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ASHASK · Jul 17, 2007, 12:36 AM

Hello,

I have a Dell Laptop with Windows XP installed.
I was using IE to browse web regularly.

Resently I installed Spyware and also executed - which indicated some infections and I cliked on button to remove.

After this activity I tried to connect to NET from IE - but after few seconds a message appears on screen "Internet explorer could not find the search page" and the NET does not gets connected and gives a PAGE OUT or hangs at the same position.

Can anybody answer me following:
1. How do I nos solve the problem of IE ?
2. Is it safe to use Spyware, if yes - what should be the way - of using Spyware and avoiding such problems ?

Thanks for help in advance.

Regards,
Ash

free_lo · Jul 17, 2007, 01:42 AM

Normally in the initial settings for IE the provider sets up a search page e.g. Yahoo! Search or Google. This setting is in the registry and not in the settings menu. This setting can be exploited by security attackers to redirect your searches to their site so almost every anti-spyware will try to remove it BUT you are asked to remove it or not. It is Ok.
Just try to do this

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. Change the value for Search Page to the URL of the search engine you want to use

iAMfromHuntersBar · Jul 17, 2007, 01:47 AM

Sorry, just to check... do you mean you downloaded spyware or anti-spyware?

If so, do you remember the name of the program?

There is a HUGE difference!

benn11 · Jul 17, 2007, 01:59 AM

If you installed spyware then you are in bit of a pickle but if you installed anti-spyware then you should inform us of what company's anti-spyware you are using!

ASHASK · Jul 17, 2007, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by iAMfromHuntersBar

Sorry, just to check ... do you mean you downloaded spyware or anti-spyware?

If so, do you remember the name of the program?

There is a HUGE difference!

Feedback:
I already have Spyware Doctor installed some days before - I had installed the same because some days before - I used to get unwanted POP-UPS.
So I have Spyware Doctor installed and I executed the same.
Spyware Doctor performed the scan - detected the infected files and then I cleaned up.
After this I am trying to use IE - which is failing as per explained.

ASHASK · Jul 17, 2007, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by free_lo

Normally in the initial settings for IE the provider sets up a search page e.g. Yahoo! Search or Google. This setting is in the registry and not in the settings menu. This setting can be exploited by security attackers to redirect your searches to their site so almost every anti-spyware will try to remove it BUT you are asked to remove it or not. It is Ok.
Just try to do this

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. Change the value for Search Page to the URL of the search engine you want to use

Thanks for the Feedback, I will try this out and update.

benn11 · Jul 17, 2007, 03:13 AM

I would also recommend you to install AVG Anti-spyware, which is free and trusted!

ASHASK · Jul 17, 2007, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by free_lo

Normally in the initial settings for IE the provider sets up a search page e.g. Yahoo! Search or Google. This setting is in the registry and not in the settings menu. This setting can be exploited by security attackers to redirect your searches to their site so almost every anti-spyware will try to remove it BUT you are asked to remove it or not. It is Ok.
Just try to do this

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. Change the value for Search Page to the URL of the search engine you want to use

Hi,

The original value for "Data" string in Internet Explorer was:
%s - Google Search
This was not working as stated.

I further changed to : http://www.yahoo.com/search?q=%s
which is also not working.

Any more Tips ? Any clues?