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Upon opening IE7 the Yahoo home page is shown. No matter what URL I enter the only site that is shown is Yahoo. No matter what I change my default home page in the Internet Options dialog box, Yahoo is all that is shown. I simply can’t use IE. How do I cure this ill? Should I just forgo IE and go with another browser?

It’s going to take a bit of troubleshooting to find the right fix for this problem as it’s uncertain whether you have a browser hijacker or a problem with your Internet Explorer. A fact to note as well is whether or not you elected to set your home page to Yahoo at one point or another using a link from Yahoo. You should try some or all of the following suggestions to try and fix the problem that you are having.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer: Possible Browser Hijack

Browser hijackers will take control of Internet Explorer and set the home page to a particular website, refusing to allow the user to change it. In some cases, this change comes as the result of a worm or infection received through an instant messaging service, a website visit, or an e-mail attachment. Your best strategy to remove it is to make use of a good anti-virus/anti-spyware application. If you already have such a program, check for available updates for it first so that you improve the chances of removing any infections. If you don’t have an application to remove malware, I can recommend Anti-Virus PLUS for you.

How to Reset/Repair Internet Explorer

Since it is possible that your Internet Explorer is experiencing a minor malfunction, resetting it could do away with the problem. In order to reset Internet Explorer, you can follow these steps:

• Open “Internet Explorer.”
• Select the option for “Tools.”
• Select “Internet Options.”
• Select the option for “Restore Advanced Settings.”
• Select the option for “Reset.”

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer: No Add-ons

If you have recently included any add-ons to your Internet Explorer browser, they could be interfering with your use of it. Try running it without the add-ons by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer No Add-ons. If it works properly and lets you use it to access other web pages, then try use one add-on at a time until you find the one that is creating the problem.

Changing Internet Explorer Home Page

The first strategy that should be used to change the home page in Internet Explorer is to use these directions:

• Open “Internet Explorer.”
• If you can select a website that you wish to use for your home page, do it at this point.
• Open “Tools”
• Select “Internet Options.”
• Select “General.”
• Select “Use Current Page.”

IE Browser vs. Mozilla Firefox Browser

You can certainly use another web browser if you prefer over Internet Explorer. I personally use Mozilla Firefox and have been very happy with it. I have been exposed to a lower incidence of spyware applications/viruses since I have started to use it as my primary browser. You can get more information on downloading and customizing it from the link above.

 Our web browsers are just like the front door– it is the access point into our daily lives. If your Internet browser is changing home pages, then there is a rogue program installed on your computer, whether your anti-virus software recognizes it or not. Your computer’s front door has a broken lock, and you need to fix it before things become more serious.

The type of infection you are describing is called a browser attack and characterized by changes in home page and pop ups that get through a regular blocker. The good news is most of these attacks are of a low threat level. At worst, browser attacks record browsing histories and transmit them to a third-party as information about an anonymous user– you. In rarer cases, log in data is also captured and sent to a third party.

Since your regular virus scanning tool and Windows Defender are not detecting a threat, it’s likely this is “too low” of a threat to register. Yes it is highly annoying, but not dangerous to private data. One disadvantage to trusting only the pre-installed or Windows anti-virus offering is they are the top targets for malware writers. Most malware is written to NOT be detected by the most popular anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, or written to take advantage of a known vulnerability in the popular software.

One cause you can rule out is Internet Explorer or Firefox causing the problem, from a software point of view. The problem is a program you accidentally authorized to install, or simply self-installed, affecting the browser software. Here is what you need to do to fix it:

* Download a new professional malware scanner and remover since they all use different threat databases. I can personally recommend Paretologic’s XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus Plus available for free demo at Paretologic.com. It’s reliable, strong, but flies under the radar of most malware developers. Think of this like getting a second opinion at the doctor’s office.

* Keep the malware scanning software running so it will check any incoming downloads, email attachments, and cookies to prevent re-infection. It is highly possible you received the threat from a regular contact or frequently visited website.

* Check your credit report and sites that you use log in IDs and passwords on for any suspicious activity. While these types of infections usually relay only anonymous surfing activity to advertisers, it is possible your passwords and log in data were compromised. If in doubt, let the company know of your computer infection and change your log in information.

* A more drastic solution is to use a different web browser, such as Opera or Netscape. Just like the top anti-malware software is the top target, the same is true for the top two browsers: Internet Explorer and Firefox. Unfortunately, this also comes with disadvantages, such as lost bookmarks, and may not work if the malware is written to affect any web browser on the computer system.