I have one. Everytime I open internet explorer, this happens....

I googled 'ircfast2' and it brought up this thing about 'potentially unwanted applications'. How do I get rid of it please? :(

Thanks,

compooter f*cktard

Is that the internet page that normally comes up, or do you normally have something like brisky or Orange up. If so you can change the home page in tools>internet options.

Adaware can get rid of some unanted applications and normally add & remove programmes in control panel show them up.

I normally have google, but now its surrounded by this thing :confused:

go onto Google then click on internet options and set the current page as your homepage, shut it down and open it and see if it still comes up.

IIRC it's a bit more devious than that and buries itself in the registry. Do you have any antivirus software/anti-spyware software on your PC? That might be able to clean it up without you getting your hands dirty

Chris

Click on the FAQ section (lower right hand side), and you will come to this paragraph:

Why has my home page changed?

We only change the home page if you accept the conditions in the download application.

Future home page changes will never be blocked.

You can change your home page whenever you like, below are some of examples of how to do this:

go to Google and at the bottom of the page you will see a link that says: “make Google your homepage”

from your browser go to tools/internet options and you can change your homepage to whatever you like.

Download this application and it will guide you through the steps on how to do this.

If you were unable to remove the home page in this way, it is because you have an antivirus application preventing this. You must temporarily disable the antivirus (or antispyware or firewall), change the home page and re-activitate the antivirus.

If you need anything else or have any query please contact us.

Fordfan, I wouldnt trust any site that had hijacked my browser.

I'd be running ad-aware and spybot in both normal and safe mode.

Many hijacks also now open backdoors and install key loggers. So i'd be very carefull about what you do on your PC until it's gone. If you can, use an online AV scanner to check your PC such as from Mcafee's website.

I've run AVG on it and it found a couple of things in a photomatix program I was sent ages ago, but this is lots more recent than that?.....

Someone give me really simple step by step instructions, I am very dumb with stuff like this....

Fordfan, I wouldnt trust any site that had hijacked my browser.

I'd be running ad-aware and spybot in both normal and safe mode.

Many hijacks also now open backdoors and install key loggers. So i'd be very carefull about what you do on your PC until it's gone. If you can, use an online AV scanner to check your PC such as from Mcafee's website.

Yes I agree 100%, I got to that page through a Google search and haven't dowloaded anything and my homepage hasn't been hijacked.

Loz to change your home page, open Internet Explorer and navigate to the page that you want as your home page. Then click on the tools menu and go to internet options, under the general tab there will be an option to use the current page as your home page, click 'use current' and then 'OK' and it should be done.

I'd strongly advise you to steer clear of online banking or shopping on that machine until you are sure it's clean.

You can download for free

Adaware Ad-Aware 2007 Free - Lavasoft

Spyware Blaster Javacool Software - Downloads

And failing that you can move onto

HiJackthis Merijn.org

But you'll probably need some help using ^

If it's very recent you might have a restore point within XP to roll back to before the nasty got on.

BTW Stop using Internet explorer if you can and switch to Firefox

Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable

These nasties find it much harder to get on your machine through FF.

Dont forget the mighty spybot search & destroy!

The home of Spybot-S&D!

I have found this latest version of AdAware very disappointing. You could also try something like trend micros housecall as you dont have to physically install anything!

Trend Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro UK

Hope they help

Also, Couldn't agree more on the firefox front!

I'd strongly advise you to steer clear of online banking or shopping on that machine until you are sure it's clean.

You can download for free

Adaware Ad-Aware 2007 Free - Lavasoft

Spyware Blaster Javacool Software - Downloads

And failing that you can move onto

HiJackthis Merijn.org

But you'll probably need some help using ^

If it's very recent you might have a restore point within XP to roll back to before the nasty got on.

BTW Stop using Internet explorer if you can and switch to Firefox

Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable

These nasties find it much harder to get on your machine through FF.

i tried downloading adaware and halfway through it brought up one of those things i had to verify, so I did and then it said it wasn't a valid file or something and cancelled it

Try the housecall link posted earlier. It sounds like quiet a nasty problem, its these situations where AVG falls over and struggles.

also look in add/remove programs in control panel for ircfast.

Also look here for removal guide.

Spyware and Adware Removal - Ircfast

Also look here for removal guide.

Spyware and Adware Removal - Ircfast

Oh dear god, I can't do that! I don't understand it! :(:(

i tried downloading adaware and halfway through it brought up one of those things i had to verify, so I did and then it said it wasn't a valid file or something and cancelled it

I'm not too sure what you mean.

The file might have gotten a bit mushed up when you downloaded it. You might just need to give it another go.

You could also try A-squared. You get 30 days free trial and the free version that gets left after that is still useful.

a-squared Free (formerly a² free) Freeware! A2 is a free of charge Anti-Trojan, Anti-Worm, Anti-Dialer and Anti-Spyware Software - optimal protection

ive used spybot, it found a couple of things, removed them, but it's still here?!

Spybot is good but tricky to use.

you might need to use more than 1 of the antispyware tools. They don't all get everything.

You'll probably need to run them in 'Safe-mode'

Don't panic!

You need to tap a function key when the machine boots to get the menu to enter safe mode

If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, booting into Safe Mode with these instructions.

* If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power

* Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

* Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

* Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

* Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

* When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

It can be tricky to time this right on a modern PC since they are so fast.

When you get into safe mode the screen will look wierd. This because the graphics card drivers haven't been loaded.

Run the scanners as normal and see if they get anything.

Lots of bits of spyware have hooks to top you removing them. Running in safe mode unhooks them.

Try that ^. If you still have no joy then we can try something a bit nastier on the b&5tard.