Search menu

[Toolman35]

I have a "Q" about the search menu on win98se. I have always selected as a permanent option to use the Altavista search engine when selected from the toolbar. Today when I selected it the search screen came up with something differantChoose a category for your search: this is what it looks like.:.........
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Find a Web page
Previous searches

You've run the following searches:



Find a Web page containing:




Hot Searches

internet gambling
online casino
phentermine online
home business
credit card debt
web hosting
adipex online
business
management
education
hair loss
weight loss
penis enlargement
phone sex
money
viagra
debt consolidation
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When I select customize, I have no options like I used to have, only says "find a webpage" or "previous searches" Just wondered how this could have happened and how to fix it??
Thanks.
This might not seem to big a deal, but I have 2 young daughters and there is a couple things there I wouldn't want them to click on.
Thanks again

[GaryRouth]

Hi ToolMan35

Looks like you've been hit by spyware/adware. You can try AdAware, which will scan your system for such troublemakers. It is a free download from http://www.lavasoft.de

Also scan for viruses with the latest virus definitions loaded in.

There is also a program that will check for Trojans (programs that hide on your system & do things without your approval - like the Greeks in the old Trojan horse tale) called The Cleaner. It's available from http://www.moosoft.com

Most likely an unwanted visitor has tweaked the Registry and made it so the usual "Customize" screen isn't displaying. If the programs listed above don't restore your IE to health, you also have the option of going to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information . . . and from the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Explorer Repair Tool". And as a last resort, you can try to restore your registry to a date prior to the search engines hostile takeover by doing a clean boot to DOS, and typing scanreg/restore at the A: prompt.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[morriswindgate]

Download/Install/Run Spybot Search and Destroy from the link below to get rid of it. It is a better tool than AdAware for this.
http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html

Then right click on the Internet Explorer Icon and select Properties, then the "Programs" tab and click the "Reset Internet Settings Button."

Download/Install/Run Hijack This to repair any damage to files the page hikacker did.

http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads.php

Finally down load Start Page Guard to prevent this from happenning again
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/spg/

[Toolman35]

would this virus also cause problems with accessing some web pages? I can't load a secure site used for work?

[Toolman35]

well, I ran the selected programs and I lost all search ability. I reinstalled IE6 and that seemed to fix the problem. I guess it is not wise to just search and destroy all the items found related to the search bar?
Thanks for the help

[Dan]

spyware isn't really a virus, although it can act like one...it just wants all your personal data so it can send you tons of spam...

Thanks for the great resourses , MWG...I have always used Adaware. These programs are a good follow up for the damage that can be done......

[GaryRouth]

Toolman - Glad it's fixed. Sometimes the registry changes made by the spyware (& "hijackers") are extensive enough that after you clean them out, a repair/reinstall of some programs becomes necessary. You should be pretty well protected from now on.

Morris - nice links (I had just recently started to explore spywareinfo.com - they have an amazing amount of information on that site. I'm going to bookmark those links and give them a try as soon as I can free up some time)

. . . Gary