Internet Malfunction!

[Error401]

There is a legit about:blank. It's installed as a system default page. Or in other words, on a fresh clean load, you can type in about:blank in the address bar and it will display.

However, if it changes to that and you can't change your homepage (on IE) to anything else, then you are seeing a hijack.

Here's some other quasi-cool info on spyware. There's a jack where your homepage is some search page. The html is actually local, in a file naed sp.html. You can delete this file all you want, but it comes back every time. This html page is acutally extracted from a dll file in the windows directory. The wtf reappearance is triggered by a key in the registry (I'm pretty sure it in some CLSID key that gets parsed when you open IE). The dll file is almost always either random characters or something that starts with msXXXX.dll. On 2K and XP, you can open explorer (win, not IE), view as icons and scroll along. The extended info on under the filename and file size should show Microsoft as the publisher on legit dll files. Others have no publisher showing. I usually google the most likely of these last types. Alot of times I get lucky, sometimes I don't. I think they call that triage.

Anyway, in short:

SPYWARE SUCKS

[/ramble]
401

 

[Rolex]

I found the links I was looking for yesterday.
They are here in Pop up sticky thread

These are the ones posted by WoodiE a while back.
Between those 3 links, there are 4 programs. Excellent added protection.

 

[Buncrana]

You Guys, Thanks alot for taking your time to try to help me out. I was downloading a software and my computer went to poop. So I had no choice but to wipe it clean with my 5 restore disks. I'm back to factory now. Thanks again but I'm good now!


-Skyline


P.S. I Will be downloading adaware Error. I'll google search it or go to www.download.com

Sorry I did not see this sooner. I recently fixed severla computers that got jecked with this. It needs more than an AV program to fix it but all the tools you need are free. If you are running XP, SP2 will help prevent this from happeneing again.

 

[Skyline Racer]

Buncrana- Yes Windows XP Home Edition is what I am running.

 

[Rolex]

If you want to save your self the hassle of restoring your computer every time there's a problem, you need to get Roxio Go-Back. It comes bundled with Norton System, and is a TOTAL life saver.
If a program goes wrong, or a virus gets in, or you made a major mistake with a delete......no problem anymore.
Go-Back maintains a backup of EVERYTHING (takes up 10% of hard drive, but a small price to pay)
If you downloaded something, and now you have a serious problem, open go back and select a time to go back to. I always do a cold boot before I install anything, then if there's a problem, I just run GoBack to Last Boot Up.
Problem is over. The computer has NO knowledge that the problem was ever there, ALL your original settings are restored, and it only took 5 minutes.
If you think you created the problem yesterday, run GoBack to any time prior to the problem.

 

[Buncrana]

Buncrana- Yes Windows XP Home Edition is what I am running.

Ok, get all prior MS patches first and it's also a good idea to upgade drivers and then do SP2. about.blank comes from several types of trojans and CoolWebSearch, which generally get loaded without a word to you when you go to certain websites. SP2 blocks this type of loading. Also, always "x" out of pop-ups, never click any "yes" or "no" buttons as they most always do the same thing.

 

[Rolex]

If you have probems getting onto certain sites after installing SP2, that you trusted before, go to 'Control Panel' and you'll see a new icon for MS firewall. Disable it.

 

[Buncrana]

Better to properly configure a firewall than to disable it.

 

[Rolex]

Absolutely true, but I dissabled mine since I had a very secure firewall built into the cable modem.. I assumed he had cable. When running a test on the modem firewall, I came up as 'Stealth'.....I could not be found.