Do Ad-aware and Spybot run in the background

No.

c:\windows\hosts

seems that directory isn't there.

"hosts" is not a directory, it's a file. It has no extension. And it's only c:\windows\hosts on Win95 and Win98. On NT-based operating systems, it's in a much deeper directory which I always forget and have to go digging for each time I need to look at it.

On NT-based operating systems, it's in a much deeper directory which I always forget

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\ or
C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\

/Michael

I took a look at the "hosts" file. Nothing unusual.

hmmmph.

It was a while back, but I had a similar problem (hell, I'd get bored and WOULD surf porn, I admit it - though not accusing you of it ). I tried my best to completely uninstall the Internet Explorer program, then did the update from the M.S. website. Pretty sure this solved it for me. That was on a 98 setup too.

Backup your favorites folder, and there shouldn't be any danger of this. IE is pretty imbedded in Windows overall, but I think you can go through the start - settings - control panel - add/remove programs and still get some of it. May also try internet options - security tab - security level. Crank it up and see if that hits it.

Sorry for the guessing, but I know I solved a similar problem on a '98 machine of mine, quite a while ago where I didn't have much knowledge other than clicking and unclicking checkboxes, and I think that or the re-install of just IE was enough to fix it.

As a though, I think the popup killer would work, but it would be just a band-aid, not really solve the problem. They are good tools, but not for repairing something like you've got.

Damn, one more thought - make sure your homepage is set correctly, as a straight http address, and not somehow a link to your old homepage routed through a smut server?

And another - From start - run type msconfig (you probably know all about this). Check under the startup tab and see if there's anything you don't recognize. Ditto for the startup portion of the registry if you're brave, or at least more talented than I am.

To ensure the removal of cruft, I rebuild all my boxes running any MS OS at least quarterly. Each time I save on CD all apps that I used for the build, rather than just popping everything back on - so I get a nice minimal build.

Talk about Equal Rights
I am sorry about this, I just can't believe it, I had no idea this was possible, not in any smutty way I hope, well I mean I am trying not to put this in the subject of "Being infected by Smut", but it's just the most incredible thing I have seen all week, it's your fault as after surfing a link off that Blogg Archives page you guy's gave me I came across this.

http://www.travelmateinfo.com/page002.html

http://www.restrooms.org/standing.html

I am speechless
So I guess if you think you see a woman going in the wrong door in the future don't be surprised. Actually I wonder if women might start demanding changes in the bathroom furnishings. Actually that link to how to use IE 5 Power Tweaks to disable Javascript Popups was very cool.

Gazz.

WTF

thanks for the informative post.