Internet ads gone wild

[Fuzzpilz]

Sounds like some piece of spyware or other did that for you. If AdAware, Spybot etc. can't find anything, look for something else... such as a modified hosts file. If you're running NT (NT 4, 2000, XP et al.), look for (windows dir)\system32\drivers\etc\hosts; if you're on 9x/ME, (windows dir)\hosts. If it's that, there'll be an entry for Google there. If so, remove it. (does this happen with other browsers too, though? If it's in the hosts file, not only IE should be affected)

If you can't reach Google any other way, try http://216.239.37.99/. That should work.

[Timosity]

I don't know about every browser being faster than IE, It's just as fast for me as any & it loads up instantly rather than taking a few seconds when you first open it.

If it's marginally slower, I don't really notice it, nor does that little amount of time effect my life. but yes Paste and go in Opera gives it the cleverest idea ever (and it was staring them all right in the face)

[remixor]

You know, I've got this weird problem with my IE.

If I type www.google.com in my browser window, it doesn't take me to google, but some other site that says "No website is configured for this address" and a logo that says "Cpanel" comes up...... Cpanel and WebHostManager links are at the bottom.... it's weird.

I've seen this on the library computers at my university and I believe it's caused by a virus.  Run a scan and see if it picks anything up (make sure you have the latest virus definition files).

[Squinky]

Okay, after trying Firefow for about 1/2 an hour, I gotta say I'm pretty impressed. It runs extremely faster. especially with internet forms that used to lag on my typing. I did a bunch of tests and then compared them to IE and Firefox always kicked IE's ass....And it's got loads of cool features I'm just barely getting into....

* Squinky endorses FireFox

[RickJ]

Squinky:

Here are a few things to try out if you haven't discovered them yet.  

• Block Popups - Tools->Options->BlockPopupWindows_CheckBox
  Don't need to run other popup blocker software.  Allow ony the ones you want.
  
  
• Block Images From... - RigthClickImage->BlockImagesFrom xxxx
  Tired of waiting for crappy servers to load images you don't care about. Just zap'em with this.  
  
  
• Background Tab Browsing -  Hold down the control key and then click on a link.  Opens new tab and loads in the background.  
  
  Just a few of my favorites ...

[ZZjZmoz]

I know about all of that crap. My dad's laptop had exactly the same thing happen. the disc drive popped open and a document opened and the homepage was changed. This can be very dangerous stuff, as my dad could've been fired or something if his laptop was screwed up.

However, recently, we optained...

(Horribly acted commercial actor approval voice) Webroot's spy sweeper. It deletes all of that evil spyware from your computer forever, scans your computer, and cleans your house. And when it's all done the evil spyware from your computer forever returns in all its glory and you have to sweep your comp. again, and again, and again until you go INSANE!!!   )

But seriously, all you really need is a good spyware sweeping program and an increase in your Internet explorer safety settings.

[RickJ]

ZZ:  Download Firefox and try it.  Your dad will love you for it .  

[Blackthorne]

Sounds like some piece of spyware or other did that for you. If AdAware, Spybot etc. can't find anything, look for something else... such as a modified hosts file. If you're running NT (NT 4, 2000, XP et al.), look for (windows dir)\system32\drivers\etc\hosts; if you're on 9x/ME, (windows dir)\hosts. If it's that, there'll be an entry for Google there. If so, remove it. (does this happen with other browsers too, though? If it's in the hosts file, not only IE should be affected)

If you can't reach Google any other way, try http://216.239.37.99/. That should work.

Fuzz,

    Yeah, that worked.  I checked the hosts file - it redirected almost all popular search engines to that Cpanel site.  Ech.  Thanks for the help; I deleted the file and it all works again.

Blackthorne