"sponsored links" in internet explorer

I have downloaded some form of adware that highlights certain words in
internet explorer, turns them into links, and directs you to a page of
a particular advertiser. Does anyone know how to get rid of such a
thing. I ran spybot and it didn't clear up the problem. Maybe if I
knew the source of such a program I could better eliminate it. I
can't stand reading pages in ie with all these words highlighted. I
don't know what to do next.

 

Post your HijackThis log



-WD

 

I got fed up with the fight and moved from Internet Explorer to Opera -
never looked back!

Foz

 

I've been using Firefox and can't remember the last time I saw
spyware/malware on my PC.

But some of the folks around here get offended when you recommend other
web browsers, though. Go figure!



-WD

 

Even though my system is very well protected, I don't allow my kids to use
IE anymore. Now we use Firefox.

--Mike

 

Please follow these steps in order to clean your computer of Malware which
can include Viruses, Trojans, Worms, Spyware, Hijackers and Dialers.

Step 1:
Download Spybot and Adaware from the following locations and install them.
You should run both programs and clean up what it finds. This is to
gaurantee that you find the most malware you can installed on your computer.

Before running the scans on both programs, it is mandatory that you update
the programs. There are update options in each program when you run them.

Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download

Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

If you would like to learn more about how to use these two programs with the
proper settings you can read the tutorials below:

AD-AWARE Tutorial
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial48.html

SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY Tutorial
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial43.html

When you scan with both programs, fix everything that it finds.

When you are done with the scan and fixing the items. Please continue with
the next step.

Step 2:

It is important that you run Spybot and Adaware before you proceed with this
step. Fixing enties with Hijackthis may leave behind unwanted files on your
computer if the previous step was not done first.

Create a directory on your hardrive to save HijackThis.exe. A directory
like c:\hijackthis. If you do not do this, you will not be able to use the
backup/restore features.

Download HijackThis from:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/hijackthis.php

Save this file into the directory you made previously and then run the
program. Click on the Scan button and when it is finished click on the Save
Log button. A Notepad window will open with the contents of this log. Click
on Edit then click on Select all. Then click on Edit and then Click on
Copy.

Register an account at http://www.bleepingcomputer.com and post this created
log into the Hijackthis Logs forum at that site. To do this, once you are
registered, create a new post, right click in message area and select paste
to paste the log into the post.

An expert will reply to you after reading this post. DO NOT fix any entries
unless you are absolutely sure you know what you are doing as you may cause
more damage to the system

To see a tutorial on using HijackThis you can click on the link below.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial42.html