Apparently my daughter went searching the web for MP3’s and now when I open IE 5.5, the website fullysearch.com becomes my default home page even though I insist that IE use a blank page. I deleted the “favorites” (all MP3 sites) that have forced themselves into my favorites list (which is normally blank as well). Still, the site comes up. How can I rid myself of this AND stop it in the future (perhaps with a password)?
I’m surprised it took this long for an answer to pop up. It’s so basic even I know it.
Click on the Tools menu. Click on Internet Options. The top line on the “General” tab (which should appear first) lets you set your home page.
Wait a sec; you’ve changed your home page to blank and it still defaults to the mp3 site?
To add to what pesch said- How exactly is it “taking over” your browser?
Is it like that BonziBuddy thing?
Yes, if you don’t watch where you’re going, some desperate web sites will download their favorites links onto your computer as well as change your home page using JavaScript. The worst thing that happened to me that involved unauthorized installations was when one site (probably a porn site) installed a small encrypted script file in my StartUp folder and the next time I started up the computer, the little script filled up my favorites program with tons of lame porn links, then deleted itself. Fortunately, I discovered it in my brother’s section of the computer so it wouldn’t do more damage.
This is what most antivirus and browser companies warn you about; malicious web sites installing files on your computer without your permission! Disable JavaScript, and watch out where you go.
Well, it wasn’t like Bonzi other than when I changed my home page to “blank” and disconnected from the net and then logged back on, the home page had been changed back. However, I played around with it for a while and figured it out. I added the page to my “restricted sites” file under the “Security” tab. So far, so good.