About:Blank...pure evil

[2LEYS]

Does anyone know how to kill this evil little [potty mouth]? My homepage is set to about:blank and I have cleaned the registry, ran every spyware killer there is even a paid for one ran CW killer and even repeated in safemode. But everytime it changes the registry back and my home page chenges. I am running virus scaner and a firewall. Help!!

[fishnwHim]

If you know the date and time it first entered your system you can use windows explorer and set the view of your files on details and you'll be able to see the dates modified, look for a suspicious exe file and view the properties to see if you recognize the program before deleting, this method is only safe if you have a good knowledge of your computer and it's workings. Some of these spyware programs will reload themselves with the exe file everytime you reboot. If you aren't comfortable doing this try downloading Microsofts new spyware software , it's free and the best I have come across. Available at Microsoft.com downloads. Hope this helps.

[El-Kabong]

found this online. I have not tried this

about:blank

EK

[skrimmy]

Yep, it's a real bugger to get rid of. Been there, done that. Depends on which variant you have. Do a web search and you'll find the help you need. El Kabong nailed it for you though.... That's what cured it when I got it months ago.

Now, I run Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer and have ZERO problems with pop-ups or spyware.

[fishnwHim]

Firefox is an awesome browser, I can't use it because it conflicts with other software I use, but My system has been completely clean since I got Microsofts antispyware program, it is awesome and worth every penny of the free pricetag.

[The New Guy]

the only way to truly get rid of vires'es is buy reformating your computer, thows protection like adaware, fire fox, and things like that only prevent, so if you allready got it you haft to reformat your computer.

sorry

[Cool Texan]

I run Norton Internet Security, and now that free Microsoft spyware thing in parallel....even without the MSFT download, I've NEVER had a problem with spyware or things like this. Not sure if I'm just lucky, or good. I surf a ton, download a lot of stuff (smartly), etc....still no problems. Guess this is a commercial for NIS. :grin:

[AnnaDraMoss]

I'm using Mozilla firefox webbrowser on my new system and am very pleased. Also downloaded a free copy of zonealarm and am very impressed. In 2 1/2 weeks zonealarm has let nothing access my system- NOTHING.
Sorry I did'nt answer the original question though. I have had my bouts with about blank to. Reformating is first thing I'd do, then download the microsoft program and use othe firewalls, and maybe a different webbrowser than IE.

[lingslayer]

Hey thanks El-K. I have been fighting this one for 3 days. Adware Away works quick and easy.

So far so good!
Jamie

I've got a question.

Why can't something be done to put the people that write and spread this stuff in jail or make them pay for the damage and loss of productivity they cause?

[Troller]

Here try this website spywareinfo.com It will take some time but you should be able to get rid of any malware or spyware you have. When your at this site look at their forums

[skrimmy]

the only way to truly get rid of vires'es is buy reformating your computer, thows protection like adaware, fire fox, and things like that only prevent, so if you allready got it you haft to reformat your computer.

sorry

SORRY, but that's just plain WRONG advice. You CAN "truly" get rid of this stuff without the harsh step of reformatting. Just follow others good advice here. There are good products out there to help rid these ugly critters effectively.

[finnman]

About blank is evil! I couldn't get rid of it and I tried everything. I finally reformatted and that did it. Reformatting is a pain but better than having about blank. Best of luck.

Finnman

[Pete]

For those of us that don't have it ... how is it propagated? Where did you get it? How can I avoid it?

[OceanBlue]

CT - Bet you're not using Windows XP, huh? I have never had a problem with my Win 98 machine, but XP What a nightmare. At work, we have all the latest virus protection, firewalls, super security blah, blah... and still get spyware on the XP machines.

[finnman]

I'm not sure where I picked it up but got it surfing the net. I used to be click happy and jump from site to site. My cable connection made this easy but now I'm more cautious about shady websites.

Finnman

[Cool Texan]

CT - Bet you're not using Windows XP, huh? I have never had a problem with my Win 98 machine, but XP What a nightmare. At work, we have all the latest virus protection, firewalls, super security blah, blah... and still get spyware on the XP machines.

Sorry...I AM running XP, and no problems. Perhaps its a testament to NIS. That Microsoft download is a good one too....very thorough.

[2LEYS]

My wife actually got it. I came home from work and it was on there. She is trying to get addresses for our class reunion this summer. She was looking for more address search sites and she said all of the sudden a bunch of **** started popping up and then she closed it all and the home page went to about:blank.

I run win 98 and zonealarm and popupcop and mcaffee virus scan plus runn multiple adware killers often. I have gone through all the suggestions and followed multiple directions from various sites on the net with no luck. I just formatted my drive a few months ago so it wouldn't be that big of a pain but I still don't want to resort to it.

[WaterDog]

I had that thing a few months back. I got rid of it after 4 hours of work and it took several programs to do it. Majorgeeks.com will help you.

It's been said before but using something other the IE will help prevent things like this.

Firefox rules!

[Pete]

I now have a hardware firewall, software firewall, aggressive antivirus, e-mail set to reject anything over 20k, Ad-Aware, Spambot, alert before accessing remote site, and now Firefox instead of IE ... no wonder my Mom has trouble setting up her computer!

[skrimmy]

Just a note - Firewalls, whether software or hardware, only stop attacks initiated from the outside. If you initiate the connection by clicking on the wrong link (knowingly or unknowingly)then YOU have effectively opened a hole through your firewall and are not protected by the firewall for that connection. At that point, you need to rely on your Anti-Virus and Spyware software being fully up to date.

Firefox, USE IT instead of Internet Exploder. I only use Internet Explorer for the couple sites(like email web access for work, but that's a safe site)that don't work too well with it. For general surfing, you can't go wrong with Firefox!!

[Cool Texan]

Firefox isnt fool-proof...it just hasn't reached critical mass enough to attract the attention of the script writers.

[skrimmy]

You are correct, sir. Still much safer (for now) than IE!!

[2LEYS]

Firefox isnt fool-proof...it just hasn't reached critical mass enough to attract the attention of the script writers.

That is what I figured too. But anyways does anyone have a link to where I can get Firefox?

[skrimmy]

Sure - http://www.mozilla.org/

[2LEYS]

My first post with firefox. But the scroll dial on my mouse does not work in this program. Any ideas to make it work?

[Cool Texan]

I'm gonna laugh if you have to re-install About:Blank to get it to work. :tongue: :grin:

[Pete]

The scroll wheel does work differently ... move to another part of the program display, click, then scroll. Cut and paste has different menus, too. I love how all my links, passwords and settings imported ... easy peasy! :grin:

[Pete]

Argh ... a Tylenol pop up, complete with sound! In a little Mozilla window! Where did that come from?

[Cool Texan]

And so it begins Pete.... you can run, but you can not hide.

[skrimmy]

Somebody trying to tell you something Pete? Tylenol?

With spyware, malware and popups I think Preparation H would be need more.

[Pete]

I took a Tylenol and the pop-up went away. :grin:

[bendtbbucsfan]

Hi,

I had this nasty little bugger last summer. Same situation as your wife, bumping around the net then bombarded with **** popups.

I'm no computer expert, but I learned a lot about this thing. It took me four days to extricate it. I noticed you mentioned using windows 98. The windows 98 fix is much more involved than XP.

Adaware will eliminate the program that has reset your home page. The true evil of this problem is the hidden program that automatically generates a new reset program. It detects the deletion and casts out a new one almost instantly.

I found a detailed set of instructions at the following URL http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13743

It's very long, and involved areas of computer work that I have never delved into. But it worked.

This thing is a real problem. It's been 9 months and I still want a piece of the perpetrators.

Good luck!

[fisheromen]

Alas, I had it too and the good folks at www.bleepingcomputer.com helped me to remove it. I thought I was going to have to reformat.

It should be a law that the guys who write that kind of program which ends up costing people countles hours have to reveal their identity. I'd love to have words with the guy who wrote that thing.

Do not re-format your machines for this! This will kill it all out and has a browser hijack restoral tool that will fix it in seconds as well. It is a sweet application.

Rick


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