Homepage hijack

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Homepage hijack is a term describing the changing of a user's homepage without the user's instruction to do so. Often, spyware will change the default web browser homepage or search engine. Any search entered in the address bar will redirect the URL to a spyware site. In the case of a heavy spyware infestation, opening a web browser automatically triggers a "mousetrapping" advertisement which covers the desktop.

Tools to combat a homepage hijack include HijackThis, Microsoft Antispyware, Ad-Aware, and Spybot Search & Destroy.