BrowserClean.txt
                     Cleaning Up Your Browser
                     ------------------------
                     
   "Browser Hijackers" are the fastest-growing segment of the Malware 
   world, and one of the hardest to remove.  Their purpose is solely 
   commercial, to get money from advertisers by selling your clicks.  
   The site 2-Spyware.com has 30 pages of malware listings!

How do I know if my browser has been hijacked?
   a. Your home page or other settings have changed. New links take 
      you to websites that you'd usually avoid.
   b. An endless barrage of ads pops up on your screen.
   e. Your browser runs sluggishly, with frequent pauses.
   c. You can't navigate to certain web pages, such as antispyware and
      other security software sites.
   d. New toolbars or Favorites link to web pages that you don't want.
   e. As a bonus, hijackers frequently record your searches and send 
      them 'home' for sale to advertisers.

I've been Hijacked!  How do I get rid of it?
   First, run the usual Malware scanners and remove any evil programs 
   you find.  But hijackers do most of their work in your browser, not 
   in the system itself, which means that you'll have to undo it to 
   get back to normal.  Here's what to do:  

For each browser:
-----------------
   1. Reset the homepage.
   2. Remove unwanted extensions/add-ons
   3. Fix the default search engine
   4. Reset the browser options.
         
Resetting the Homepage
----------------------
   For a short tutorial (3 min) on how to reset your homepage, see 
   Hank's mini-seminar at 
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQkbKnP0NdQ&feature=youtu.be

Cleaning Up Shortcuts
---------------------
   If you've reset your homepage but the browser is still displaying 
   something else, it's probably because the malware has fiddled with
   the browser's Shortcut.  Do this:
   a. Go to Start Menu, Right-Click on the browser shortcut.
   b. In the General tab, look at the 'Target' field.
   c. If there's anything to the right of the program name (separated 
      by a space), that's telling the browser what page to start with. 
      That's the problem.  Remove it.
   (If your homepage is OK, you don't need to do this.)

If All Else Fails:
------------------
   Uninstall the browser, then download and install a brand new one.
   
Internet Explorer (11)
----------------------
      The 'Tools' icon is the gear at the right of the Address bar.
   1. Reset the homepage   
      Tools, Internet Options, General, 'Home page'

   2. Remove unwanted extensions
      Tools, Manage Add-ons, 'Toolbars and Extensions'
      Select unwanted add-ons, click 'Disable'

   3. Restore the default search engine
      Tools, Manage Add-ons, Search Providers
      Select your the one you want, click 'Set as default'
      Select any unwanted ones, click 'Remove'   

   4. Reset the browser options
      Tools, Internet Options, Advanced
      Click the 'Reset' button
               
Google Chrome (36.0)
--------------------
      The 'Menu' icon is at the right end of the address bar
   1. Reset the homepage   
      Menu, Settings, 'On startup', 'Set pages'
      
   2. Remove unwanted extensions
      Menu, Tools, Extensions
      Select each unwanted add-on, click the trash can icon
      
   3. Restore the default search engine
      Menu, Settings, Search, 'Manage Search Engines'
      Select the one you want, click 'Make default'
      Select any unwanted ones, click the 'X' to remove
      
   4. Reset the browser options
      Menu, Tools, Extensions
      Settings (left corner), 'Show advanced settings (bottom)
      scroll to bottom
      Click 'Reset browser settings'


FireFox (30)
------------
      The 'Menu' icon is at the right end of the address bar
   1. Reset the homepage   
      Menu, Options, General

   2. Remove unwanted extensions
      Menu, Add-ons, 'Extensions'
      Select each unwanted extension, click 'Remove'

   3. Restore the default search engine
      Click on the icon at the left of the Search bar
         (Right side of address bar, with the magnifying glass)
      Click 'Manage Search Engines'
      Select any unwanted ones.  Click 'Remove'         
      Select the one you want.  It's now the default

   4. Reset the browser options
      Menu, Help Menu (? icon), 'Troubleshooting info'
      Click on 'Reset FireFox'
      
Dan Covill
SCG - July 2014