Windows Mavens, help an old fart please. IE question.

[woofless]

I have picked up something annoying. Whenever IE has a slow moment loading a page, something called searchpage.com jumps in there and takes over. When that happens it also changes the home page setting in internet options. WTF? I run Adaware 6 frequently and usually get about 25-35 objects to delete. I have Norton running and updating all the time and am religious about downloading all the MSWindows updates. I am running XP. Anyone know how I can vanquish this pesky little bug? Thanks, Woof.

[Maine-i-acs]

1. Activate the firewall

XP has one built-in.

It can be found in your Network Connection properties.

[woofless]

4. Where do I find that please?

I looked in tools, Internet options, connections.

[catzies]

10. Choose the connection that you're using, and look for options

There's a checkbox for the firewall.

[papau]

2. Download Zonealarm to get a free improved firewall - and get free

spybot -DE
http://www.safer-networking.org/
and run Spybot - it catches stuff AdAware misses - and AdAware catches stuff it misses - but together they are a nice team.

[alvis]

3. Try these

Spybot Search and destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/

And/Or:
McAfee AVERT Stinger
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

[woofless]

5. Thanks papau and alvis. will do.

[woofless]

6. Once again, DU folks rock.

45 objects found and destroyed. Thank you so much.

Woof

[LTR]

7. Browser hijack

May not be spyware or a virus. Could likely be a script.

Also, check and configure your HOSTS file:

http://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/how_to_use_hosts.html

This blocks about 98% of the crap out there.

Also, avoid IE and use Avant Browser, Netscape, or Mozilla Firefox. They give you more security and block pop-ups.

[ironflange]

8. Avant Browser is still IE

But you're right about Mozilla/Firefox

[madmax]

9. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For posting this question.

I've been going nuts trying to remove spyware and other crap from my computer. Adaware 6.0 wasn't getting it all. d/l Spybot and removed 90 items from one computer the other is still running.

:loveya:

Thanks to all who posted links for d/l. DU'ers are the best :hug: