computer problem

[Merlin]

Not scroll saw sorry.
I use chrome for the internet and Mozilla Thunderbird for emails.
Well just lately Windows Internet Explorer is starting up in the background (on it's own) and going into some bizzare sites, some not nice sites.
My grand kids use my computers.

Any help please.....

Merlin

[northie66]

Look in the browsing history.  If they cleared that, you could try this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070917195636AA5vCjW

But it if were me, I'd just talk to them.

If you just want to make it so that stuff doesn't come up, why don't you run a disk cleanup?

[scrollgirl]

Make sure that Chrome is your default internet browser.  There should be something in the preferences in Chrome (the 'options' maybe) that allow you to check a box and designate it as such.  Internet Explorer likes to try to take over sometimes, I find.  I wouldn't even have it on my computer but Windows requires it for some updates and some other places do too.  I use Firefox and find there are far less problems with it.  

The other thing you may want to do is run a scan from your anti-virus software.  Maybe the kids downloaded something or checked a box to change things and you need to get rid of what they may have let on there.  

I know this is vague, but it is hard to diagnose a computer remotely. I find they are all like fingerprints - no two people's are exactly alike - and different mixes of things can cause different behaviors.  But these are general things to try to see if it helps.

There is always System Restore if all else fails.  It rarely worked in Windows XP for me, but since Vista and Windows 7 came about, I have had a lot of success with it on many computers when something goes awry like this.

Let us know.  Good luck! Sheila

[Russ C]

Hey Merlin, you might have picked up some Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to infiltrate a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Go and download this and run it on you computer.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/. I use it and it works great. 

[Dawie]

Hope you get the problem sorted Merlin, I am a pc illitarate as far as those things go. Got my nephew for that. I'll ask him when he gets home from work in a couple of hours, if he comes up with something new I'l let you know.
David.

[BilltheDiver]

Merlin,  It might be worth mentioning that the Grandkids are not necessarily responsible either.  It is fairly common to go to a website innocently enough and then get hijacked into a torrent of porn and other sites with no intention of doing so.  I know your message didn't blame them, but thought this worth bringing up.

[scrollgirl]

I agree with Bill.  You can get these things anywhere.

Sheila

[Russ C]

FYI: it's called Malware.! 

[GrayBeard]

Merlin...if you are using WinXP, Vista or Win7 you really should set them up a separate "User Account" so they stay out of your configuration and then you can set all kinds of restrictions on what they can get into when you set up their version of the 'browser'.

Also might be a good idea to protect your personal "User Account" with a password so they can't get into it without your being there.

Many ways to remove the hide from the feline!

~~~GB~~~

[grampa]

Merlin , If its starting on its own and going to different sites check to see no one is hacking you remotely and if you are wireless check your security, set up a password user account and make  accounts for your grandkids that block surfing mature sites.    I have just done a scan of my wireless area and if I wanted there a 3 computers that have no security and I could use there connection and surf the web and even look around all there files.....Paul

[Merlin]

Thanks people for the replies, the problem is not with the grand kids it's with Internet Explorer just starting while I'm using Chrome.
And it's only on one computer.
I have two laptops.
On one Windows Home basic vista
the other Vista Home Premium.
Yes wireless broadband
Security ? AVG free updated daily.

I'll run this Malware program and see what happens, as for being remotely hacked I have know idea where to start on that one.

Merlin

[GrayBeard]

Is your wireless network 'password protected'?

If not you should do that ASAP!

~~~GB~~~

[Merlin]

GB: no idea, two separate computers not networked??
How does one p/w protect from being hacked from the internet.

I d/loaded the malware program that Russ mentioned and it has worked, hell trogens, adware and the like, since I ran the program and deleted all the nasties and the firewall was turned off (bugger) on now.
Keeping fingers crossed, Windows Internet Explorer has not turned on since..

Merlin

[GrayBeard]

Are you running Windows XP, Vista or Windows7?

Let me know and I will write you a PM with the steps to get your user account P/W protected.

~~~GB~~~

[Merlin]

GB I'm running Vista on both computers, on one Home Basic and the other Home Premium.
They are not networked (linked in anyway), I wanted them like that for security reasons, now I find I have them (bugger).

Merlin