OT Crazy Internet explorer

[Instar]

Ive been surfing the web lately, and my web browser has, for some reason that I cannot deduce, been sending me to a website that I did not type in at all. For example, when I try to get to Americas Army Operations website, I end up at a badly rendered The Sims page. I have WinXP with all the latest patches... and its driving me nuts. I have cleared all my Caches, etc etc..
I know! I will blame it on my roommate! The kid does not know a thing about computers, no matter how much he tries to put on that he does. And he uses my computer. Or did.

[ April 02, 2003, 04:24: Message edited by: Instar ]

[Alpha Kodiak]

Microsoft knows where you really want to go and sends you there, not the silly place you think you want to go to.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Ruatha]

Originally posted by Alpha Kodiak:
Microsoft knows where you really want to go and sends you there, not the silly place you think you want to go to.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Oh, how we would all stray lost on the internet wilderness if it weren't for the blessing of the allknowing Microsoft, hail to them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Thermodyne]

You prolly have a downloaded bot installed on your system go to IE/tools/Internet options/General tab/Settings button/View objects button Look for unsigned ActiveX and Java
entries. Then go to Add/Remove Programs and look for programs that you did not install. Anything with Gator in the name would be suspect, but their are many others. You also need to set IE so that no ActiveX and such can be installed without at least asking. If several people use the system, then IE should be set so that none of these can be installed (High Security).

[Suicide Junkie]

I reccommend visiting http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ for a copy of Ad-aware. It'll root out poison cookies, gator, and a host of other evil internet items.

You can permanently avoid redownloading gator by using a "hosts" file in your "c:\windows" folder to block it.
Basically, you have your computer redirect any request for "gator.com" to some invalid IP (such as your own PC). Thus, as far as your PC is concerned that whole evil site dosen't exist.

I have posted a copy of mine on http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/Miscellaneous
in case you want to try it.
Note: If you find you can't get somewhere you really want to go, check to see if its in that file. Remove the entry and save to restore access.
Just don't bother telling me about it cause chances are its not an appropriate site for people to visit http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[Narrew]

What Thermodyne and Suicide Junkie said. If it was just one one web site that was bumping you, they may have been hacked and re directed.

But I would add to what the others have mentioned is that you set up a User Account for your roomie, XP is good for that (with Win 98 you could just cancel the log in and still get local access, but XP or Win 2K you can lock it down) and you can restrict his ability to modify your machine.

[Instar]

My roommate does have his own user profile, but sometimes I think he may get on mine when I do not log out (I usually do not log out when I go to class...)
I found two activeX objects that had crazy names. Got rid of both. Also, the SC4 autopatcher is still there... I may end up deleting that, if the problem continues.
Oh yeah, my account is the admin, and his has no access to anything (cant install, or whatever). He whined about it but Im not changing my opinion about it)

[ April 03, 2003, 04:13: Message edited by: Instar ]

[Narrew]

well, it looks like your on top of the user account, now we need to get you to log out when you leave http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif I am sure a few more times of junk on your machine will fix that. I know I would bust a blood vessel if someone messed up my comp, but I am an ole "stick in the mud".

Good luck