help - alien websites have taken over my internet favourites

[rd]

My teenage daughter downloaded some free games onto our computer - as a result when ever I click onto the Favorites button - the first half dozen or so "favorites" that appear are sending me to dozens of sites for casinos, games, shopping, holidays etc..These favorites cannot be deleted from Favorites and if I try to organise them - they don't appear in the Organise favourites box! They also don't appear in the favorites as shown in the My Computer/Documents and Settings etc. I continually run ad-aware to get rid of the tracking cookies that are now flourishing at a huge rate but does anyone have any idea how to delete these nasties from Favorites? Thanks for your help...

[Wedgie]

Easy fix, don't use Internet Exploerer, its crap.
I prefer Firefox but there's some other better options than IE around too, all free so no excuse.

[Dissident]

You have a trojan. Spyware, even.

Basically I would say there's a spyware program running which is hard to get rid of. Sometimes registry enties can be created in the RUN section and you delete them - then wait - and in a few seconds they reappear.

There's some DLL running somewhere which detects you've deleted (or tried to delete) shortcuts etc and it readds them.

Get a good spyware getterridderprogram thing, maybe AdAware and some others (download.com) and scan your PC.

Also - try using FireFox. I love it - it's great!

[Dissident]

Just read you'd used Adaware - sorry.

The spyware is adding them in as an "add in" to IE I suspect.

[rd]

Problem fixed itself it seems - I found a few suggestions off the net and deleted a few items of my computer that looked suss - no obvious changes happened but then all of a sudden three nights later the alien invaders had vanished - so I don't really know what I did - all I know is that you never ever let your kids download free games !!!!

[Dissident]

Problem fixed itself it seems - I found a few suggestions off the net and deleted a few items of my computer that looked suss - no obvious changes happened but then all of a sudden three nights later the alien invaders had vanished - so I don't really know what I did - all I know is that you never ever let your kids download free games !!!!

There are no "free" games

[firstblood]

i agree with you wedgie...mozilla firefox is excellent and i don't get
any crap at all...and it's a free download as well...

[Punk Rooster]

Wedgie,
your statements are very broad & lacking in any reasoning. You'd be more IT savvy than me, but surely you could put some reasons to back up your statement? If IE is crap, offer some reasons why you think it is.
I run both IE & Firefox, & neither of them is 100% infallible. I can only access some sites with Firefox, others run perfectly with IE, after failing with Firefox.
Have you looked at the updated IE? It has tabbed browsing etc, & I quite like it.
Unfortunately, it doesn't load The Roost. Oddly enough, I could not log in to The Roost with Firefox & was forced to open it with IE, but when I d/loaded new IE, I suddenly could log in with Firefox, as IE would not show the Forum part of The Roost!

[mick]

I have never had anything that doen't run on firefox. Firefox is more reistant to this type of crap. My daughter did a similar thing on her computer a while ago. I told her nothing is "free" there's always a catch

[Wedgie]

Wedgie,
your statements are very broad & lacking in any reasoning. You'd be more IT savvy than me, but surely you could put some reasons to back up your statement? If IE is crap, offer some reasons why you think it is.

Sorry mate, I thought I'd just answer the issue raised, I didn't realise a report and explanation for a response was needed but a few reasons off the top of my head that Firefox is a better product:

Firefox is faster.
Firefox is more likely to display an internet page correctly.
Firefox has numerous plug ins and extensions which further enhance web browsing.
Firefox is less prone to attacks from hackers.
Firefox is not a Microsoft product.
Tabbed browsing.
Firefox's pop up blocker is one of the best.
Firefox is less prone to spyware attacks.
Most importantly and reason for my accurate and succint post, there's a good chance it would eliminate the problem RD is having.

PS Looking at your different browsing issues I can confidently say its not an issue with Internet Explorer or Firefox, its an issue with your computer, what's on it and possibly your settings.

[Punk Rooster]

Wedgie,
your statements are very broad & lacking in any reasoning. You'd be more IT savvy than me, but surely you could put some reasons to back up your statement? If IE is crap, offer some reasons why you think it is.

Sorry mate, I thought I'd just answer the issue raised, I didn't realise a report and explanation for a response was needed but a few reasons off the top of my head that Firefox is a better product:

Firefox is faster.
Firefox is more likely to display an internet page correctly.
Firefox has numerous plug ins and extensions which further enhance web browsing.
Firefox is less prone to attacks from hackers.
Firefox is not a Microsoft product.
Tabbed browsing.
Firefox's pop up blocker is one of the best.
Firefox is less prone to spyware attacks.
Most importantly and reason for my accurate and succint post, there's a good chance it would eliminate the problem RD is having.

PS Looking at your different browsing issues I can confidently say its not an issue with Internet Explorer or Firefox, its an issue with your computer, what's on it and possibly your settings.

Not too lazy, but as I'm not that IT savvy, I wouldn't know the questions to ask. It would be quicker for you to provide bullett points, rather than me sift through 486,765 results on Google.
I would not do something just because someone says "it's better". I'd like a few reasons why.
Also, I could argue with 2 of your points- IE has tabbed browsing, & Firefox "not being a Microsoft product" is hardly a valid one- you don't have any Microsoft programs or componentary on your PC?

[Wedgie]

Not too lazy, but as I'm not that IT savvy, I wouldn't know the questions to ask. It would be quicker for you to provide bullett points, rather than me sift through 486,765 results on Google.
I would not do something just because someone says "it's better". I'd like a few reasons why.
Also, I could argue with 2 of your points- IE has tabbed browsing, & Firefox "not being a Microsoft product" is hardly a valid one- you don't have any Microsoft programs or componentary on your PC?

IT Savy has nothing to do with Google searching, just a bit of common sense and a bit of practise, for eg in this case if I was you I'd do a search for Internet.Explorer.v.Mozilla.Firefox and you'll probably only have to look at the first 3 or 4 selections, not quite 486,765.
You could argue with those 2 points, as you're not arguing with the other 6 points I assume you're sold.

PS "Please" and "Thank you"'s are also nice when people are giving you information you've requested for no cost.