Keyboard F9 key invokes unwanted internet "Search-aide"

[Joe Funk]

Hi there;

As of a few days ago my F9 key was somehow re-assigned without my
knowledge or permission. Instead of the native behaviour, I get a small
browser window titled "Search-aide - Information at your fingertips ...",
from the Infosoft Corporation.

That leads me to ask 2 questions:
1. How can I remove the unknown program that is manipulating the keyboard? I
searched for both "Search-aide" and "Infosoft Corporation" on Google, and
there seems to be some funny business involved. The url's I found are either
useless or evasive wrt to what Infosoft Corporation actually does.
2.Can I re-assign the key myself via some built-in utility in WinXP Pro?
(Are these called keyboard hooks?)

I load ZoneAlarm and AVG6 at startup.
Now that I've become aware of "spyware, malware, BHo's and hijackers",
I've been tryinng out AdAware and HijackThis, which found and fixed a few
items. The F9 problem persists after removing all spyware etc with those 2
programs.

Joe

(I'm also posting this to microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)

[mto]

"Joe Funk" <joefunk50@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:%5mSa.461956$ro6.11163667@news2.calgary.shaw. ca...
> Hi there;
>
> As of a few days ago my F9 key was somehow re-assigned without my
> knowledge or permission. Instead of the native behaviour, I get a small
> browser window titled "Search-aide - Information at your fingertips ...",
> from the Infosoft Corporation.

What does the browser window do? Load ads, give you a search box? Does
this happen only when you are online? Can you resize the window by dragging
the frame with your mouse? Can you view source? (If you can select all and
copy it to a plain text file please.)


> That leads me to ask 2 questions:
> 1. How can I remove the unknown program that is manipulating the keyboard?

Can't answer that until we figure out what it is.

I
> searched for both "Search-aide" and "Infosoft Corporation" on Google, and
> there seems to be some funny business involved. The url's I found are
either
> useless or evasive wrt to what Infosoft Corporation actually does.

Infosoft is a well known company. This does seem to be a bit out of
character for their usual product though, so I'm not sure I'd buy the window
title. I didn't get any results of any value whatever either.

2.Can I re-assign the key myself via some built-in utility in WinXP Pro?
> (Are these called keyboard hooks?)

Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on why it did what it did. If it is some
program that will reinstall itself if not correctly and entirely deleted
then you are just banging your head.

> I load ZoneAlarm and AVG6 at startup.
> Now that I've become aware of "spyware, malware, BHo's and hijackers",
> I've been tryinng out AdAware and HijackThis, which found and fixed a few
> items. The F9 problem persists after removing all spyware etc with those 2
> programs.

ZoneAlarm or ZoneAlarm Pro? Spring for the Pro, primo adblocker and other
features make it worth every dime.

Try SpyBot Search & Destroy. That's the year's top award winner in the spy
removal category - and free. Hijack This I hear is really great if you both
know what you are doing and have something to remove that is out of the
usual. The thing took >200 files off my daughter infested machine - and
that was AFTER AdAware got done with another 247 or so.