Solved IE Browser ver 10 - Getting rid of an automatic search page

[maryeleek]

I have changed versions of IE browser attempting to get rid of the following page. It comes up automatically each time I open IE. I'd prefer to have IE open to a blank home page, which used to work, but for some reason this search page keeps reappearing, no matter what I do.

I've run a full system scan, thinking this might be some type of malware but my system is clean. I don't know how I picked this up but I'd like to rid myself of it. Does anyone recognize this and if so, how do you remove it? I've added a couple of spaces in the URL to keep it from showing as link.

http:// www. default-search.net/?sid=503&aid=100&itype=n&ver=13986&tm=516&src=hmp

My thanks for your time.

MEL

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
What did you use for these scans ?

About Aztec Media

Aztec Media develops software used by millions of Internet users worldwide. We believe the wonderful things on the Internet should be accessible to all users, regardless of their technical expertise level.

We develop downloadable PC applications, social services based on platforms such as Facebook, and mobile applications with the goal of providing users with fun, easy to use applications that help them get the best out of their online experience.

If you would like to contact us, send us email at [email protected] or send an old-fashioned snail mail to Aztec Media Inc., Attention: Privacy Policy Administrator, Post Office Box 51968, Limassol, Cyprus.

Review Jacee’s instructions to run Adwcleaner here post #7,
Ignore the title of the thread,
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/316404-instant-savings-app.html
Screen shot of the download button to use for Adwcleaner
You can use these free tools to see if they find anything,
Manually Update them before running full scans,
Try not to use your computer while the scans are running, (one at a time of course).
See this tutorial on how to download and run Malwarebytes,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/338716-malwarebytes-anti-malware-free.html
Also use the Custom scan option not the Threat scan,

Please Do Not clean/ Delete or Remove Any detections before posting the scan results first before review especially Malwarebytes,
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free
SAS is safe to remove anything it finds
http://www.superantispyware.com/?tag=SUPERANTISPYWARE
This one is the longest up to 4 hours, the others are only about 45 minutes,
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

 

[ThrashZone]

Where ever it came from seems likely a Yahoo search corruption to me ?
I added default-search.net to my ie restricted sites list and went back and the image was gone and hit the Image search button and it went straight to a Yahoo search page :/
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/?s=aztec+media
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/default-search-net-removal/

 

[oneeyed]

You can reset Internet Explorer settings.

There's a Microsoft Fix-it that automatizes it : http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9646978
Or you can do it manually as described here : How to reset Internet Explorer settings

 

[maryeleek]

My sincere thanks to each one who took the time to reply. I believe, by using your suggestions and helpful links, that I've managed to safely remove that ugly start page from my IE Browser. I have marked this as solved for now and hope I am correct with my assessment. If not, I will come back and let everyone know.

For the person who asked what I had used to scan with; I used BitDefender to do a full system scan and then Trojan Remover. In all the years I've used a personal computer, I've had little experience with this type of thing and didn't even know what it was, much less how to resolve the problem. You are all FANTASTIC! Thank you ever so much for your assistance.

MEL

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi thanks for the update,
I believe the issue is with a hop along that came with another program you downloaded from Cnet or similar site,
Please be careful in the future downloading stuff

If you ever need a recommend for a download please post it and others will check it out and possibly give you a clean download source for the program your wanting to download
Cheers.

 

[maryeleek]

A tag along makes sense and is most likely how I obtained this item as I did recently download some utility type programs in preparation for a computer change. SlimDrivers, SlimCleaner, BackRex Outlook Backup and a website copier, thinking I should archive my website. I have already used Revo Uninstaller to uninstall the web copier software as I couldn't figure out how to use the software.

I did, just today, download and installed the Adwcleaner software suggested in one of the links. I try to remember to scan each install file before running it and then watch and read each screen during the setup but I could have missed doing this on a file. Should a file scan on an installation file pick up this type of malware? Will the offending program keep replacing this ugly file or is it most likely a one time situation caused during the installation of a program?

The few times I look for small utilities, I try to download from CNET, as I thought the files would be relatively safe there.

MEL

 

[oneeyed]

Should a file scan on an installation file pick up this type of malware? Will the offending program keep replacing this ugly file or is it most likely a one time situation caused during the installation of a program?

If the installer is bundled with adware or anything not really marked as malicious then your main AV will most likely not say anything. You might have more luck with other software like Malwarebytes/Super Anti Spyware and co. which extend their scan to things like adware/PUP and such.

The few times I look for small utilities, I try to download from CNET, as I thought the files would be relatively safe there.

Don't download on CNET unless you're absolutely required to do so... CNET Download is quite famous for bundling most of its software with junk even without the consent of developers/authors.
CNet's Download.com secretly installs adware with open/free downloads - Boing Boing
CNET's Download.com Adware Installer Bundled with Popular Apps - Advisory
Download.com Caught Adding Malware to Nmap & Other Software

You could try Ninite (quite safe but low choice of apps), Softpedia or Major Geeks for something with a better policy concerning adware.
But you're much better off not to pass by repositories like this in the first place, and go directly to the developer's site (just google the software's name).

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
No you can't download anything anymore from CNet it has gone totally worthless


Go to SourceForge - Download, Develop and Publish Free Open Source Software
First

Allot of people recommend this little jewel,
Unchecky,
http://unchecky.com/

 

[oneeyed]

Go to SourceForge - Download, Develop and Publish Free Open Source Software

Sadly Sourceforge has started to turn like CNET Download a while ago, although it's not at the same level.
How far the once mighty SourceForge has fallen? | Gluster Community Website
Today We Offer DevShare (Beta), A Sustainable Way To Fund Open Source Software | SourceForge Community Blog

For open-source most projects have moved to Github instead. Its framework is open-source (SourceForge started going closed source a few years after they started... it looked fishy already) and has a strict policy concerning adware and such (they'll never do it) : https://github.com/explore

And here is a link to a post I made describing what measures you can take to assure something is safer when downloading installers from Internet : Solved Spamware installed by Download.com: What to do? - Page 2

 

[ThrashZone]

Yikes thanks for the info,
I withdraw my statement about the snake-oil site