Summary: Links to sites that you haven't been to can appear for various reasons. You can begin by checking for spyware.
There are many links to several pornographic websites in my favorites. I don't know how they got there because I didn't put them there. I have tried to delete them by right clicking and deleting them from my favorites menu but in a matter of days they are back there again whether I use my computer or not. Do you have any suggestions on how to permanently delete them?
Indeed, I do.
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Some sites, not always but often pornography related, are notorious for using all sorts of underhanded techniques to put their advertising on your computer and in your face. Hijacking your favorites or bookmarks is definitely one of those techniques.
My first recommendation is to run a spyware scanning program such as Spybot Search and Destroy or AdAware. What happens is some site or software will install software on your machine that periodically puts things in your favorites list or makes other changes without your knowledge. The spyware scanners look for various known offenders and remove them.
The second recommendation would be to watch what you install. What may seem like a helpful toolbar, or handy utility may occasionally include spyware as additional payload. In fact, you may have even agreed to the spyware when you accepted a license agreement! The only toolbar I recommend is Google's. There are several others out there, some of which are good, others of which are known to be very invasive and big offenders.
Finally, I've caught myself a time or two inadvertently adding things to my favorites without even realizing it. CTRL+D in my email program means "delete" so I'm in the habit of using it when I've finished reading an email. In IE however, CTRL+D is a shortcut to "add to favorites" which adds the current page to your favorites list. After reading a web page it's an easy mistake to make.
Related:
- Ask Leo! - How do I keep my computer safe on the internet?
- Ask Leo! - I suspect spyware or a worm, how do I get rid of it?
- Ask Leo! - Spyware: How do I remove and avoid spyware?
Article C1959 - May 30, 2004
somehow
Posted by: ron at September 6, 2006 12:47 PMevery site I have gone to will pop up when I start to type in the IE search bar. Is there anyway to delete some of the links that pop up in the search bar? I don't want to delete my history, I just want to prevent it from scrolling random links down the search bar.
try downloading index.dat suite it gets rid of all unwanted history
Posted by: pinky at October 24, 2006 12:40 PMPorn videos keep popping up on my computer....please help me to get rid of it!!!
Posted by: sandy at January 7, 2007 5:51 PMMy husband tried a few things , but they keep coming back.
We have wireless and high speed unsecured. Very recently 100's of porn sites have shown up on our address bar when we type in things . Why we have a lap top with windows
Posted by: Penny Pfizenmaier at February 4, 2008 6:09 AMI just set up a website about 4 weeks ago and am now finding links to my website that should not be there.
Posted by: Stephen Zimmett at February 4, 2008 6:29 AMI emailed the link party with no luck. Trying to get important links is very important and time consuming. However there are certain links I do not want. So how do I remove them thanks
I was able to have someone spend hours on my computer and clear out all the bad stuff and I then put a security on my high speed access and this has solved the probelm. Some one was apparently tapping into my unsecured wireless.
Posted by: penny pfizenmaier at March 4, 2008 7:29 AMI am furious that my name appears on many porno websites. GOOGLE and YAHOO should be responsible for allowing these sides to appear and disgrace my family's name. What would you recommend that I should do to have them remove my name from their websites?
Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Posted by: John Manousso at May 15, 2008 10:12 AMJohn Manousso
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I don't actually agree that Google and Yahoo should be held
responsible. That's like blaming the newspaper delivery
person for the news, or the weatherman for the weather.
Unfortunately there's little to be done. This article covers
more:
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_remove_myself_from_the_search_engines.html
Leo
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Someone has taken my email address and uses it to send me emails about XXX Angelina Jolie videos and ads for viagra. I am a 59-year old grandmother of 10 and am not interested in that garbage. Is there any way, other than changing my email address, to stop these messages???
Posted by: Etta Wilder at August 3, 2008 8:41 AMhow do i get rid of these porh links that keep coming back in my emails
Posted by: johnny at June 10, 2009 10:45 AM