Hi Laura - This is the lop parasite.  Get AdAware and SpyBot S&D, below,
update them before running and run both.

For the general hijack case, the best way to start is to get Ad-Aware 6.0,
Build 181 or later, here:   http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/.
Update and run this regularly to get rid of most "spyware/hijackware" on
your machine.   If it has to fix things, be sure to re-boot and rerun
AdAware again and repeat this cycle until you get a clean  scan.  The reason
is that it may have to remove things which are currently "in use" before it
can then clean up others.

Another excellent program for this purpose is SpyBot Search and Destroy
available here:  http://security.kolla.de/  SpyBot Support Forum here:
http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi.   I recommend
using both normally.  After fixing things with SpyBot S&D, be sure to
re-boot and rerun SpyBot again and repeat this cycle until you get a clean
"no red" scan.  The reason is that SpyBot sometimes has to remove things
which are currently "in use" before it can then clean up others.

Note that sometimes you need to make a judgement call about what these
programs report as spyware.  See here, for example:
http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm

Once you get this cleaned up, you might want to consider installing the
SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard here to help prevent this kind of thing from
happening in the future:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/spywareblaster.html (Prevents malware Active
X installs)  (BTW, SpyWare Blaster is not memory resident ... no CPU or
memory load - but keep it updated)  The latest version as of this writing
will prevent installation or prevent the malware from running if it is
already installed, and it provides information and fixit-links for a variety
of parasites.
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html (Monitors for attempts to
install malware)  Both  Very Highly Recommended.

See if any of this helps and post back with your results.

Hi Laura,

Get ToolbarCop:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

ToolbarCop removes the Toolbars, Toolbar buttons and unwanted
menu-extensions from Internet Explorer. It does not remove the spyware from
the system entirely.

Additionally, run Ad-Aware scan (www.lavasoftusa.com). Update Ad-Aware
before scanning

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

~  Please reply to newsgroup ~

hello,
not sure if i have explorer 5.5 .. was loaded with
windows XP in august of 2002.
ANyway, somehow, my browser has been taken over by a
toolbar that I did not install and that I can't remove.
is there anyway to remove a toolbar?  its a search bar
that pops back even when I choose not to show it, and the
headings of the bar change for different sites i go to.
I imagine its with some sort of tracking software, and
even adaware doesn't seem to be able to get rid of it.
also, this programs i think called TEFS, hijacks my
homepage, and reroutes me through it and then to my
desired homepage.  How do I get rid of these 2 bugs! help!