Here is my somewhat weak attempt at SMUOD's first request!!! Browser Hijacking; A trend that is becoming more and more common where the browser settings of web surfers are being hijacked. Browser hijacking is where malicious code of some sort, whether it be javascript, ActiveX, or some other sort of scripting, modifies your browser settings. It can also mean that your default start page has been reset from your choice to something else. Sometimes javascripts will add ready-made internet shortcuts to your favorites folder without asking you. In some cases, these changes are reversible simply by going into Internet Options and switching them back. Not always however. Sometimes it's necessary to edit the windows registry to undo the changes made. Sometimes there is even a combination of registry setting and files clandestinely placed on your hard drive that redo your settings every time you reboot the computer. No matter how often you change your settings back, they are changed again the next time you restart. There have even been cases where internet options have been removed from the tools menu by registry hacking to prevent you from controlling your own computer! AOL has started doing something similar recently by placing it's web site free.aol.com in IE's trusted sites security zone, thereby bypassing the most frequently used security settings. This occurs after installing their AOL software, AOL Instant Messenger, Netscape 6.x, and even the latest ICQ2001b has reportedly done this. Prevention and Solutions; IE-SPYAD IE-Spyad will very likely prevent this problem. Not fix the problem; prevent the problem! If you have already been hijacked, you will still need to follow the directions below to fix it, but afterwards you can use IE-Spyad to prevent further hijackings. IE-SPYAD is a Registry file (IE-ADS.REG) that adds a long list of known ad/spy servers and domains to the "Restricted Zone" of Internet Explorer. Once IE-ADS.REG is "merged" into your Registry, most ad/spy servers will not be able to resort to the usual "tricks" (e.g., cookies, scripts, popups, et al) that they use in order to track and monitor your behavior while you surf the Net. Please note that IE-ADS.REG will NOT block banner ads in Internet Explorer (though it will stop script-based popups). This list of known ad/spy servers and domains merely blocks the cookies typically attached to banner ads. It also prevents the use of ActiveX, Java, and scripting -- active content technologies that can be used to compromise your privacy and security -- by the servers and domains specified in IE-ADS.REG. This "Restricted Zone" list is based on info from the latest HOSTS file of Stephen Martin http://www.smartin-designs.com/ If you discover that a web site is hijacking browsers with these tricks and it is not included in this enormous list, please contact the author of IE-Spyad with the name of the server (ex./ ads.hijacker.net) and why you think the server should be added. The same for Stephen Martin that makes the HOSTS file. StartPage Guard (SPG) is good for protecting your PC from cyberscams, by monitoring the status of your internet browser StartPage and protecting it from any unauthorized changes. You can get it free from jwalczak.com,or fromHERE Related articles; Hijack Removal Cexx.org Homepage Hijackers Lop.com article A Lot More Lop.com Stuff All about ScumWare from scumware.com

Great article the kid. I especially like the links to other sites that contain the information! Thanks! Once some of the other topics are addressed i would like your permission to inlcude this along with the rest in a huge "safe surfing" article. http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/25550.html Heres the thread that prompted this article. Anyone who has the time to write an article about any of the topics or if you think of anything i missed along the lines of "safe surfing" please post it. I think the finished product will be a great resource .. Something similar to trevs run windows me well.

Thank you, very usefull info.

Those other subjects are currently under development...that is if someone doesn't beat me to it!!! And,of course you can use it.

Lop hijacked my Windows Explorer search and my home page.

SMUOD,(or KEV),maybe you could/should edit the subject line to "Resource-Browser Hijacking"?????????

very scary to think that things like this can actually happen!! so thanx heaps for the heads up kid! always shelb