Last night I left a browser open and now my computer has a default homepage of www.iewarnings.com../ When I change the default homepage it automatically redirects to this site. Please do not say go to control panel and type in another homepage... because everytime I do this it redirects to www.iewarnings.com. and it remembers the new homepage so that if i type it in the address window, it still goes back to www.iewarnings.com. Don't go to this site, it might do the same thing to your computer. HELP!
2006-11-01 14:43:01 · 8 answers · asked by j j 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
You most likely have a Smitfraud desktop hijacker infection. Most "general purpose" antivirus and antispyware programs cannot touch it, as you may have already found out.
Removal will likely require a semi-manual procedure.
There are 2 widely used procedures:
Using SmitfraudFix:
http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php
Using RogueFix:
http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm
Smitfraud is a nasty one that is going to require some work on your part. You probably won't find a software that you can download, push a "magic button" and have it just dissapear!
Roll up ya sleaves and get to work!
Good luck.
2006-11-01 14:49:38 · answer #1 · answered by jibberjabar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it sounds like you are a victim of a browser hijacking. Spyware and adware oftentimes change the homepage and default search engine. They direct you to a website which bombard you with ads and other malicious files.
Now, the problem is how to fix it. There is no shortage of good free anti-spyware software programs. People have already mentioned Lavasoft's Ad Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy; both are free and very effective. PC World Magazine ran a study to test the effectiveness of several popular anti-spyware applciations, for the free software, Spybot proved the best to restore the homepage and search engine. Download both Ad Aware and Spybot. You can download them at (http://www.filehippo.com/software/antispyware/). There are other programs besides these two, both Windows Defender and AVG anti-spyware are good choices as well. But, for now, let's just stick with Ad Aware and Spybot. After downloading the programs, install them and update the definitions.
A software program isn't very useful if you don't know how to use them, which is why you should read the following tutorials on using them:
1. "How to effectively remove Malware using Spybot Search & Destroy" -- written by malwarehelp.org (http://www.malwarehelp.org/how-to-effectively-remove-malware-spybot1.html)
2. "How to effectively remove Malware using Ad-Aware SE Personal " -- written by malwarehelp.org (http://www.malwarehelp.org/how-to-effectively-remove-adaware1.html)
I can't cover everything you might encounter. However, if you run in to a problems or need more details, just drop me an e-mail. Good luck.
2006-11-01 23:00:38 · answer #2 · answered by What the...?!? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you do anything else, do a thorough scan for viruses and spyware and clean them up if you find any. Then, delete any and all Internet temp files, cookies and history from your system as well as clean your cache. Do a check disk and a defrag. Restart your computer and see what happened. If the problem persists, go to Tuneup Utilities site and download their free trial program and have it clean your registry automatically. Then restart your PC and see if the problem is gone. If it is still there something more serious is happening. Like for instance, your browser may have been hijacked.
2006-11-01 22:56:53 · answer #3 · answered by Nikolas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem is most likly spyware or a virus. I highly recomend two programs, both free and should take care of the job. The spyware remover is called Adware SE and can be downloaded at http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html
The Virus program I use is called AVG. The location for this is http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
I would download and install both programs, update them both and delete whatever they tell you to do.
2006-11-01 22:54:39 · answer #4 · answered by Dublock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a "Browser Hijacker" on your computer...Download and install Spybot Search & Destroy, do a scan and remove anything it comes up with and that will fix your problem OK...
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
2006-11-01 22:46:51 · answer #5 · answered by MUff1N 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Download and run some anti-spyware, anti-malware apps. I'd start with Adaware-SE and Spybot Search & Destroy. A search should point you right to them.
2006-11-01 22:45:47 · answer #6 · answered by hagbard73 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest doing a virus scan straight away... I'm no computer wiz BUT that's probably the best thing to do right now.
2006-11-01 22:45:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ur IE has probably been hijacked
run a virus/adware/spyware program in safe mode and see what comes up with that
2006-11-01 22:45:46 · answer #8 · answered by J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋