unauthorized change of search engine

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ralph Pace
  • Start date Start date
R

Ralph Pace

While away on vacation, someone used my computer and now I
get a new search engine called "Global finder" that I
cannot change (i.e., customize) to conventional engines.
How do I get rid of this engine, which looks like its
dedicated to banks and hanky-panky stuff? I tried to
change my IE starting program under Internet Options but
it keeps getting changed back to Global Finder. I've
deleted everything in temporary Internet storage as well.
 
Ralph Pace said:
While away on vacation, someone used my computer and now I
get a new search engine called "Global finder" that I
cannot change (i.e., customize) to conventional engines.
How do I get rid of this engine, which looks like its
dedicated to banks and hanky-panky stuff? I tried to
change my IE starting program under Internet Options but
it keeps getting changed back to Global Finder. I've
deleted everything in temporary Internet storage as well.
Click to expand...

global-finder.com = coolwebsearch
CoolWebSearch
CWS CoolWSearch
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/cws/
Download and unzip the below, unzip it and run it:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/cwshredder.zip
 
Ralph,
Then follow up with either Ad-Aware or SpyBot, then HijackThis
--
Check for Spyware | Adware | Parasites | Dialers | Hijackers | Trojans |
Unwanted Toolbars:
[Experienced Users]
SpyBot 1.2 [freeware] http://security.kolla.de/

Once installed make *sure* to update via online before scanning!
Fix the items labeled in red, items labeled in blue-green are optional.
Support Forum: http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi
How To: http://www.tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/

[Novice Users]
Ad-Aware [freeware] http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Once installed make *sure* to update via online before scanning!
Support Forum: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/

[To double-check your system - *after* using one of the above]
Go to: http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/
Download "Hijack This!" [freeware] or download direct (below):
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/hijackthis.zip

Unzip, double-click "HijackThis.exe" and Press "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log"
button.
Click: "Save Log" (generates: "hijackthis.log")

Next, go to the below location:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

Sign in, go to the "Spyware and Hijackware Removal" section.
Press "New Topic", copy and paste hijackthis.log into your new message.
_______________________________________
Mike Burgess http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 8-20-03]
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