I see a version of iexplore.exe running on my system after startup but before I have started a browser instance. I have done a full system scan with NAV (lastest DEF) and scanned with HiJackThis!. When I try to kill the program in the taskmanager (even as admin) it won't die. Ran NAV in safe mode. Looked at registry for various hacks related to various "IEXPLORE" trojans etc. No match. Any clues? Is there someother way to start a program other than via the registry settings?

There is the Start Up foder in the start menu (user and all) and there are a couple of registry keys. Use these for start up Apps and Services: http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/download.shtml http://www.wheresjames.com/StartupMgr_home.htm On a more farfetched idea, it may not be a real iexplorer.exe file. It could be a trojan; couple be a joke file; couple be anything.

Double-check that its iexplore.exe and not iexplorer.exe (a trojan) There are several places it can launch from the registry, or it could be coming from one of the startup folders. You may have the clearsearch adware junk on your system...it uses iexplore.exe. Download Lavasoft Ad-Aware from lavasoftusa.com Not being able to terminate it from the task manager makes me very suspicious of it being a trojan or adware. defcondave sharkbones hiya!

I think I may have serious Trojan problems--something keeps disabling McAfee I have a process called IEXPLORE.exe (note aLL CAPS) THAT USES IMMENSE CPU TIME while my browser is closed, and my disk keeps being hit every 6-8 seconds for a moment, when I have not touched the machine for hours....is there anywhere I can get a list for legit processes, so I can spot the Trojan processes....? Running Spyhunter and Virus scan shows nothing..... I do not know how to interpret the Hijackthis log..... Help!

i got the same problem as you on my computer scottthebot. 1. something runs on startup & tries to connect to the internet 2. processing of even simple tasks has become incredibly slow, e.g. copying a small mp3 file to a new destination, deleting a file causes the window to freeze completely. 3. 'Iexplore' is shown in the task menu (ctrl alt del menu), and it shouldn't be there. Pretty sure its adware or something unwanted so i'm going to do a scan and go through the registry etc, to see if i can find anything. Someone help us... lol