# Internet Explorer homepage problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324 "2003-09-28T17:27:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DirtyKash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DirtyKash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirtyKash)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324/1 "2003-09-28T17:27:05Z")
I set my Internet Explorer homepage address to [http://www.yahoo.com](http://www.yahoo.com) and it works fine. But a few days ago, after I rebooted my machine and started up IE, the homepage somehow changed to some weird site [http://globe-finder.com](http://globe-finder.com) which I somehow want to get rid of and make it stay at Yahoo. When I check under Tools/Internet Options and look at Homepage, it says **about:blank**. I change it back to Yahoo, but when I reboot it again, it still goes back to that horrible Globe Finder thing. Do you guys think it’s some sort of spyware that has taken over my machine? What do I do? Argh!! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324/2 "2003-09-28T17:34:46Z")
Download Adaware and run it, if that doesn’t help, try spybot. If those don’t work, check back here with the results and I’m sure more people will chime in with more suggestions (actually they probably will anyways). ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324/3 "2003-09-28T17:48:40Z")
I have both installed and use them frequently. You need them both to find all the invaders on your computer. Here are links: Ad-aware [http://www.lavasoftusa.com/](http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) Spybot SD > **[Home - Spybot Anti-Malware and Antivirus](https://www.safer-networking.org/)** > > Spybot offers a unique technology for your security. Far beyond antivirus Spybot searches and destroys unwanted software and protects your privacy. ---
**Author:** ![larsenmtl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@larsenmtl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsenmtl)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324/4 "2003-09-28T18:36:23Z")
The Global-Finder hijack is paticularly nasty. Here’s a description of your problem. A removal tool (that worked very well for me) is found at the bottom of the page. Good Luck. [http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html](http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html) ---
**Author:** ![DirtyKash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DirtyKash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirtyKash)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324/5 "2003-09-28T20:43:33Z")
Thanks everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-homepage-problems/204324/6 "2003-09-28T20:53:33Z")
According to AdAware’s tech support, your particular problem is not detected (yet) by their scan engine. They claim they are working on it, but CoolWeb is a fast-morphing unit and a moving target. [Here is the thread (partly) on that topic in their forum.](http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=11589) I don’t know about Spybot. You need [cwshredder.zip](http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/38731.html)