Newsletter ArchiveSUBJECT:Browser Hijackers - Banned By Google The Internet 800 Directory - http://www.inter800.com The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter This issue is for Friday, May 14, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 01. Browser Hijackers 02. Banned By Google 03. Tip Of The Week --------------------------------------------------------------------- *01 Browser Hijackers Several months back a customer was complaining to me that their Windows Explorer kept opening pop ups for porn sites and loading strange search pages. They had checked their machine for a virus, but nothing showed up. Not knowing what was causing the problem, I had them change to a Mozilla-based browser. This stopped the pop ups, but they were not able to use Explorer. Later I found out the true problem was a new group of malicious small programs that change browser settings, usually altering designated default start and search pages. These new browser hijackers have been given the name "Coolwebsearch". CoolWebSearch is a broad term, covering many different programs, each redirecting users to coolwebsearch.com and other associated sites. Once your computer's browser is infected, you are often plagued with a steady stream of pornography pop-up ads. You might find hundreds of pornography websites you never added in your bookmarks. Most versions of Coolwebsearch will drastically slow the performance of your computer. Sometime it will even cause your computer to freeze, crash and randomly reboot. Most versions can gather and transfer personal information from your computer. A couple versions add websites to Internet Explorer's "trusted sites" zone, allowing those websites to install new programs on your computer without you knowing it. Some block entrance to sites that help you remove the program and can even disable firewall programs. Coolwebsearch can automatically install on computers running Windows using Explorer that haven't patched Java Virtual Machine. In many cases, people install Coolwebsearch themselves because they have been led to believe it's a game, needed program or a plug-in necessary to view a website or movie. Thankfully there is a program that can help you remove Coolwebsearch from your machine, it's called CWShredder. It has been reported to work on all the know variants of Coolwebsearch. You will also find information in this site that can help you identify which version you might have. http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html Chuck Arning at chuck@inter800.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you paying too much for your toll free calls? Visit http://www.saveontollfree.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- *02 Banned By Google Everyday I get e-mails offering to help me get a better placement in Google or other search engines. They promise to improve my placement in another company's property. When you're a search engine key word placement is gold. It's no secret, top placement in trafficked search engine is priceless. We at the Internet 800 Directory are in this top spot in the major search engines, so we understand its value. We use key word placement to reward our advertisers -after all, they keep us in business. Why would these search engines ever allow other companies to take their profits by letting them modify the returns? The answer is they don't. Here is an article about a web site that's being banned from Google after they were caught altering the returns using prohibited measure known as "cloaking." http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3354171 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Once every second someone searches the Internet 800 Directory looking for someone to supply them with goods or services. Will they find you or your competition? Call 800-299-1879! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tip of the Week Here are some useful keyboard shortcuts. Windows Key + E Opens the Explorer window Windows Key + D Minimizes all open windows and displays the Desktop. Windows Key + F Displays the Search Result window If you have any tips or shortcuts that you think the readers of this Newsletter will find useful, send them to chuck@inter800.com Banners? Pay-per-click? Why not target your market with links or information placed in relevant content? The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter offers direct access to business people who are interested buyers. Advertising: Information on how to sponsor this publication: Call 800-299-1879 Thanks for taking the time to review our newsletter for this week. If you know of anyone that might benefit from receiving this newsletter, send them to (http://www.inter800.com/news800/ ) where they can subscribe. All Contents Copyright ©1995-2003 The Internet 800 Directory Subscribe To The Newsletter: |