ARRRGHH, STUPID PEOPLE!

I'm sorry, I'm just angry that people with knowledge use it for completely stupid things.

It seems some disreputable sites have screwed with my computer, resulting in popup ads every time I try to open my homepage. So every time I open my browser, I get my normal homepage AND popup ads. Why don't I just change my homepage address you ask? Because the area in internet options is greyed out and I can't change it!! ARRGHH!!!!!

Please help me fix this!! AHH! Why are some people so annoying!?!?!?

Here's the address they've replaced as my homepage:
http://www.cnetadd.com/d.asp?http://www.resnet.wm.edu/~mhmahe/links/links.htm

nice:) grab Ad-Aware - it'll find/delete whatever program is doing this to you:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
-mark

If you're on the Win32 platform, then I have some info for you that might be helpfull...

If you're using IE, you can stop popup ads by disabling active scripting.

In IE6 it's located here:
Tools/internet options/security/custom level/active scripting

I don't remember exactly where it is with other versions, but It should be somewhere similar.

If you're using another browser, then I'm not sure exactly, but there should be a similar option.

The only problem with turning off active scripting, is that some elements in sites won't work correctly, such as a button to download a file instead of a link. You can however, turn it back on and refresh the page if you need to. That's what I usually do. It is annoying, but not half as annoying as popups.


As far as your default home page being stuck goes, I would check the registry.

For example, the default home page for IE on my machine is stored in the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

If it's not there, or if you're using a different browser, just do a search in the registry. In your case, do a search for "http://www.cnetadd.com/d.asp?http://www.resnet.wm.edu/~mhmahe/links/links.htm" and you should be able to find it.

Good luck!

Thanks for the help guys! I've kinda fixed it.

I downloaded that program. It found alot of stuff I guess and fixed it. It didn't find this particular thing though, but I guess it was good anyway.

I then went the registry route. I searched for "cnetadd.com". There were lots of instances, including one in "start page". I simply modified that key to the start page I wanted and now it takes me where it should. However, the start page settings are still greyed out in Internet Options. So I'm still a little worried about it. hmmm.

It didn't find this particular thing though, but I guess it was good anyway.

You're saying you had adware on your system that was not located by Lavasoft Ad-aware?

Oh, wait, I think I see what happened. Some web page modified your start-page link to give you a popup ad. Your fix sounds correct, but I don't know why the start page entry is grayed.

Incidentally, if you tend to get annoyed by popups while surfing, there is a product called "Popup Ad Filter" that works for stopping them. Runs in the system tray.

I had problems using it on my '98 box, seemed to get unstable sometimes. Works like a charm on my 2000 box, though.

Thanks. Yeah, the area is still greyed out. very disconcerting. At that point, I call it a virus. Sort of a non-spreding virus, but it's just as invasive. This sort of thing should be illegal (or is it?).

By the way, I spoke too soon on it being a popup specifically. it's not really a popup, I just got a message asking to load a language pack (the site that was inserted as my start page appears to be Korean or something). Anyway, it's annoying. Oh well.

It changed your home page to a korean site? Hmm, It's possible that it could be the result of a virus. Scanned for viruses lately?