Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

OK, I'll try to make this as brief as possible, but also accurate:
As many of you know who have been following my original post about the 'about:blank' highjacker, I've tried several approaches to ridding my system of it, and even thought a time or two I had succeeded, but found it returned each time. I finally realized WHY it continued to come back. My main security software is ASC (Advanced System Care, pro), and it had the 'about:blank' in it as my 'home page' for Chrome browser, so it was trying to accommodate me by not allowing me to change to Google.com for my home page instead. I went into ASC, entered the 'home page' settings, and changed it to read Google.com instead of 'about:blank', and that did the trick.
In addition to that little problem I picked up the virus "WebHP" along the way, so I booted up in SAFE MODE, ran "Sophos Virus Removal Tool" (free), followed by a complete scan with my Anti-virus software. NOW I can say for sure things are 'right as rain' once again. Whew!
Many thanks to all who offered help.

Navywife66 Loc: NC

Its so unreal that people have nothing better to do than mess with others. Do you have Windows or Mac? I have Macafee and also Macs from what they tell me have better systems for keeping that crap out. If I go to a website that is not secure I immediately get a message popped up warning me before the site comes up. I browse in safe mode as well. My brother in law said his system gets pinged thousands of times a day by hackers and all sorts of stuff and he said it usually is from overseas. He is an engineer and works on computers that are having to have the top protection due to his line of sensitive work. Good luck and I hope it truly is gone.
Tessa

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Thanks Navywife. Yes, Mac's are less prone to attacks for several reasons, but the virus bug has even now begun to infiltrate the Mac world occasionally. As they become more widespread, it will then be worth the idiot virus creators time to aim their poison in that direction. By hitting Windows systems, they're aiming at the larger target, hoping to gain, (in some sick way) more notoriety. Oh well, sure gives a person something to keep occupied with :-)

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

Once upon a time, it was about notoriety. Now, it's largely criminal (identity theft, credit card info, etc.), and in the broader sense of security, cyber-warfare attacks, or probes.

bemused_bystander Loc: Orkney Islands, UK

I keep picking up "snap do", I never know where it comes from

bfsampson Loc: Sequim, WA

Papa Joe,
Consider removing all of you past "System Restore" points as they will like have the malware within them. Now that you are clean create a new "Restore Point."

Bob
Sequim, WA

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

I have already done that BF, thank you for the suggestion though.