? Internet Options?

[joe s]

Hello. I'm pretty much the novice here but will try to
relay what my problem is; hopefully I can get some help.
For the past few weeks I've been getting a different ie
unwanted homepage when I begin Internet Explorer. Until
this past week I've been able to change the homepage by
clicking on 'internet options' under 'Tools' and retyping
the homepage. Now, however, I cannot get into 'internet
options', getting a notice that this operation cannot be
accessed due to restrictions placed on my computer (home
system, only my family uses it). When I access 'internet
options' via my Control Panel, the homepage area is faded
out, and cannot be altered. I've tried uninstalling and
restalling internet explorer but have been unsuccessful
in rectifying this. I was getting a MSN homepage when I
accessed Internet Explorer but was easily able to go to
my previous homepage via the address area on top of said
MSN homepage - no big deal.
Now, however, another homepage comes up and has some
easily accessible porn sites shown on it; I cannot get
rid of it. I'm still able to access my other sites,
however, by clicking on the top address area, like
before. BUT, for the past few days, whenever I click on
ANYTHING, the wait is 20-30 seconds before I can use my
mouse to click again (ie it freezes). Whatever I click on
WILL be accessed, but now there is this delay; every
time!
I feel all of this must somehow be related. I've run
through Windows Update, pop-up programs, spy-bot, Virus
programs, etc. - in addition to uninstalling/re-
installing Internet Explorer as previously mentioned and
all seems to be ok there. Can anybody help? Thank you so
much.

[purplehaz]

Sounds like spyware or a home page hijacker.

Run these tools weekly
spybot -- http://www.safer-networking.org/
ad-aware -- http://www.lavasoftusa.com/


joe s wrote:
> Hello. I'm pretty much the novice here but will try to
> relay what my problem is; hopefully I can get some help.
> For the past few weeks I've been getting a different ie
> unwanted homepage when I begin Internet Explorer. Until
> this past week I've been able to change the homepage by
> clicking on 'internet options' under 'Tools' and retyping
> the homepage. Now, however, I cannot get into 'internet
> options', getting a notice that this operation cannot be
> accessed due to restrictions placed on my computer (home
> system, only my family uses it). When I access 'internet
> options' via my Control Panel, the homepage area is faded
> out, and cannot be altered. I've tried uninstalling and
> restalling internet explorer but have been unsuccessful
> in rectifying this. I was getting a MSN homepage when I
> accessed Internet Explorer but was easily able to go to
> my previous homepage via the address area on top of said
> MSN homepage - no big deal.
> Now, however, another homepage comes up and has some
> easily accessible porn sites shown on it; I cannot get
> rid of it. I'm still able to access my other sites,
> however, by clicking on the top address area, like
> before. BUT, for the past few days, whenever I click on
> ANYTHING, the wait is 20-30 seconds before I can use my
> mouse to click again (ie it freezes). Whatever I click on
> WILL be accessed, but now there is this delay; every
> time!
> I feel all of this must somehow be related. I've run
> through Windows Update, pop-up programs, spy-bot, Virus
> programs, etc. - in addition to uninstalling/re-
> installing Internet Explorer as previously mentioned and
> all seems to be ok there. Can anybody help? Thank you so
> much.

[Logan]

that's your son goin' to those porn sites.....talk to him about that...


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 2/13/2004

[Cyberbear]

joe s wrote:
> Hello. I'm pretty much the novice here but will try to
> relay what my problem is; hopefully I can get some help.
> For the past few weeks I've been getting a different ie
> unwanted homepage when I begin Internet Explorer. Until
> this past week I've been able to change the homepage by
> clicking on 'internet options' under 'Tools' and retyping
> the homepage. Now, however, I cannot get into 'internet
> options', getting a notice that this operation cannot be
> accessed due to restrictions placed on my computer (home
> system, only my family uses it). When I access 'internet
> options' via my Control Panel, the homepage area is faded
> out, and cannot be altered. I've tried uninstalling and
> restalling internet explorer but have been unsuccessful
> in rectifying this. I was getting a MSN homepage when I
> accessed Internet Explorer but was easily able to go to
> my previous homepage via the address area on top of said
> MSN homepage - no big deal.
> Now, however, another homepage comes up and has some
> easily accessible porn sites shown on it; I cannot get
> rid of it. I'm still able to access my other sites,
> however, by clicking on the top address area, like
> before. BUT, for the past few days, whenever I click on
> ANYTHING, the wait is 20-30 seconds before I can use my
> mouse to click again (ie it freezes). Whatever I click on
> WILL be accessed, but now there is this delay; every
> time!
> I feel all of this must somehow be related. I've run
> through Windows Update, pop-up programs, spy-bot, Virus
> programs, etc. - in addition to uninstalling/re-
> installing Internet Explorer as previously mentioned and
> all seems to be ok there. Can anybody help? Thank you so
> much.

SpyBot's advanced options will keep people from changing th Internet
Options.

When in SpyBot, click the "Immunize" button. Look down at the bottom of the
Immunize options page and uncheck the appropriate box to unlock the Internet
Options.

[CWatters]

Sounds like a "Browser hijack". Run Spybot which is a free program.

If you have a broadband connection you should also run Windows Update to fix
security flaws in IE (thats ow these nasty web sites hijack your browser
settings). If you don't have broadband then it's possible to get some "back
issue" security updates on CD from Microsoft.


"joe s" > wrote in message
...
> Hello. I'm pretty much the novice here but will try to
> relay what my problem is; hopefully I can get some help.
> For the past few weeks I've been getting a different ie
> unwanted homepage when I begin Internet Explorer. Until
> this past week I've been able to change the homepage by
> clicking on 'internet options' under 'Tools' and retyping
> the homepage. Now, however, I cannot get into 'internet
> options', getting a notice that this operation cannot be
> accessed due to restrictions placed on my computer (home
> system, only my family uses it). When I access 'internet
> options' via my Control Panel, the homepage area is faded
> out, and cannot be altered. I've tried uninstalling and
> restalling internet explorer but have been unsuccessful
> in rectifying this. I was getting a MSN homepage when I
> accessed Internet Explorer but was easily able to go to
> my previous homepage via the address area on top of said
> MSN homepage - no big deal.
> Now, however, another homepage comes up and has some
> easily accessible porn sites shown on it; I cannot get
> rid of it. I'm still able to access my other sites,
> however, by clicking on the top address area, like
> before. BUT, for the past few days, whenever I click on
> ANYTHING, the wait is 20-30 seconds before I can use my
> mouse to click again (ie it freezes). Whatever I click on
> WILL be accessed, but now there is this delay; every
> time!
> I feel all of this must somehow be related. I've run
> through Windows Update, pop-up programs, spy-bot, Virus
> programs, etc. - in addition to uninstalling/re-
> installing Internet Explorer as previously mentioned and
> all seems to be ok there. Can anybody help? Thank you so
> much.

>-----Original Message-----
>joe s wrote:
>> Hello. I'm pretty much the novice here but will try to
>> relay what my problem is; hopefully I can get some
help.
>> For the past few weeks I've been getting a different ie
>> unwanted homepage when I begin Internet Explorer. Until
>> this past week I've been able to change the homepage by
>> clicking on 'internet options' under 'Tools' and
retyping
>> the homepage. Now, however, I cannot get into 'internet
>> options', getting a notice that this operation cannot
be
>> accessed due to restrictions placed on my computer
(home
>> system, only my family uses it). When I
access 'internet
>> options' via my Control Panel, the homepage area is
faded
>> out, and cannot be altered. I've tried uninstalling and
>> restalling internet explorer but have been unsuccessful
>> in rectifying this. I was getting a MSN homepage when I
>> accessed Internet Explorer but was easily able to go to
>> my previous homepage via the address area on top of
said
>> MSN homepage - no big deal.
>> Now, however, another homepage comes up and has some
>> easily accessible porn sites shown on it; I cannot get
>> rid of it. I'm still able to access my other sites,
>> however, by clicking on the top address area, like
>> before. BUT, for the past few days, whenever I click on
>> ANYTHING, the wait is 20-30 seconds before I can use my
>> mouse to click again (ie it freezes). Whatever I click
on
>> WILL be accessed, but now there is this delay; every
>> time!
>> I feel all of this must somehow be related. I've run
>> through Windows Update, pop-up programs, spy-bot, Virus
>> programs, etc. - in addition to uninstalling/re-
>> installing Internet Explorer as previously mentioned
and
>> all seems to be ok there. Can anybody help? Thank you
so
>> much.
>
>SpyBot's advanced options will keep people from changing
th Internet
>Options.
>
>When in SpyBot, click the "Immunize" button. Look down
at the bottom of the
>Immunize options page and uncheck the appropriate box to
unlock the Internet
>Options.
>
>
>.Cyberbear,
thanks for the info. I got to the spybot, immunize
section, and, though not quite labeled as you said, did
find the appropriate box and was able to regain my
homepage through 'control panel'. I then rechecked the
box, thinking that my homepage of choice would stay put -
right? Still can't get into 'internet options'
from 'Tools' and the slow response to mouse is still
present. One down, 2 to go. Thank you again!
>