# IE: WTF?? or, I don't remember THAT happening before! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594 "2004-01-09T05:31:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/1 "2004-01-09T05:31:13Z")
I have Internet Explorer, and it’s set to Google as my homepage. Worked fine for over a year, then recently, it started doing something really weird and very annoying. On the left side of my Google page, SOMETIMES I get a little toolbar that looks like another search engine. I close this, because a) I didn’t put it there, and b) I know where I want to go, so I don’t need it. It closes, and I think I’m done, and I go on to either the SDMB or some other site. Suddenly, my screen is covered, top to bottom, with a gigantic pop-up search page. I try to close this, but the little X in the top right corner is not “lit” and the word “loading…” appears. It won’t close! Hm. I do a three-finger salute (CTRL + ALT+ DEL) and I get a Microsoft warning pop-up that tells me the page is still loading – and my only choice here is “OK”. IT’S NOT “OK”!! It takes several minutes for that stupid page to load, if I let it. If I pull up the Task Manager and try to close it that way, it will let me… but it also closes the entire Internet Explorer. I have things to do, goddammit, and I don’t want that friggin’ page. I haven’t downloaded any damn thing, and I am getting tired of having to repeatedly attempt to get where I want to go. Whatever the fuck you are, you stupid page, GO AWAY!!! ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/2 "2004-01-09T05:32:29Z")
You got a rogue pop-up on your hands. Download Ad-Aware and get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/3 "2004-01-09T05:35:54Z")
You may already be aware of this by my post, **gobear** , but I am kinda stupid when it comes to computers. WHAT is Ad-Aware, where do I get it, how do I work it and what do I tell it to look for? If you can help me figure this out, you’re my hero. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/4 "2004-01-09T05:40:21Z")
Just wait until it begins to spurt pronographic ads when your child/SO/mother/client is watching; you´ll just _love_ it then. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/5 "2004-01-09T05:41:16Z")
[Ad-Aware](http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/) is a nifty free program that scans your hard drive and eradicates unwanted spyware and other crap that plants itself in your computer. From your description, it sounds like you must have accidentally clicked “YES” on a popup, allowing it to alter your browser settings and toolbars. Ad-Aware can clean it up. Just download it and follow the instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/6 "2004-01-09T05:43:11Z")
By the way, try [www.cnet.com](http://www.cnet.com) and search for Ad-Ware. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/7 "2004-01-09T05:44:20Z")
Never mind, gobear has better directions. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/8 "2004-01-09T06:03:46Z")
Holy smokes. **gobear** - you rock. You are my hero. I downloaded it and ran it and the first thing it found was a “possible browser hijack” with the same file name as that stupid pop-up search engine. This is now probably going to be the shortest Pit thread in history, but it was worth it. THANK YOU, **gobear!** ---
**Author:** ![blainer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@blainer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blainer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/9 "2004-01-09T06:06:49Z")
Did you really write “friggin’” in your OP? Let me give you a hand . . . FUCK SPYWARE. AdAware and Spybot rule! ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/10 "2004-01-09T07:22:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > **Suddenly, my screen is covered, top to bottom, with a gigantic pop-up search page. I try to close this, but the little X in the top right corner is not “lit” and the word “loading…” appears. It won’t close! Hm. I do a three-finger salute (CTRL + ALT+ DEL) and I get a Microsoft warning pop-up that tells me the page is still loading – and my only choice here is “OK”.** Hope it’s not too late to drop in. When you get one of those pop-ups with no X button, press Alt+F4 (only once!) and it should go away. And since this is the Pit, adware and spyware suck ass. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/11 "2004-01-09T11:14:45Z")
Oh, and while you’re at it? F11 will reduce the screen to normal size. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/12 "2004-01-09T13:06:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blainer \* > \*\*Let me give you a hand . . . FUCK SPYWARE. AdAware and Spybot rule! \*\* But don’t forget to update definitions every week after doadloading these. Or something may still happen. Not like that happened to me this week. Nope, not me, **I’M** not dumb! ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/13 "2004-01-09T14:42:09Z")
**LifeOnWry** and anyone else who needs it, the other program mentioned, Spybot, can be found [here](http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10194058.html)–I highly recommend getting both, since each program will catch things the other misses. And as my dear husband mentions, be sure to update the definitions regularly, because those sneaky assholes are always coming up with something new. Or make sure you have an unemployed wife who has time to fix your computer when it gets messed up. _snerk_ ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/14 "2004-01-09T17:12:59Z")
I also recommend using [url=http://www.mozilla.org]Mozilla Firebird\*\* in addition to having Spybot Search & Destroy and AdAware running. Firebird doesn’t have pop-up support, so I haven’t seen one of those nasty little pop up ads since I started using it. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/15 "2004-01-09T17:15:02Z")
I should stop typing right after I wake up. Maybe then I’d remember how a URL tag works. If a passing mod could fix that, I’d much appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-wtf-or-i-dont-remember-that-happening-before/223594/16 "2004-01-09T22:19:36Z")
Actually, **catsix** , Firebird does support popups. Fortunately, it has excellent built-in popup handling, allowing you to disable all popups, then specify particular sites that are permitted to open popups if you like. Opera has similar features. Spybot and AdAware in combination with Firebird do a good job of keeping your box free of the damnable slimeware.