I have been using this donate-ware (it's freeware - donate if you find it
worthwhile) with great success:

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
Application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious
software.

download from:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

I even got rid of the stuff built in to Win.XP Pro (for their music player)
with no problem resulting. I run the program roughly weekly.

Good luck hunting! -Lorraine

At 01:01 AM 20/08/2004, you wrote:
>I came across this website by accident. It discusses various browser
>hijackers and how to stop them, there are several programs that you use
>together to get rid of these things, the most potent seems to be one called
>"HijackThis". This web page has links to this program and others as well as
>a good explanation of how to use them. The webpage is on a university site
>the address is:  http://www.siena.edu/antivirus/
>
>
>William Pike
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: PCSOFT - Personal Computer software discussion list
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dennis Duke
>Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 9:29 PM
>Subject: [PCSOFT] IE Explorer Hijack
>
>I don't know if you call it hijacking or what, but Internet Explorer has
>spyware or something attached to it.  When I connect to web pages, words
>such as consumer, windows, etc., are highlighted and link to advertising.
>Lately windows have been popping up for smileys and other things even when I
>don't have IE open.  I have run Ad-aware and Spy sweeper and I still have
>the problem.  Any help would be appreciated.

                         PCSOFT's List Owner's:
                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>