This damn "about:blank"

Does anyone know how to rid this "F^&*#$%" search engine
from rearing it's ugly head ever again!?!?!? I can't get
to the update MSN page, due to it's taking control just as
the page is trying to boot up? Frustation beyond the point
of logical thinking! OBE-WAN if your out there please
help! I've reset my home page time and time again, but
this thing keeps reseting it back again! AAARGGGGGGHHHH

There are two or more home page hijackers (parasites) that alter the file used
by those who like to launch Internet Explorer with a blank "homepage" rather
than always opening a site such as their ISP's portal or Google.

One of these parasites is a variant of the CoolWebSearch parasite. For
details of the CWS.Aboutblank variant see
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/c...tml#aboutblank).
Unfortunately there is a more cent variation of this hijacker which cannot be
removed by CWShredder (see below) and if this is the case your only resort
will be to follow the advice in the last paragraph.

Download and run CWShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/cwshredder.zip which is the best way
of getting rid of the many forms of the CoolWebSearch hijacker details of
which can be found at http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html
and also http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/c/cws.asp..

There is also another newer variant aboutblank parasite which is particularly
resistant to removal.

For details of this second variant and possible help see recent posts by Mow
Green in various threads at http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 such as
that initiated by JENNY entitled "Blank page is BACK!
(http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=6437). You will need to download for
later use the tool about:Buster from either
http://www.atribune.org/downloads/AboutBuster.zip
or
http://tools.zerosrealm.com/AboutBuster.zip

This would be a good time to download yourself a copy of the free Ad-Aware 6.0
from Lavasoft (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and also SpyBot
Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/) and use them to check your
system for other commercial parasites remembering that they are only as good
as when you last updated their reference files. I also use a program called
BHODemon (http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm that checks for
unwanted Browser Help Objects and SpywareBlaster
(http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html) which can help prevent
many parasites getting a grip on your PC.

Finally if you still continue to experience problems download a copy of
HijackThis from (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html). Create a
folder called HJT on C: (not on your desktop nor in your temp folder) and copy
the file you downloaded to that folder. Close as many applications as you can
including all instances of Internet Explorer. Enable Explorer to see all files
and folders (Tools | Folder Options | View and check "Show hidden files and
folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files") and then run
hijackthis.exe and post back the log to either the HijackThis Forum at
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or alternatively
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 and hopefully this will enable
someone to identify the cause of your problem.

See also: Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and
Search Engines http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm and also Browser
Hijacking http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/
--?
Mike Maltby



wrote:

Does anyone know how to rid this "F^&*#$%" search engine
from rearing it's ugly head ever again!?!?!? I can't get
to the update MSN page, due to it's taking control just as
the page is trying to boot up? Frustation beyond the point
of logical thinking! OBE-WAN if your out there please
help! I've reset my home page time and time again, but
this thing keeps reseting it back again! AAARGGGGGGHHHH

Hi

Try these programs to check for any spyware that may be on your system:

Ad-Aware - www.lavasoftusa.com
Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/
CWShredder - http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Try SpyWareBlaster to stop intrusions:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Also see the following links:

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


" wrote in message
...
| Does anyone know how to rid this "F^&*#$%" search engine
| from rearing it's ugly head ever again!?!?!? I can't get
| to the update MSN page, due to it's taking control just as
| the page is trying to boot up? Frustation beyond the point
| of logical thinking! OBE-WAN if your out there please
| help! I've reset my home page time and time again, but
| this thing keeps reseting it back again! AAARGGGGGGHHHH

Me too - exactly as you describe. Can someone out there
please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-----Original Message-----
Does anyone know how to rid this "F^&*#$%" search engine
from rearing it's ugly head ever again!?!?!? I can't get
to the update MSN page, due to it's taking control just
as
the page is trying to boot up? Frustation beyond the
point
of logical thinking! OBE-WAN if your out there please
help! I've reset my home page time and time again, but
this thing keeps reseting it back again! AAARGGGGGGHHHH
.

Did you bother to read the replies the poster got, click on the + at the
side and you will find the answers to your problem.
Joan

wrote:
Me too - exactly as you describe. Can someone out there
please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-----Original Message-----
Does anyone know how to rid this "F^&*#$%" search engine
from rearing it's ugly head ever again!?!?!? I can't get
to the update MSN page, due to it's taking control just as
the page is trying to boot up? Frustation beyond the point
of logical thinking! OBE-WAN if your out there please
help! I've reset my home page time and time again, but
this thing keeps reseting it back again! AAARGGGGGGHHHH
.

Joan, you're probably shouting into the wind - another "CDO for Windows
2000" poster, see properties/details g

Mart



"Joan Archer" wrote in message
...
Did you bother to read the replies the poster got, click on the + at the
side and you will find the answers to your problem.
Joan

wrote:
Me too - exactly as you describe. Can someone out there
please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-----Original Message-----
Does anyone know how to rid this "F^&*#$%" search engine
from rearing it's ugly head ever again!?!?!? I can't get
to the update MSN page, due to it's taking control just as
the page is trying to boot up? Frustation beyond the point
of logical thinking! OBE-WAN if your out there please
help! I've reset my home page time and time again, but
this thing keeps reseting it back again! AAARGGGGGGHHHH
.

lol I knew it was CDO, I have it set to show in colour (thanks Mike for
that tip) when it's one of those lovely anonymous posters, but you never
know they might read it g

Mart wrote:
Joan, you're probably shouting into the wind - another "CDO for
Windows 2000" poster, see properties/details g

Mart

lol I knew it was CDO, I have it set to show in colour

Joan,

Glad to read you found my suggestion of some use. Whilst it won't catch 100%
of the web posters as there are always some who will edit the entire From
field but nevertheless I find it incredibly useful to have such posts
highlighted.

Cheers,
--
Mike


Joan Archer wrote:

lol I knew it was CDO, I have it set to show in colour (thanks Mike
for that tip) when it's one of those lovely anonymous posters, but
you never know they might read it g

I had the same problem and it drove me f$#$^g nuts too,I called microsoft 3
times before I finally got it fixed.I tried all those spyware removers ,but
they didn't work either.What you have to do is go to www.majorgeeks.comon
the left hand side of the page you will see filesgo down to spyware
toolsclick on itgo down the list and click on CWSHREDDER click
downloadthen click on one of the american flags.
Click save to desktop once it is saved to desktop click on it to install it
in your system.Now you have to restart your computer,as it starts back up
hold down the F8 keyscroll down to safe mode and click enter,now run the
CWSHREDDER in safe mode,when it is done scanning reboot,and this should fix
the problem,it did for me.
John @

"Mike M" wrote:

lol I knew it was CDO, I have it set to show in colour

Joan,

Glad to read you found my suggestion of some use. Whilst it won't catch 100%
of the web posters as there are always some who will edit the entire From
field but nevertheless I find it incredibly useful to have such posts
highlighted.

Cheers,
--
Mike


Joan Archer wrote:

lol I knew it was CDO, I have it set to show in colour (thanks Mike
for that tip) when it's one of those lovely anonymous posters, but
you never know they might read it g

Or you could read my first reply to the original poster where you will see
clear instructions of what to do including using CWShredder which will help in
removing one of the two variants of the about:blank parasite.
--
Mike Maltby



JMB wrote:

I had the same problem and it drove me f$#$^g nuts too,I called
microsoft 3 times before I finally got it fixed.I tried all those
spyware removers ,but they didn't work either.What you have to do is
go to www.majorgeeks.comon the left hand side of the page you will
see filesgo down to spyware toolsclick on itgo down the list and
click on CWSHREDDER click downloadthen click on one of the american
flags.
Click save to desktop once it is saved to desktop click on it to
install it in your system.Now you have to restart your computer,as it
starts back up hold down the F8 keyscroll down to safe mode and
click enter,now run the CWSHREDDER in safe mode,when it is done
scanning reboot,and this should fix the problem,it did for me.