Mystery Tours!

The latest homepage changer is a little different and potentially a lot nastier and it works because of a security hole in MS Internet Explorer. It comes under the definition of virus, actually it's a Java Script Trojan. called JS.Exception.Exploit There's full information here. It is activated from a web page and the average surfer is unlikely to be aware of anything more sinister than several annoying browser windows popping open with a variety of ads.

By itself it is harmless all it does is change your browser's start page for you. The next time you open your browser you'll be confronted with an ad, although it may not be one you want to see. Several sites are using it to redirect you to their affiliates (who are of course paying them for the traffic!) which could easily be porn or illegal warez sites.

You can fix this one easily by simply going to "Tools/Internet Options" and changing your start page back to what you want it to be. To avoid it happening again, and also to avoid being caught by other, much more destructive, versions of this Trojan, apply the latest Microsoft security update. The structure of the code is specific and involves the illegal use of the "Applet" tag. The exploit was published in at least one security forum. More information about this vulnerability, and a link to the patch download, is available at Microsoft's Technet site.

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