# What evilness has infected my computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898 "2004-05-31T07:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/1 "2004-05-31T07:53:10Z")
Okay, something strange has happened to Internet Explorer. The home page has been set to some page I’ve never been to, and a link to another page I’ve never visited has been added to the Favorites. After I delete the link and change the home page, they change back again! Something has taken over my computer! What is this? How do I fix it? ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/2 "2004-05-31T08:10:22Z")
Probably some form of spyware. Get [Ad-Aware](http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) and [Spybot Search & Destroy](http://www.safer-networking.org/) - that should get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/3 "2004-05-31T14:16:41Z")
When my homepage was being hijacked I fixed it with a free program called CWShredder. [Scumware.com article on CoolWeb Shredder](http://www.scumware.com/apps/scumware.php/action::view_article/article_id::1075343980/topic::Scum-Killers/) Main page of [merijn.org](http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html), home of CWShredder Some related SDMB threads: [changing my IE start page](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=230628) [My IE homepage keeps resetting. Help!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=228717) Use the links **RandomLetters** provided; they’re also free. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/4 "2004-05-31T17:28:08Z")
Thanks, I used Adware and Spyware and one of them seemed to catch it after about 3 scans. The only lingering problem is that if I want to type a site address in the address bar, I need to ad the “http://” prefix. I.e., typing [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) won’t work, I need to type [http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com). Anyone know how to fix this? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/5 "2004-05-31T17:37:53Z")
> [@Max\_Castle](#): > > The only lingering problem is that if I want to type a site address in the address bar, I need to ad the “http://” prefix. I.e., typing [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) won’t work, I need to type [http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com). Anyone know how to fix this? Just type **straightdope** in the address bar, then hold down the \*\*ctrl \*\* key and hit the **enter** key. Voila, instant url! ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/6 "2004-05-31T19:32:22Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Just type **straightdope** in the address bar, then hold down the \*\*ctrl \*\* key and hit the **enter** key. Voila, instant url! As long as it’s a .com domain… And this isn’t the way it worked before… But thanks for the info… ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/7 "2004-05-31T19:53:02Z")
> [@Max\_Castle](#): > > Anyone know how to fix this? Try reinstalling IE6. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evilness-has-infected-my-computer/247898/8 "2004-05-31T20:41:23Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > Try reinstalling IE6. No, that didn’t change anything.