Help! My Homepage has been taken over by a Trojan Horse (Orbit Explorer)!

self | 11-27-03 | WL-Law

[FReepaholic]

You can access your browser's Internet Options via START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL>INTERNET OPTIONS.

[sopwith]

fidsk. format

[backhoe]

Look here:

http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=W97M_GROOVIE.2

[ChadGore]

I've been useing mozilla for this very reason and it's great. http://www.mozilla.org

[G.Mason]

You mean "fdisk format"?

[woodyinscc]

Cmon!, it's Thanksgiving, why be so draconian. :)

[G.Mason]

http://www.datastoragesearch.com/qry/free+data+recovery+fdisk+format/

[demlosers]

but I’m stuck with this bogus homepage, and am fighting off pop-ups at a furious pace as I try to use my system.

No your not.

From the pull down menu: click Tools|Internet Options

Under the "General" tab, in the "home page" box, click the "Use Current" button to change the homepage to FR or another page you want. It will save it as your home page.

[sopwith]

thank you

[mrsmith]

From Here

Run Spybot in safe mode. You might need to update Spybot too, but first try bringing up Windows in Safe Mode and running Spybot.

[RISU]

Try Internet Option | Programs | reset Web Settings.

This may restore MSIE to original state.

[EastCobbRules]

simple

you have spyware loaded.

go to www.tucows.com
search for Webroot Spy Sweeper
download for your operating system
following directions

you will have to reset your homepage (go to tools/internet options) in your browser

[MainFrame65]

Download Mozilla and kill Internet Exploder for good. Add the calendar feature if you like. Tastes good, lasts a long time, immune to IE viruses/exploits, has its own popup controls, junk filter, cookie manager, and forms assist.

[TheJollyRoger]

DO NOT re-format until you try two things...

There are two really good...FREE...programs that find and destroy this type of vile computer piracy program:

The first is from a company called Lavasoft,
the program is called Adaware.

The second is a program called Spybot, I'm sorry
that I do not remember the folks offering it.

Google these names, download the free versions, run them, and perhaps the problem will be fixed, WITHOUT a loss of all data by re-formatting the drive.

Go to CEXX.ORG and read the large volume of information about who deploys these viscious programs, and how to fight back.

Happy Freeping Day
-TheJR

[Spottys Spurs]

I went through this very same thing. It's nasty and even when removed, your PC will have some problems, as it places things in other areas of the computer and corrupts it.

After trying to clean things up for 2 weeks, I bit the bullet. I purchased a full copy of Windows XP Home Edition. I had been using Windows 98, 2nd. Ed. Then I used the new Windows CD as my "boot" disk and reformatted the entire hard drive and installed the new Windows OS. I had previously backed up all my data files.

My PC now works better than ever. By the way, one thing to do is also upgrade the virus protection. I did and now have Norton Antivirus 2004.

Good luck! It's a difficult process to undertake but well worth it.

By the way, my virus came in the form of what appeared to be an email from Microsoft, with all the accompanying logos et. al. advising there was a new upgrade I should download. I ended up downloading the virus. I learned not to trust emails the hard way.

Happy Thanksgiving! At least there's a solution!!

[Grut]

If you didn't ask for it and can't get rid of it, why not bill the originators for using your computer? I imagine you'd be in a pretty good legal position.

Other than that, Mozilla Firebird is excellent!

[Cultural Jihad]

Which OS are you using? If you have XP, try to do a "System Restore" to a restoral point from, say, last week.

"All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> System Restore"

[btcusn]

You could go to http://www.grisoft.com and download and install AVG, which is a exellent free for home use virus scanner/cleaner. Install it and scan your disk. After virus removal, keep it running in the back-round to scan all email and downloads automatically.

Or you COULD run Linux
Happy Thanksgiving
Jack

[sopwith]

I was kidding!