Using Internet Explorer, set your browser's security settings at a high level, disabling automatic enabling of any scripts (scripting, java, active-x, etc.). There are now many web pages and programs with "spyware" "hijack-ware" and other scripts that will alter your computer's settings or data without your permission. Also, when you receive emails with attachments, don't open the attachement unless you know the sender and are expecting them to send an attachment. Email attachments can contain viruses or other disruptive scripts. You should also be sure that your email browser has also disabled running of scripts, since these can hijack your computer when the browser runs a script contained in a message. Firewall programs and other computer security applications can help monitor and block files and connections that are hazards to your system
Once your computer is "infected" by a hijacking script or virus you will need to have a virus checker or spyware remover program find and delete it, or else search the internet for information about your specific issue and find details for manual removal. Changed Internet Explorer settings will have to be reset using your registry editor. Making these security adjustments should also help stop pop-up ads. Also, disabling scripts through Internet Explorer or via a spyware/pop-up blocker program may limit the display of some web sites you want to view, so you can just relax the settings for when you want to view a known "safe" web page. Spyware scripts have become increasingly insidious and pervasive, so you may want to install a Firewall program, (I like Agnitum Outpost), and also check for spyware intrusions with programs like Ad-aware, HijackThis, and Pest Patrol. First test trial versions of these programs if you can, in case a program is not compatible with your system or other software you are running. Recent tests have shown that a majority of PCs connected to the Internet are infested with spyware/hijackware/viruses of some kind. The Firefox browser is considered safer than Internet Explorer, but may not properly display some websites, so you may wish to have both browsers installed.
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