Internet Explorer--HELP!!!!

Hey there, guys!
I'm writing this for my friend, whi no longer has access to the internet, because of reasons I'll tell you here.

A couple of days a go, he connected to his IP Network (voyager.net) just as usual. However, when he tried to access Internet Explorer, his only browser it gave him some message about his Age Cutoff. He can't even access the Internet, which he only used to view his home page, the news, baseball forums, and some research about Ford. Well, this guy's an engineer for Ford and a C programmer--of course he's old enough. Even worse, some one also changed his password to access the part of the Control Panel you use to manage age levels.

What's going on here?

Oh yeah. I forgot to say--the OS is Windows 98

It's most likely that your friend has been trojaned.

Follow these steps :

[1] Up-date his antivirus program and then do a full system scan.
[a] If he doesn't have an antivirus program then either :
-- tell him to purchase one
-- download a free one
**AVG Free Edition
-- use one of the free online virus scanners available
**Housecall Trendmicro
-- trojan removal program
** You can try it before you purchase it, but it's worth it.
**MooSoft Development - The Cleaner

I almost forgot that he couldn't use his internet explorer. How about telling him to uninstall internet explorer and then reinstalling it ?? Also you could download the programs for him and then burn them on to a cd.

Thanks for the help!!!!!

I'll call him

If your friend needs a browser, you can download the OffByOne browser to a floppy
and install it on his computer.
Caveat- it doesn't support java.

http://www.offbyone.com

Let us not neglect the importance of a GOOD FIREWALL....it helps keep those jerkwads from getting in and mucking around in the first place.

www.agnitum.com , home of Outpost firewall would be a good place to start.....

Yeah, he was using Symantic's firewall, I think it came with Norton System works. I personally like MaCafee, and ZoneAlarm (probably 'cause it's free).

If I was you I'd use "Firebird" it's based on Mozilla but it's realy great. It's still beta but. It supports almost every Operating system out there I have FreeBSD, SuSE, and XP all using it.

you could use HiJackThis
get it here

Quote:

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it gave him some message about his Age Cutoff. He can't even access the Internet, which he only used to view his home page, the news, baseball forums, and some research about Ford. Well, this guy's an engineer for Ford and a C programmer--of course he's old enough. Even worse, some one also changed his password to access the part of the Control Panel you use to manage age levels.

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I do not understand this, there is nothing in IE about "age cutoff" that I can see, or find in the helpfile.

There is a content advisor but that is based on sites and content.

Control Panel does not manage IE..............there is a link to it, but IE is managed from within IE.

A password to access part of the control panel.....................not in Win98 IMHO :eek:

Does he have some sort of parental control software running, that has gone haywire? If so, boot into safe mode and delete it!

This behaviour does not match Win98 and IE..............something else is doing it, I am sure......either malware or third party software?

Cheers

Accessibility Options are not particularly related to age and neither is access to the control panel (win98). I couldn't find anything at the MS web site dealing with age management levels either. If it's his personal computer then hopefully, it just some lariat yanking going on. Someone could be messing with your friend with a baby-sitting program, malware, your friend could be messing with you or you could be messing with us. However, since someone did change the password, then who knows what else they may have placed on the computer. He needs to make sure it's free of virus's etc.

The previous folks listed some things that will free his computer of virus/trojans etc and after your friend accomplishes those; assuming that someone had physical access to his computer, most Setup Utilities will allow you to set a password to prevent unwanted access to system and/or setup. Just have him follow the User's Guide for his Mainboard to set the password. Just a note, a screen saver password (win98) will not keep someone out they can just reboot the box. However this time when they reboot they will have to enter the correct password to gain access before any OS loads. That should keep the average prankster out.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Win98 and access to control panel...
I dont think it is possbile to restrict access to system folders in Win98.....

Has ur friend ever tried installing any Firewall, it could also be psiible if the are any changes done to Internet settings.... Ensure that ur friends IE does not point to some proxy..

Typically if u use some web speed enhancement programs and once the trial gets over... it does give a smilar form of problem....... Just ask to verifiy the complete Internet Settings options... especially the connection part of it.....

maybe run spybot too

Thanks for the help guys!

I'll give him some of your suggestions. Unfortunately, we haven't gotten anything to work so far.

Hi Nielsosky13,

Can you tell us which of the suggestions you have tried + any messages you might have had?

As I suggested earlier, there appears to be something "extra" running on that box? This is NOT Win98 or IE behaviour.

1. How old is your friend?
2. Does he own the computer or share it?
3. Is it in a secure location (physical access)

If he is a minor, it is possible that his parents have installed something to stop him running up their phone bill and cruising prOn sites?

If he is sharing the machine then someone is probably "pulling his wire"

:)

Ok

My friend is about 45 years old, and yes, he owns the computer. I don't think he shares it with anyobdy....

I tried telling him to run a full system scan with Norton AntiVirus, like one of you suggessted, but he reports that the result was nothing.

OK,

Does he have children? they might have done it as a joke.

He needs to scan in SAFE MODE

Also get HijackThis, run it, and post the log here.

Cheers

well, all these posts have some points your friend's computer had been trojaned or third party.

i suggest check all the autostart programs with computer, delete some wired programs.
if a password had been changed that meant some one found out his password, or crack his password. so somebody is making fun with your guys.

if nothing workout, i think you just uninstall all the programs which caused programs, and reinstall them, or reinstall your window if you have a window's cd.

well, all these posts have some points your friend's computer had been trojaned or third party.

i suggest check all the autostart programs with computer, delete some wired programs.
if a password had been changed that meant some one found out his password, or crack his password. so somebody is making fun with your guys.

if nothing workout, i think you just uninstall all the programs which caused programs, and reinstall them, or reinstall your window if you have a window's cd.

all those posts have same ponits your friend's computer had been trojaned or third party.

i suggest you check autostart programs with computer, deleted some of wired programs if you think so.
a password had been changed that meant SOME ONE found out his password, or his word had been cracked. phone his internet company.
uninstall all the programs that caused programs and reinstall them. or if reinstall Window/ recovery cd if you have.

mistake, i didnt mean to posted three posts, sorry

delete 2 of your posts --;

Tell him check his host file, it might be the problem.

I would check the host file. He may have something in there that needs to be deleted. Click here for info on host file.

I would then scan his system with a antivirus and spyware checker (in safe mode as previously stated).

If nothing comes up I would check his network connections.

His ISP could have locked him out for some reason?.?.?.?.?

Adiz

Ok guys, here is the latest update on this.

One of his friends gave him Netscape, and now he's using that, but he really wants to get back to IE. We tried uninstalling it, but it isn't on the uninstall menu anymore he says! We couldn't even access it through a DOS-prompt!

What's this?

Quote:

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One of his friends gave him Netscape, and now he's using that, but he really wants to get back to IE. We tried uninstalling it, but it isn't on the uninstall menu anymore he says! We couldn't even access it through a DOS-prompt!

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uninstall IE? Im not sure if thats possible, but you can make it so its not your default browser anymore-

Start >> Control Panel >> Add or Remove Programs >> Add/Remove Windows Components >> Untick the box next to Internet Explorer

If you cant uninstall Netscape, you can go to IE by going to start >> all programs(or program files) >> Windows update - browse through this IE window

I am sure it is a case of some connection settings which have gone weired in your Friends IE... Netscape does not inherit the connection setting from IE hence it is able to work fine I guess...


Why not ask your friend to check Connection Option under IE options and confirm that all settings are right there.....

U never know although it looks a remote possibility it can work for ur friend....

Thanks a lot guys! I e-mailed him about his host file.

Also, does anyone think that somehow his internet explorer is set to use a proxy server that doesn't exist?

Ok guys...here's what happenned. Somehow, some one set the Content Advisor on their computer so that they couldn't access Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, no one knows the password the attacker used to do that. Does anybody know how to find it?

If someone knows where the registry entry is that holds this password, or whatever tool it is that resets it, I think they should consider PM'ing it to Nielsosky13.

Otherwise were gonna have legions of annoying horney middle schoolers coming to this site to find out how to look at porn through the parental password.