Need some help.

Somehow, my internet explorer start page was changed to an obscure search page, and I could not access my internet options to change it back.

I finally figured out how to gain access, again, to the internet options by editing in the registry, and though I keep changing the start page in the registry, every time I log off, it goes right back to the bogus settings.

Can anyone who knows a lot more about this kind of thing than I do please tell me 1) where I might find the entry that is causing it not to retain the settings I input 2) what might have changed this in the first place - a program, or something more sinister? and 3) which security settings I can change so that whatever accessed my registry and altered these things can not do so, again?

Thanks in advance...

Install it, run an update and run it on your computer. that should get rid of it.
You can get it here - http://www.safer-networking.org/





Edit to add link

I'll run an update and see what happens...thanks!

On edit: That didn't do it. :(

ok, then try this. http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/freefile/story/0,24330,3486293,00.html

It's called browser hijack blaster.

Google search "winpup32".

and I don't know exactly how to get rid of it because I've never had that problem. But I hear the usual tools won't work.

google variants on "browser hijackers" and something should come up.

(and think about using Opera or Mozilla to avoid the problem happening again)

I did a search on "altered startup page" and found a lot of information.

I guess now I need to find the right fix, but it looks like I was unlucky enough to be hijacked by one of the newer, improved versions. :eyes:

Very annoying.

tools => internet options bring up a dialog box which includes a 'home page' section. change the home page to 'about:blank' or www.yahoo.com or whatever you like.


a common problem with these search hijackers is that if you type in a erroneous web page, the hijacking engine searches for a 'similar' page for you.... sometimes with unwelcome results. fixing this is harder, but you can try bring up the search assistant:

hit <control>-e to bring up the search side window, the click 'customize'. run through everything you can and make sure that only reliable engines such as google or yahoo are listed.

if this fails, you'll need to run ad-aware (free) and/or spybot.


good luck!

if you need specific info on your particular hijacker, google its name and see what an antivirus or similar site has to say about it.

I downloaded and ran HiJack This (http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/#Top). It took me a couple of scans/fixes, mostly because I was afraid of removing something I shouldn't, but the problem is finally taken care of.
:)

I'd like to see huge fines for companies/individuals who code this kind of stuff. While it would be nice that all internet users were computer savvy, it'll never happen as most have neither the time nor the desire. How many people change the oil in their car themselves? Because most of the time the documentation about these modifications to a users computer are buried in a mile long EULA, if they are documented at all.

This would apply to all spyware, adware and browser hijackings. How many Americans would just accept advertisers doing the same things to their televisions sets?