I've been recently the victim of broswer hijack. When I open Internet Explorer, it automatically takes me to an "about:blank" start page. I have used "hijack this" to pinpoint the virus file, but when I try to "fix" it, the problem is not solved. please help!

Stupid question, can you go to the infected file and just delete it? I've had similar issues and just deleted the infected file and, if necessary, restored from the Windows XP CD.

I use Windows 98 and when I had the QHosts and hijacked homepage problems, my Internet Explorer's Search button also didn't work, and I get a System Administrator notice about QHost when accessing Altavista.com and Google.com. For your reference, here is how I fixed the hijacked homepage and malware problems. You will need to modify the steps appropriate for Windows 95 or XP. To Fix QHost, hijacked homepage, IE Search button, and Altavista web access problems: 1) Do a Find of all qhost files. I had only two: Hosts.sam and Hosts. 2) I added the word "old" to the two file names before the extension and renamed both files to: Hostsold.sam and hostsold. 3) Restart PC and problems fixed. Note: If you need to, you could access your homepage by typing your homepage address in the Start, Run dialog box Virus and malware Removal: Install and run an updated antivirus and anti-ad programs. Two recommended free programs: 1 Free scan at www.housecall.antivirus.com and then download and run the most recent microtrend's systemclean program. 2. Download the latest free Adaware 6.0 Build 181. One way to get it is from Start, Run, type, www.adaware.notlong.com However, even after running the most up-to-date antiviral and ad removal programs, I still had to manually remove malware and popups after running these programs. To fix malware and popups manually after running anti-ad and virus removal programs: Try my response in Response #3, Subject: Popup plague =Hijack? help please or try this link to the response page, http://computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/11772.html to the page. Top Speed

I had the exact same problem with about:blank. You cannot just delete it. Neither Adaware, Spybot or Norton Anti-Virus will delete it, although they will all identify it as the CWS hijacker Malware. Do a Google search for 'browser hijacker' & about halfway down page 1 you'll find 'Cool Web Search browser hijacker.' There you'll find the CW Shredder which will remove it. Follow the instructions to hopefully prevent its return.