Recently, everytime I click the i. explorer icon, my computer sends me directly to a website called thesafetytool.com, instead of my regular home page. I did not in any way reset my homepage. A box pops up that says I am at high risk for spyware, and that i need to download antispy gear from them. Has anyone else had a similar exeriece with this site? Is it legit, or is it just spyware itself?
2006-12-05 14:21:21 · 7 answers · asked by littlpeter 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Your computer has a Smitfraud infection. You will need to use a specialised removal tool such as SmitFraudFix v2.2:
http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php
or
RogueFix:
http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm
To remove this pest.
Even more Smitfraud info. is here:
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal:_SpyAxe_Removal
Good luck.
2006-12-05 14:23:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My roommate told me to post the following:
This is called a "Browser Hijack." More accurately, a home page hijack. It's where something installs itself on your system, then adds a redirecting path by changing which URL is sought out when you open your internet browser. The people above me are right, it likely a smutfraud infection, but is always a sign of some sort of computer infection. For this reason, never download "antiviris software" from a site that you didn't actually go to, as you are reaching it in a mialous manner.
I have seen spybot and ad-aware do a very good job at cleaning such a program as that out of my system. (Someone got on without my permisson and went to a nasty site) A good tip to do after cleaning your system, to avoid home page hijack is to find your "home page" file and change it to read only. Although it will not stop the infection, it will get rid of that annoying problem.
Just be aware that should you change your home page to "read only" you will not be able to change your home page to something else, unless you uncheck the read only box before attempting to change it. I unfortantly can't remember where the home page file is located, but I did use a program called, "Hijack This!" to find it. After I knew where it was, it was a simple matter to go to it, right click it, choose "properites", check the "read only" box and close it. Perhaps you can research how to find the "Home page" online. Good luck, I hope this helped.
2006-12-05 22:51:59 · answer #2 · answered by demonicunicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just spyware. Get yourself some spyware removal software like Spybot, Ad-Adware, etc (all free). Run it and let it remove the junk.
2006-12-05 22:24:19 · answer #3 · answered by chrisnterri520 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just go to download.com and get you some anti-spyware software such as adware. AOL offers some free too.
2006-12-05 22:30:06 · answer #4 · answered by Fern 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scan for virus
2006-12-05 22:24:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
somehow your homepage has been switched. You need to go into your personal settings and switch it back.
2006-12-05 22:30:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I recommend superantispyware.It is very effective and It is also free.
2006-12-05 22:42:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋