IE6 default homepage

[Prasanna]

Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE, all
three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use current","Use
blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also disabled...i use
spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it doesnt help...i appreciate
your help.

[Scott M.]

Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.

Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a virus.

"Prasanna" > wrote in message
...
> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE, all
> three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
> current","Use
> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also disabled...i use
> spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it doesnt help...i appreciate
> your help.

[Malke]

Scott M. wrote:

> Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.
>
> Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
> virus.
>
> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
>> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
>> current","Use
>> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also disabled...i
>> use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it doesnt help...i
>> appreciate your help.

The about:blank problem is caused by spyware, not viruses - although of
course the OP should have a current version (not earlier than 2003) av
installed with an updated subscription.

Prasanna - here are malware removal instructions. You need more than
just Spybot to remove the about:blank problem. A combination of
About:Buster and HijackThis works well, but those are expert tools.
Read what I've listed below, and if you are going to use HijackThis go
to the links for the tutorial and where to post your log. Do all
removal work with updated tools in Safe Mode.

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

[Scott M.]

Hijackers are not spyware, they are trojans and/or viruses. And the OP can
have an AV older than 2003. As long as the virus definitions are up to
date, your software can be 10 years old.


"Malke" > wrote in message
...
> Scott M. wrote:
>
>> Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.
>>
>> Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
>> virus.
>>
>> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
>>> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
>>> current","Use
>>> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also disabled...i
>>> use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it doesnt help...i
>>> appreciate your help.
>
> The about:blank problem is caused by spyware, not viruses - although of
> course the OP should have a current version (not earlier than 2003) av
> installed with an updated subscription.
>
> Prasanna - here are malware removal instructions. You need more than
> just Spybot to remove the about:blank problem. A combination of
> About:Buster and HijackThis works well, but those are expert tools.
> Read what I've listed below, and if you are going to use HijackThis go
> to the links for the tutorial and where to post your log. Do all
> removal work with updated tools in Safe Mode.
>
> 1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
> antivirus using updated definitions.
>
> 2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
> programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
> There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
> install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
> CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.
>
> Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
> to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
> all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).
>
> HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
> it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
> of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
> homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
> help with it.
>
> 3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
> Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
> must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
> the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
> Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).
>
> 4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
> patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
>
> 5) Run a firewall.
>
> Links to help with malware:
>
> Software/Methods:
> http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
> http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
> http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
> http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
> http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners
>
> HijackThis:
> http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
> Eshelman
> http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
> forum
> http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
> http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
>
> General:
> http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
> http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
> http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
>
> Malke
> --
> MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"

[Wesley Vogel]

Not totally true.

Just look at the items listed in Spybot - S & D's database...

Spybot - S & D | Settings | Ignore Products |
Hijackers tab & Trojans tab

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In ,
Scott M. > hunted and pecked:
> Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.
>
> Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
> virus.
>
> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
>> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
>> current","Use
>> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also
>> disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
>> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.

[Prasanna]

Im afraid none of the solutions offered thus far have helped. the buttons are
still disabled.

prasanna.

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:

> Not totally true.
>
> Just look at the items listed in Spybot - S & D's database...
>
> Spybot - S & D | Settings | Ignore Products |
> Hijackers tab & Trojans tab
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> Wes
>
> In ,
> Scott M. > hunted and pecked:
> > Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.
> >
> > Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
> > virus.
> >
> > "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
> >> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
> >> current","Use
> >> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also
> >> disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
> >> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.
>

[Scott M.]

Is this a work pc or a home pc?


"Prasanna" > wrote in message
...
> Im afraid none of the solutions offered thus far have helped. the buttons
> are
> still disabled.
>
> prasanna.
>
> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>
>> Not totally true.
>>
>> Just look at the items listed in Spybot - S & D's database...
>>
>> Spybot - S & D | Settings | Ignore Products |
>> Hijackers tab & Trojans tab
>>
>> --
>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>> Wes
>>
>> In ,
>> Scott M. > hunted and pecked:
>> > Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.
>> >
>> > Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
>> > virus.
>> >
>> > "Prasanna" > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
>> >> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
>> >> current","Use
>> >> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also
>> >> disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
>> >> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.
>>

[Prasanna]

hi, thankyou for everything. A friend of mine offered his services to solve
my problem. its solved now.

"Scott M." wrote:

> Is this a work pc or a home pc?
>
>
> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Im afraid none of the solutions offered thus far have helped. the buttons
> > are
> > still disabled.
> >
> > prasanna.
> >
> > "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> >
> >> Not totally true.
> >>
> >> Just look at the items listed in Spybot - S & D's database...
> >>
> >> Spybot - S & D | Settings | Ignore Products |
> >> Hijackers tab & Trojans tab
> >>
> >> --
> >> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >> Wes
> >>
> >> In ,
> >> Scott M. > hunted and pecked:
> >> > Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page hijackers.
> >> >
> >> > Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
> >> > virus.
> >> >
> >> > "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> >> > ...
> >> >> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
> >> >> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
> >> >> current","Use
> >> >> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also
> >> >> disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
> >> >> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.
> >>
>
>
>

[Scott M.]

How about sharing the solution so that others with the same problem might
also be helped?


"Prasanna" > wrote in message
...
> hi, thankyou for everything. A friend of mine offered his services to
> solve
> my problem. its solved now.
>
> "Scott M." wrote:
>
>> Is this a work pc or a home pc?
>>
>>
>> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Im afraid none of the solutions offered thus far have helped. the
>> > buttons
>> > are
>> > still disabled.
>> >
>> > prasanna.
>> >
>> > "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Not totally true.
>> >>
>> >> Just look at the items listed in Spybot - S & D's database...
>> >>
>> >> Spybot - S & D | Settings | Ignore Products |
>> >> Hijackers tab & Trojans tab
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>> >> Wes
>> >>
>> >> In ,
>> >> Scott M. > hunted and pecked:
>> >> > Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page
>> >> > hijackers.
>> >> >
>> >> > Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
>> >> > virus.
>> >> >
>> >> > "Prasanna" > wrote in message
>> >> > ...
>> >> >> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of
>> >> >> IE,
>> >> >> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
>> >> >> current","Use
>> >> >> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also
>> >> >> disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
>> >> >> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

[Prasanna]

sure. it looks like my problem was wrongly identified as being "about:blank
hijack"...my problem was that the default homepage textbox and the three
buttons associated with it namely "Use blank","use current" and "use
default" were disabled....Spybot s&d has option to Lock IE start page at
Tools->Ie Tweaks....this option was checked on my system.once i uncheck it,
my prob is gone. i guess this must be default option with spybot s&d.

"Scott M." wrote:

> How about sharing the solution so that others with the same problem might
> also be helped?
>
>
> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> ...
> > hi, thankyou for everything. A friend of mine offered his services to
> > solve
> > my problem. its solved now.
> >
> > "Scott M." wrote:
> >
> >> Is this a work pc or a home pc?
> >>
> >>
> >> "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > Im afraid none of the solutions offered thus far have helped. the
> >> > buttons
> >> > are
> >> > still disabled.
> >> >
> >> > prasanna.
> >> >
> >> > "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Not totally true.
> >> >>
> >> >> Just look at the items listed in Spybot - S & D's database...
> >> >>
> >> >> Spybot - S & D | Settings | Ignore Products |
> >> >> Hijackers tab & Trojans tab
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >> >> Wes
> >> >>
> >> >> In ,
> >> >> Scott M. > hunted and pecked:
> >> >> > Spybot removes spyware, not viruses, trojans and home page
> >> >> > hijackers.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Get a good anti-virus product and run it. You most likely have a
> >> >> > virus.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "Prasanna" > wrote in message
> >> >> > ...
> >> >> >> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of
> >> >> >> IE,
> >> >> >> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
> >> >> >> current","Use
> >> >> >> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also
> >> >> >> disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
> >> >> >> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

[Connie]

I have the identical problem, but do not have spybot. Any suggestions as to
how solve this if there's no spybot installed? This only happens on my log
in page, not the other user's.
"Prasanna" wrote:

> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE, all
> three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use current","Use
> blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is also disabled...i use
> spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it doesnt help...i appreciate
> your help.

[Wesley Vogel]

You have been hijacked, you have scumware...

Some of this does not apply if you have Windows XP SP2.

First. Make sure of these settings and nothing will install without you
answering YES. (Except what may install as part of some other software.)
Don't click YES if you don't know/trust the source.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Internet Options | Advanced tab |
Make sure both of these are NOT checked.

 Enable Install On Demand (Internet Explorer)
[[Specifies to automatically download and install Internet Explorer
components if a Web page needs them in order to display the page properly or
perform a particular task.]]

 Enable Install On Demand (Other)
[[Specifies to automatically download and install Web components if a Web
page needs them in order to display the page properly or perform a
particular task.]]

Apply | OK

 Enable Install On Demand (Other)
Is part of the driveby downloading of unwanted programs. i.e. Scumware or
whatever will install w/o you even being aware of it.
=====

Second. If you need a scan right now.

Follow the instructions!
THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.php

=====

Third.
It is known as scumware. Visit these sites. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are really good.
Download, install, run, update and run again; one or all. They are all
good, FREE utilities. Make sure you update every program, even if you
just downloaded it. You must have the latest updates. Without updates,
you have a gun without ammo. You also need to use more than one
anti scumware program. One program will *not* catch everything.

1) CWShredder ver. 1.59 direct download:
http://www.merijn.org/files/cwshredder.zip

1a) CWShredder ver. 2.0 direct download:
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/cwshredder.zip

2) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

3) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) HijackThis (More for the advanced user)
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

4a) HijackThis (direct download)
http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip

5) Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner v1.13
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html?source=appvisit

6) ToolbarCop
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/toolbarcop.htm

7) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

=====

HijackThis log tutorial
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html

HijackThis Log Tutorial
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm

How to use HijackThis to remove Browser Hijackers & Spyware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42#warning

How To Install Spybot Search and Destroy & a brief tutorial
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

HOW TO: Reconfigure Ad-aware for a Full Scan
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877
=====

MVPS HOSTS file is a free download from:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
=====

Problems uninstalling? Here's some advice.
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/uninstallproblems.phtml

Additional information & instructions.
A wealth of information here, boys and girls.

THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;827315

Spyware and Deceptive Software
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx?gssnb=1

What you should know about spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

Cleaning Up XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#cleanup

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In ,
Connie > hunted and pecked:
> I have the identical problem, but do not have spybot. Any
> suggestions as to how solve this if there's no spybot installed?
> This only happens on my log in page, not the other user's.
> "Prasanna" wrote:
>
>> Hi, i use IE 6 on xp-pro sp2...on the Internet Options window of IE,
>> all three buttons to change the homepage are disabled, namely "Use
>> current","Use blank" and "Use blank", the textbox for homepage is
>> also disabled...i use spybot to remove any chances of spyware and it
>> doesnt help...i appreciate your help.