# Rogue search engine driving me crazy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-search-engine-driving-me-crazy/181714 "2003-06-14T01:05:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-search-engine-driving-me-crazy/181714/1 "2003-06-14T01:05:42Z")
Within the past few weeks I have had a screen pop up on my computer that covers my toolbar and the menu at the bottom of the page. It does not have a web address, just the words “Where do you want to go?” and a space where I can type something in. It also lists categories of things people might be interested in. I cannot just back out of it or switch to a different window because it completely covers the screen, and hitting escape doesn’t seem to do anything. It often pops up when I click on a link but sometimes just shows up at random. Since I don’t know how to get out of it I have to turn the computer off and reboot–and of course within a few hours it shows up again. The computer has been acting a little funny ever since I installed a Lexmark printer in March–could this have anything to do with it? Any suggestions for how to get this stupid thing to go away? ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-search-engine-driving-me-crazy/181714/2 "2003-06-14T01:09:07Z")
Probably Spyware that got installed somewhere down the line. Try these two websites for spyware removal programs: [www.lavasoftusa.com](http://www.lavasoftusa.com) \<-- Ad-Aware [http://security.kolla.de/](http://security.kolla.de/) \<-- Spybot ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-search-engine-driving-me-crazy/181714/3 "2003-06-14T01:09:21Z")
Try downloading and running either Adaware or Spybot, both free. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-search-engine-driving-me-crazy/181714/4 "2003-06-14T06:28:38Z")
Until you’ve run AdAware or Spybot, try just hitting ALT-F4, which should close the window, or ALT-TAB, which should cycle you through the windows that are currently open - better than having to reboot the sucker.