I want to change my Internet Explorer home page, but I think that Norton 360 will not allow it. How can I manage that?
Hi johnbee
Get the page you want loaded onto the screen then in the browser right click and click to gat a tick for the menu bar, then click tools, click internet options, click use current. Click applies. Click ok, click on Internet explorer to check your new home page.
ATB
intesec
johnbee wrote:I want to change my Internet Explorer home page, but I think that Norton 360 will not allow it. How can I manage that?
If N360 is affecting this I imagine it would be the Browser Protection setting under Settings / Web if they are the same as in NIS 2012/V19 -- so you might try that if Intesec's route is blocked.
Thanks foir the replies. I have attempted to change the home page using the usual IE method, but N360 gives a message that it is changing it back, immediately.
I have searched the N360 software and can nopt see how to do anything there with the IE home page setting. The N360 software I have has got a Settings tab, but there is nothing under that which says WEB - there are plenty of settings, but I can not find one for the Internet browser.
Are you sure this is a Norton 360 issue? Do you have any other security software installed, such as Spybot Search & Destroy or SpywareBlaster, perhaps?
Hi johnbee
Can you provide a screen capture or snip (see help and support from the start menu) of the Norton message and the URL of the page you are trying to set as your home page?
ATB
intesec
In view of intesec's request for a screenshot, hee's some addtional info on how to include an image in your post:
Thanks for the help. That shot is what happens. I have selected tools, internet options, and changed the home page to 'current', and after a few secs, that pop-up appears, which I have assumed is from Norton 360 because I don't think I have anything else which would do that. The only thing I could think of was that it is an IE setting, but I can not find one. Sorry if the shot is too big.
Incidenmtally, as usual, my version of the software talked about, MS Paint, does not have an 'edit' button or tab, so I Ctrl/V'd it.
Hi, johnbee,
That is definitely not a Norton message in your screenshot. It kind of looks like a Windows/IE security feature, as there are a few types of malware and annoyances that change your homepage for their own, often questionable purposes.
I am rescinding my earlier conclusion about StartPage, as I can find no evidence that it installs anything to prevent the user from changing to a different homepage.
Have you tried clicking on the little wrench icon that comes up in the top right corner of that notification? That may take you to someplace where you can tell it to let you change your homepage; at the very least, it should identify the program that generated the notification....
I did find a source associating the text in that notification with a program called ProtectedSearch.exe (does that sound at all familiar to you?); ProtectedSearch is described as "...an advertising supported program installed into Internet Explorer and Firefox web browsers. ProtectedSearch collects and stores information about your web browsing habits and sends this information to its remote servers in order to provide injected advertising in search results and various other places."
Are you trying to change the home page from one that you had previously selected to a new one, or did your home page change without your permission and now you are trying to change it back?
Hi johnbee
Thanks for posting the image.
The link below explains how to deal with a home page highjacker its not what you have got but the method is probably the same or you might like to search for the specific name you have?
http://www.411-spyware.com/remove-speedbit-video-accelerator
To uninstall the highjacker programme you might like to use revo after performing the above after uninstalling restart the computer?
When selecting the type of uninstall there are different options relating to depth of search it can then provide a long list in some cases of check boxes that need careful examination, it shows what boxes you need to check, its doing this to get the user to buy the pro version I think. When software is uninstalled using the windows add/remove programme it can leave some information behind which if there’s enough of it, it can cause the computer problems.
For the free version bottom of the page left hand side button, third button up.
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
ATB
intesec
intesec wrote:Hi johnbee
Thanks for posting the image.
The link below explains how to deal with a home page highjacker its not what you have got but the method is probably the same or you might like to search for the specific name you have?
http://www.411-spyware.com/remove-speedbit-video-accelerator
To uninstall the highjacker programme you might like to use revo after performing the above after uninstalling restart the computer?
When selecting the type of uninstall there are different options relating to depth of search it can then provide a long list in some cases of check boxes that need careful examination, it shows what boxes you need to check, its doing this to get the user to buy the pro version I think. When software is uninstalled using the windows add/remove programme it can leave some information behind which if there’s enough of it, it can cause the computer problems.
For the free version bottom of the page left hand side button, third button up.
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
ATB
intesec
Where has the OP indicated that the home page has been hijacked?
Thanks very much to all. It was indeed that protected seach thing. Luckily it appears in Control Panel programs and features, so it was simple to get rid of. I have not yet found out how I got it, but that should not be too difficult. I expect I was careless when downloading something - though I am usually well aware of the need to watch out. Let's hope they don't find out how to stop it appearing in Control Panel - I will definitely make representations to Norton's about it if they do that, though Norton's don't usually take any notice of my suggestions.
My guess is that Norton 360 does not count it as malware or 'a virus' because it does not reset the home page, just locks it. What I was doing is looking at possible alternatives to Google - in the old days, after Compuserve, I used Altavista but switched to Google so that I was using what everybody else used. I don't have to do that these days. (DuckDuckGo seemed Ok but the name is too silly.)
Hi johnbee,
Glad your problem could be sorted out :-)
If you consider your question answered to your satisfaction, please mark this thread solved, that way other viewers know that your question has been answered and can see the solution directly. Thanks :-)
Oh, and...
johnbee wrote:
[...]What I was doing is looking at possible alternatives to Google - in the old days, after Compuserve, I used Altavista but switched to Google so that I was using what everybody else used. I don't have to do that these days. (DuckDuckGo seemed Ok but the name is too silly.)
...the name "DuckDuckGo" could be a lot, lot, LOT worse 
Have a great day! 