address bar/sp2

  • Thread starter Thread starter sacha
  • Start date Start date
S

sacha

Please tell me--is something wrong with my sp2/windows xp
or is everyone's address bar now set to access only msn
search? after first search from home page--are all
subsequent searches from address bar only returned in msn
search or is it a flaw in my system? it appears that the
actual index has been re-written to specify that settings
are for home page only. Is this true or is there a check
box in the new tools that I cannot find to turn msn off?
I want to turn msn off--thank you!
 
MSN Search (AKA Search Assistant) is indeed the default in Windows XP,
Sacha, with or without SP2.

How to Change the Internet Search Behavior of Your Browser in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303210

Make Google your default Search
http://www.google.com/options/defaults.html
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org
 
Hi--I have done all this. I have already set search to
Yahoo, classic. I am not on Search Assistant. My
address bar only yields MSN search results since I
downloaded sp2. It was automatically downloaded onto my
computer without an uninstall program. I cannot use
address bar and get anything but MSN. Is there a check
box on advanced settings in new tools? Is there anyway
to disable? Otherwise I have to triple back to homepage
for every new search to avoid MSN...is everyone else's
address bar still the same as before sp2? Or is there a
solution?
Thanks again.
 
Check your system for "hijackware":

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org
 
So, others who have downloaded sp2 have full choice on
their address bar? I have run the latest version of ad-
aware from lavasoft and am now clear. I had to uninstall
spybot just to be able to download sp2! Since sp2, the
language in my index regarding internet searches seems to
read differently. It really is true that sp2 downloaded
msn as a hijack--I am just trying to find out if it is in
everyone's program or just my computer that is
corrupted? And, if just mine then I will have to go
through all the hijack this steps but I have a feeling
I'll have to uninstall sp2 to fix it....I hate this. So--
did this happen to everyone's address bar after sp2 or
just me? Thanks!
-----Original Message-----
Check your system for "hijackware":

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
Click to expand...
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe)
is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to
Click to expand...
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger
Click to expand...
(http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...
 
sacha said:
So, others who have downloaded sp2 have full choice on
their address bar? I have run the latest version of ad-
aware from lavasoft and am now clear. I had to uninstall
spybot just to be able to download sp2! Since sp2, the
language in my index regarding internet searches seems to
read differently. It really is true that sp2 downloaded
msn as a hijack--I am just trying to find out if it is in
everyone's program or just my computer that is
corrupted? And, if just mine then I will have to go
through all the hijack this steps but I have a feeling
I'll have to uninstall sp2 to fix it....I hate this. So--
did this happen to everyone's address bar after sp2 or
just me? Thanks!
Click to expand...

My memory of my SP2 install was that, at a certain point, I was asked
whether I wanted the search bar -- which defaulted to YES -- and that I
selected NO.
 
C.A.--Interesting...did you install by disc? I installed
as one download and was asked no questions. The whole
download took about an hour. I did the express
version..did you do the other version? Is that what I
need to do? Uninstall then reinstall it by disc or the
long version? Thanks in advance...Sacha
 
Everything about your problem looks to be malware-related. A onetime pass
using Ad-aware SE does *not* mean you are "clear." Re-read my previous post
for the additional steps to take. IMHO you're only "clear" when a malware
expert has examined your HijackThis log and said so.

What problem was 'Spybot' causing when attempting to download SP2, Sacha? I
had Spybot and several other anti-malware tools running in the background
when I downloaded SP2 and had no problem. Everything but Windows Explorer
was closed prior to installing SP2.
--
~PA Bear
So, others who have downloaded sp2 have full choice on
their address bar? I have run the latest version of ad-
aware from lavasoft and am now clear. I had to uninstall
spybot just to be able to download sp2! Since sp2, the
language in my index regarding internet searches seems to
read differently. It really is true that sp2 downloaded
msn as a hijack--I am just trying to find out if it is in
everyone's program or just my computer that is
corrupted? And, if just mine then I will have to go
through all the hijack this steps but I have a feeling
I'll have to uninstall sp2 to fix it....I hate this. So--
did this happen to everyone's address bar after sp2 or
just me? Thanks!
-----Original Message-----
Check your system for "hijackware":

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before
each and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't
catch everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
Click to expand...
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe)
is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to
Click to expand...
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not
here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger
Click to expand...
(http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...
2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/
2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/
2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/a
dware.winfavorites.html) and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/deviouss oftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/deviouss
oftware.mspx

.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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