[MJY1288]

A very rare vanity for me :-(

[Mr. K]

go to www.lavasoft.com and download ad-aware

[Recovering Hermit]

http://www.soft32.com/download-CWShredder-19014-5.html

[GSWarrior]

I use a product called SpySweeper that informs me when such actions are about to take place and gives me the option to leave my homepage unchanged. It works for me.

[MarkeyD]

What's your definition of 'Everything'. Did you try Lavasoft Download the free version if you haven't already.

[stainlessbanner]

Spybot S&D

[GaltMeister]

Sounds like you have the Cool Web Search crap.

Try CWSHREDDER, available at http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

[csvset]

Here's a link to SpywareInfo forums.

SpywareInfo

Read the page, follow the advice. It worked for me.

[Catphish]

I you use ad-aware make sure update and that you perform a "full system scan" rather than just a "smart system scan".

[BwanaNdege]

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Testimonial
CNet:
Spybot delivers useful tools such as an e-mail list of opt-out addresses to stop unwanted solicitations and a file shredder to securely overwrite unwanted files deleted from your PC--all of which Ad-aware Standard Edition lacks. Best of all, Spybot does it all for free. For protection against ad-serving software, Trojan horses, and other means of tracking your surfing habits, get Spybot immediately.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

That's a very nasty one. I had to hand delete entries in the registry for that one. I think there's an automated delete utility for it CWSShredder like another poster pointed out, although they keep updating this one faster than people can produce utilities to delete it.

[NeonKnight]

Try turning off your "system restore" Many of the newer adwares embed in a restore point, and you cannot get rid of them until you turn it off and back on.

Best bet would be to turn of System Restore, then run CWS Shredder...link above. Then reboot and turn System Restore back on.

[goldstategop]

Download CWS Shredder to get it rid of. Then download Ad-Adware to clean up your windows file and download Spybot S&D to catch what Ad-Adware doesn't. Then download JavaCool Spyblaster to keep this nasty from EVER reinstalling. Finally, download Pivx to hardwall Internet Explorer from malicious code. And get a Trojan scanner like Ewido Security Suite to catch any trojans your anti-virus software misses. Hope all this helps.

[Heartlander]

It sounds like Lop.com was somehow installed on your computer. I believe Search200.com has a removal program but be wary because this is where your problem came from…

[daviddennis]

As I remember, that was a horrible one to get rid of.

My first recommendation is to switch to a Mac or Linux, which don't have these problems. Apple is better if you want to continue using commercial software like Microsoft Office. It will save you an unbelievable amount of heartache with problems like this.

If that's not possible, search the web for "cws removal". I did, and found this, among millions of other links:

http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html

Ignore the ones that say you have to buy stuff. Often what they're selling you just introduces new spyware. If you want a spyware removal program, Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad Aware are said to be the best, but last time I looked even they didn't do much against CWS and variants.

Hope that helps.

D

[Born Conservative]

I've found Pest Patrol (available here,or if you prefer the downloadable purchase, here) to be the best at spyware removal. Freebies such as AdAware and Spybot will both remove spyware, but certainly not all of it. If you do use Pest Patrol (or, for that matter, any of the others), it's best to install the program, reboot, enter safe mode (hit F8 while the computer first starts, and then choose safe mode). Once in safe mode, run your anti-spyware program, reboot, safe mode, and run program again. Do this until you are rid of the spyware. Hopefully, this will help.

[Maximilian]

I had this problem and it is very difficult to eradicate. None of the standard spyware software will get rid of it for you, so people who are recommending Lavasoft don't know what they're talking about. You have to manually remove it yourself. By searching google for information, I found a tech support website that gave me step-by-step directions. I don't remember exactly where, but I put some search terms into Google and found it.

The basic concept is that you have to download a free program that creates a text file showing each command being executed on bootup. Then you have to go into your bootup file and manually delete the command lines that were inserted by the virus.

I followed the directions and it worked. The problem went away and my computer was not harmed in any way. But it was scary because I was concerned about deleting a command line that I needed. But as it turned out, it wasn't that hard to tell which ones were the offending commands that rerouted your browser.

[RJS1950]

a copy of CoolWebShredder should take care of it. Spybot will also grab it and let you delete it.

[GaltMeister]

Just a general spyware note - sometimes you need to install and run the updates for the programs mentioned - then reboot into safe mode and run the programs to clean up the mess.

To get to safe mode, start tapping on the F5 key when your PC is first booting up.

[Fzob]

Bump for later. I have been jerking around with my laptop for two days trying to get rid of this bug.

Hackers should be drawn and quartered after being burned over a spit for an hour ot so.

Thanks for posting this.

[ken5050]

I have the same problem, and my tech knowlegge is limited to the ON/OFF function..MY ISP ( Optonline) help dept spend three hours with me trying to fix it...they use the gizmo where they take over my computer..it stumped them all..they switched me to Mozilla....so far no prob..