IE Start Page/Unable to fix/Please help

Question

I started having this issue: after I start my PC or after several times I start IE, IE will go directly to a website with .ru address. (a video forum in russia). So I go to TOOLS/INTERNET OPTIONS/GENERAL TAB/HOME PAGE/ and click on 'Use Blank' to delete that starting address. Close IE, reopen it and problem gone, but then after several restarts of IE or after restarting PC, problem comes again in an endless cycle. I've run NAV2005 and it detects no viruses. I also run Webroot Spysweeper, Spyware Doctor, XoftspySE and Lavasoft Adaware and all of them detect nothing other than standard low risk spy cookies. So what can I do to fix this? Thanks for your help!!

joe53 · Answer

Hi:

Try whatever fixes seem appropriate from here.

From what you describe, it is likely that one of your security apps is causing your problem. But that .ru URL is suspicious, and I would post a HJT log over in the HijackThis board in any event, for the experts to clear.

alegator · Answer

Thanks Joe, actually I solved the issue by inspecting my startup items. There was a suspicious line invoking a trial.exe file which I deleted (both from the starrtup and from the folder). I restarted and trouble's gone. Anyways I'll have those useful links you provided for future reference. Regards.

Dr. Lawrence Ho · Answer

alegator, some folks advise not r run more than one all the time on spyware detector.  This causes problems.  Start the others just to do scans.  Spybot teatime, in particular, may cause trouble.

alegator · Answer

Paindoc, I have XoftSpySE, Spyware Doctor, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Lavasoft Adaware installed. I run them regularly to scan for threats (about once  a week).I also have Norton Internet Security 2005 and run the antivirus scan once a week. Any issue with doing this?

joe53 · Answer

alegator:

Those are all good programs. You cannot have too many anti-malware scanners. But as Paindoc said, you should only be using one of them to monitor your PC in real-time, and save the others as back-up on demand scanners.

I'm not familiar with XoftSpySE, but Spyware Doctor, Webroot's Spysweeper, and Norton Internet Security all have real-time monitoring modules. And if you have the paid version of Lavasoft's Adaware, the 'Adwatch' module is also a real-time monitor. The problem is all these real-time (resident) monitors often do not play well together, and you should try to make sure only one is enabled.

zbestwun2001 · Answer

Not to confuse the issue, lol, this is my favorite: WinPatrol

alegator · Answer

Thanks Joe, regards!

alegator · Answer

Joe, I don't run ANY of the anti spyware programs I mentioned in real time, not even NIS2005 (only the firewall and the antivirus runs in real time). Regarding the antispyware programs I mentioned I run them weekly on demand (manually).

joe53 · Answer

alegator: Then you are good to go!

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IE Start Page/Unable to fix/Please help

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