
/ Remove Programs' option. Depending on which version of the software
you have installed locate 'Lop.com' or 'LOP SEARCH' or 'Window
Searching' or ?'Window Active' or "Browser Enhancer" or "Ultimate
Browser Enhancer" from the menu to run the uninstaller.
- Depending on your version You may also be able to locate a globe
type icon in the bottom right hand corner of your screen (near the
clock), right click on it then click Menu. From the main menu you will
see a help button on the top right hand corner. Click the help button
then choose 'uninstall'."
http://www.search200.com/help.html#uninstall


If you have a toolbar from these guys you can select 'uninstall' from
the 'help' menu of the software you installed.

They offer two uninstaller tools, one for their software and another
for the toolbar:
Universal uninstall program:
http://lop.com/new_uninstall.exe

Toolbar uninstaller:
http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe


Please also do these:
At Internet Options: (Start --> Control Panel --> Internet Options)
·Click the Advanced tab.
·Under Browsing, clear the Enable third-party browser extensions
(requires restart) check box.
·Restart Internet Explorer.
·Click the General tab.
·Clear all temp internet files, history and cookies.


The next step is to install and run an antispyware program. Do this
after reboot your computer when you finish the first attemp.

I suggest you to try with Adaware. This program will help you to
remove from your computer the spyware and other types of badware:
http://lavasoft.element5.com/software/adaware/

To download it:
http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download/

Then install and run it, for a guide of how to do that visit the following page:
"Ad-aware Tutorial":
http://www.fluteloop.com/Adaware6.htm


Many times the solution for this kind of problems varies from one
computer to other, this means that a proved solution may not work in
your case. What I am trying to tell you is there is a possibility that
this first answer does not help you to get rid of this hijack. Don´t
worry, the clarification feature keeps the question opened to continue
with different methods. So please feel free to use that feature if you
need further assistance I will gladly response all your future
requests.

If after all this tasks you still experienced problems download
HijackThis, run it and then post its log in a Requaest for an Answer
Clarification, this info will give me valuable info to get rid the
problem if it persists.
HijackThis is a great tool for detecting and removing browser Hijacks.
To download it:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html

You can find HijackThis tutorials in the following pages:
"HijackThis Quick Start":
http://s89223352.onlinehome.us/mirror/hjt/

"HijackThis Tutorial": (the better one)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42


I hope that this helps you. Remember that this answer is not
considered ended until your are completely satisfied with it, so
request for any clarification needed before rate this answer, thank
you.


Best Regards.
livioflores-ga

Excellent, right to the point. solved my problem.

1. Internet Explorer settings restore - From Symantec, a tool to
restore Internet Explorer default settings:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/UnHookExec.inf

2. CWShredder - Automaticly remove trojan, toolbars, and ads:
http://www.download.com/CWShredder/3000-8022-10301586.html?tag=lst-0-1

3. Hijack This - The BEST utility to remove trojan, worms, ads,
toolbars and more. Highly configurable:
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022-10307556.html?tag=lst-0-1

NONE need installation, and are easy to use.

(4.) Mozilla - DE-BEST browser around - http://www.mozilla.org   :)

I'm running xp Professional, Internet Explorer 6.0 and the url for the
unwanted homepage is search200.com.

All of the unwanted new folders in Favorites have very large url's.  A
sample of one began: www: pqrgaqywkzdpblmbqsmjldc.uk/