The topic title says it all I think. When I open up my browser, about:blankis supposedly my "homepage". A quick google search found this site:

this is a link!

Presumably this site is kosher, in which case I need to download its software to remove this virus (Saruman - I think this also explains the pop-ups that I was speaking of).

Since I know nothing about computer's, I thought I'd double check with you guys first. And if not this program, how would you suggest I go about removing it.

Thanks in advance

Regards, PA

Ad-Aware SE Personal - Good program, every PC user should have it. User friendly as well.

Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. This software is downloadable free of charge.

You shoud have some sort of firewall up to prevent such items to play with your computer. ZoneAlarm Firewall - Free Download is good for that.

Spybot-S&D Download is another good way to get rid of those pesty spyware files.

Hope this helps.

I already use Zone-Alarm. I've had bad experiences with Ad-aware in the past so I don't really want to use that. I'll check the other link's you've suggested though

Thanks.

Regards, PA

ok, just installed and ran Spybot. Thanks dude. My computer runs heaps faster now. I was having all sorts of speed issues running the computer.

Unfortunately, it didn't get rid of the about:blank virus.

Thanks anyway, I am in your debt. Any other suggestions you guys have would be appreciated still.

Regards, PA

If you open spybot and go to the "tools" menu, then choose "Browser Page".

Select "about:blank" and click "Change", then type in what you want to be your default homepage.

Hopefully this will sort it out.

gollo, that wont work, its a virus, you cant simply change it.

google: about:blank virus

http://www.securiteam.com/securityreviews/5RP0L0UD5U.html
this is a good guide to get rid of it

Ok, update on this. My computer started to slow down again, so I ran spybot and the same problems that were deleted last time were back. I guess the virus in my computer is putting these problems back in as quickly as I take them out....

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Regards, PA

If you are using XP, I suggest you turn OFF System Restore, Then run spybot and then reboot. Then you can turn Sytem Restore back on.

If you want really expert advice I recommend you post on the Spyware Warrior Forum Spyware Warrior

don't worry they are patient and understanding

Best of luck P.A

Lmao. about:blank isn't a hijack at all. Anyways, you probably do have spyware. And do not download that program from that website because it is spyware.

Thanks sub xOne

gollo - stupid question, but what do you mean by turning off system restore? Where is that? Is that a feature in spybot? I couldn't find it.

Paranoid here is your answer... CWShredder http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshr...r_download.html

Great tool, almost industry standard.

Also please download this, SpywareBlaster http://www.download.com/SpywareBlaster/300...j=dl&tag=button update it and then enable full protection. It works behind the scenes to ensure that hardly any spyware touches your computer, I use it at home with great results, it stops browser hijacks, ActiveX diallers... everything.

Also think about getting a good antivurus package?

Hey richdog. thanks for the info. But I'm afraid i've had no luck. CWShredder found no problems. And while SpywareBlaster may have kept the pop-ups from popping up, the problem is still there, my computer still downloads about 1/10th of the speed it should?

Question: Would changing to Mozilla Firefox help? Maybe it's a Internet Explorer specific virus. I dunno, it's 3am and my brain isn't quite working at the moment.

Anyhow, until next time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Regards, PA

Have you considered getting a good complete AV package like Panda Antivirus 2006 Titanium?

Anyway PA try this program http://www.bluechillies.com/download.html?sid=22659



Umm yes it is... do some research http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=na...t+blank++hijack

Thanks Richdog. That apparently can get rid of it, I've just got to go about paying something like 45 bucks ($30 US) to get it registered. I'll let you know

Merry Christmas mate

Regards, PA

Maybe I've missed something. I'd like to offer my two cents if I may. I've ran into problems like this before, I work in an I.S. department for a hospital. Anyway, reboot your p/c in "safe mode" then run your spyware and anti-virus. This is what's needed so often in removing trojans and so forth. To reboot your machine in safe mode simply restart and while it's booting hold down on the control button. A menu will open, arrow down to "safe mode" and hit enter. Your screen will look different but that's ok. Spybot and Adware will run fine in safe mode. So should your antivirus. Anything Adware finds, delete it out.

Most important to turn off your restore for a few days and after you've scanned do a cold boot. (Shut the p/c completely off.)

Hope this helps.

about:blank is something you can change your default homepage to if you don't want a homepage. There may be hijacks that change your homepage to about:blank but that's like a favor. Faster load times into internet explorer. =P

if you say so. All information I have on it says it's a virus that sends my surfing habits to affiliated websites to give me specific pop-up ads. When I'm on UM, I always get pop-ups for Psychic readings, Tarot stuff and the like. When I'm on hotmail, I get (strangely) links to on-line casino's.

sorry for the late reply P.A, haven't been well and it's a long way up the ladder to the loft where the computer is!

To turn on/off System Restore you go to: START, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then System Restore. It's a pretty useful feature that makes a backup of the System, so you can easisly undo changes when things go wrong. The problem can be that if you have a virus or some spyware it can keep getting saved even when you think it's gone. If you turn it off and run a cleaning program, reboot and then turn it back on, you should have a "clean" system restore point.

No it's not... it's a hijack which part of that is hard to understand... it can hardly be called a favour when it does not let you change the homepage to one you actually want to use. it is an intrusion, and is classes as malware by all major antivirus companies, including the one I work for.

Thank you for telling me something I know already. I was being sarcastic. I do this kind of thing for a living too.

Okies...I am stepping into unchartered territory because I am not a fancy schmancy IT guy (kidding guys ) but I do know that I never get spyware/ malaware anymore. I use Spybot Search and Destroy (is it still called that?) Lavasoft's Ad-Aware, and Microsoft's Anti-Spyware. I have Microsoft's Anti-Spyware running in the background and if something for example tries to hijack my browser I get a window that asks me if I permit it. I find it works well for me. Good luck PA.

Learn to convey sarcasm better then.

*hugs*

Hmm, just thought I'd update you guys on what's going on. I ran most of the programs that you all suggested, without luck. On a hunch, I downloaded Mozilla Firefox, and.... voila, problem solved. I'm sure the virus is still on my computer somewhere, and I'll still be trying to find and destroy it, but as long as it stays in Internet Explorer, I don't mind too much.

About:Blank - gone
Pop-ups - gone
speed issues - gone

Thanks for your replies guys. All the best. Problem solved (I hope ) Edit: been browsing for an hour or two now, still no issues, I think I can safely say that the problem has been solved - I guess there's no more need for this thread. MOZILLA ROCKS

Regards, PA

Having been using Firefox for a long time, I'm beginning to switch over occasionally to Opera. It's lightning fast and has a lot of neat features that Firefox or IE do not.

*meh* It's fast enough. I'm not greedy, lol.

Try these in safe mode

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/aboutbuster.html

and

http://majorgeeks.com/download4286.html

run them a few times each.

Then run this http://www.ewido.net/en/ (trial)

Even if you are having better luck with Firefox, fact remains you are probably infected with a Trojan.

In Internet Explorer you can, if you wish, set your starting Homepage to a blank page. If you do so, you will get a blank page when you open I.E. and see about:blank in the address bar. This is normal only if you've set it that way yourself.

If you didn't set I.E. for a blank page then chances are very high that your computer is infected with a trojan. You can find some info on it here:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;894269

An excellent program for preventing trojan infections and finding them is Trojan Hunter. They have a free 30 day trial version available that allows a one time only definitions update. I'd suggest you download and install that, update it and scan with it........after disabling System Restore. Trojans love to hide out in System Restore and continue to reinfect, over and over again. After scanning with Trojan Hunter, and hopefully finding and removing the trojan, you can enable System Restore again.