Has some sleazy web site taken over your browser? Are you getting pop up ads even when your browser has been closed for some time? Are you infected with a spyware program that refuses to go away? A Change of Pace Computer Specialists can help!

There is a despicable trend that is becoming more and more common wherein the browser settings of web surfers are being hijacked forcibly by malicious web sites and software which modifies your default start and search pages. Sometimes internet shortcuts will be added to your favorites folder without asking you. The purpose of this is force you to visit a web site of the hijacker's choice so that they artificially can inflate their web site's traffic for higher advertising revenues.

In some cases, these changes are reversible simply by going into internet options and switching them back. Not always, however. Sometimes it's necessary to edit the windows registry (gasp!) to undo the changes made. Sometimes there is even a combination of registry setting and files clandestinely placed on your hard drive that redo your settings every time you reboot the computer. No matter how often you change your settings back, they are changed again the next time you restart. There have even been cases where internet options have been removed from the tools menu by registry hacking to prevent you from controlling your own computer!

Even AOL has become a browser hijacker by placing their web site free.aol.com in Internet Explorer's trusted sites security zone, thereby bypassing the most frequently used security settings. This occurs after installing their AOL software. AOL Instant Messenger, Netscape 6.x and ICQ2001b has reportedly done this. AOL then exploits this by downloading ActiveX components to your computer without your consent.

The clues that spyware is on a computer include:
• a barrage of pop-up ads
• a hijacked browser — that is, a browser that takes you to sites other than those you type into the address box
• a sudden or repeated change in your computer’s Internet home page
• new and unexpected toolbars
• new and unexpected icons on the system tray at the bottom of your computer screen
• keys that don’t work (for example, the “Tab” key that might not work when you try to move to the next field in a Web form)
• random error messages
• sluggish or downright slow performance when opening programs or saving files

Contact A Change of Pace to schedule a visit from one of our Computer Specialists to rid your computer of these nasty bugs!