you have what is refered to as a browser hijacker ,in my sicnature you will find some programs to help .If you are ready for some work in removing these parasites.
first to do is ad-aware ,spybot ,and the online virus scan .

i've already got adaware and spy-bot but it's failed to get rid of it. Also my norton anti-virus doesn't always get rid of all the adware threats.

Is the hijacker easy to use?

Actually, it's an anti-hijacker. The page that Caperjack refers to is both a download link and a quick-start for beginners on HijackThis. I'm also writing a beginner oriented article on this subject, as well.

You do realize that you have to attempt to update the data files for both Spybot - S & D and Ad-aware before each run? If not, you may still be vunerable.

You could also benefit from using a browser with built in abilities to stop pop ups. MYIE2 runs on the IE engine without most of the security loopholes of IE. Also Mozilla & Opera are excellent browsers.

THere are several sites that advertise top searches from the web, do you know which particular site you are reffering to??? If the programs that caperjack recommended did not work, then maybe you will have to remove it manually. If you give me the details I will give it a try to find the details for you.

also did any toolbars or favourites or links appeared???

Another thing to do is to disable the Windows Messaging service, which is used by spammers to send popup window ads using SMB:

Open Control Panel

Double-click on Administrator Tools

Double-click on Services

Locate "Messenger" in the list of services.

Double-click on "Messenger"

Click on "Stop"

After the service is stopped, disable it by choosing "Disabled" from the dropdown list next to "Startup Type:"

NOTE: Another thing to disable is the Remote Registry Service, unless you have a program that you know for sure uses it.

Hi, These are the results of my scan:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 21:25:45, on 18/02/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\gearsec.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\AdvTools\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZONELABS\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOINTGR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SM1BG.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~1\PSFREE.EXE
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ZtjNI3.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\HfrR.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\msagent\AgentSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Ruth Ankrah.BABY\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\YJYNEHAN\HijackThis[1].exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = about:blank
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://my.msn.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = about:blank
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\ycomp5_3_11_0.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: POPStopperIE.CToolbar - {4B7B69EB-A00F-4FCD-B601-ACCBB86ED528} - C:\Program Files\POP-Stopper-IE\POP-Stopper-IE.dll (file missing)
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Companion - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\ycomp5_3_11_0.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SUPASTATUS] C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\status.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SO5 Integrator Pass Two] C:\WINDOWS\SOINTGR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [33#EWGG2AXLQC#] C:\WINDOWS\System32\JximoD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Advanced Tools Check] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\AdvTools\ADVCHK.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PopUpInspector] C:\Program Files\GIANT Company Software inc\PopUp Inspector\PopUpInspector.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SM1BG] C:\WINDOWS\SM1BG.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [System Soap Pro] C:\PROGRA~1\SYSTEM~1\soap.exe min
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [POP-Stopper-IE] "C:\Program Files\POP-Stopper-IE\POP-Stopper-IE.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PopUpStopperFreeEdition] "C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~1\PSFREE.EXE"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [sws.exe] c:\program files\HaldexLtd\boob3\3141917.exe -remove
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: Stop popups from this web page - C:\Program Files\GIANT Company Software inc\PopUp Inspector\denysite.htm
O9 - Extra button: Popup Eliminator (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Popup Eliminator (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...irector/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {19E28AFC-EAE3-4CE5-AC83-2407B42F57C9} (MSSecurityAdvisor Class) - http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...?1069877210022
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/yinstc.cab
O16 - DPF: {31B7EB4E-8B4B-11D1-A789-00A0CC6651A8} (Cult3D ActiveX Player) - http://www.cult3d.com/download/cult.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...22/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1408.g.akamai.net/7/1408/995...TunesSetup.exe
O16 - DPF: {41F31718-2B9D-4F76-85E2-DD11BBA99F8D} - http://install.spywarelabs.com/DistI...2501031120.EXE
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://207.188.7.150/295d8c1e261c4dc...p/RdxIE601.cab
O16 - DPF: {78A730D4-0DF3-4B65-8DD2-BFCD433CEE30} - http://www.surfsecret.com/inst/PEInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {90C9629E-CD32-11D3-BBFB-00105A1F0D68} (InstallShield International Setup Player) - http://www.napster.com/client/isetup.cab
O16 - DPF: {AD7FAFB0-16D6-40C3-AF27-585D6E6453FD} - http://dload.ipbill.com/del/loader.cab
O16 - DPF: {B942A249-D1E7-4C11-98AE-FCB76B08747F} (RealArcadeRdxIE Class) - http://games-dl.real.com/gameconsole...rcadeRdxIE.cab
O16 - DPF: {C606BA60-AB76-48B6-96A7-2C4D5C386F70} (PreQualifier Class) - http://help.blueyonder.co.uk/html/so...ivePreQual.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...sh/swflash.cab

I'll be soooo happy if you can help.

You have the peper trojan Follow these instructions to get rid of it..

1. Use the uninstall tool - download from:

http://www.memorywatcher.com/uninst.exe

double click on 'uninst.exe', let it run and terminate. You must be online to have this work and do not block any attempts for the program to connect to internet if your firewall squwaks.

Then!
You should move the hijackthis.exe file to its own folder like C
:\hj\hijackthis.exe before you run it again ,hijack creates backups and needs its own folder ,run it then post back with a new log .

I've been trying to run the hijackthis program but the link does not work and keeps coming up as the page cannot be displayed.

I'm not sure what's going on.