I realize the problem may be some kind of malware, but I thought I would ask in the general desktop forum before bugging the folks in the virus forum, especially since I have antivirus installed and don't tend to click on random links or download things if I don't know what they are.

The problem: IE keeps randomly opening and displaying the message "Navigation to the web page was canceled"; URL is about:/custom_signon/bodies/STB_Connect.asp

My actual browser is Chrome and I never use IE for internet stuff. I even avoid Windows Explorer for navigating to files on the computer.

I can't just uninstall IE, since it's a Windows box and I have to use Windows because I have to use MS Word for my work.

No, it's not in my startup folder.

No, it's not scheduled anywhere that I can find in the task scheduler.

Changing the proxy settings makes Chrome stop working, and there is no way I can find (that works) to keep Chrome from using the same preferences as IE.

Panda antivirus says I'm clean; so did a scan from Trend Micro Housecall.

My Google-fu is not helping at all.

Mostly it's just really annoying to have the window pop up in the task bar when I didn't tell it to open. It's been happening since the beginning of December. I have three profiles set up on the computer, and it happens in all three of them; there is no trigger that I can identify, as sometimes it happens when I first log in, sometimes it happens when I'm reloading a web site to see if it's updated (different ones every time), and sometimes it happens when I'm working on something completely separate from the internet.

Other system specs:
Acer Aspire 5552-7420
AMD Phenom II X2 N660
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250
Windows 7
Laptop purchased mid-August 2011

Any ideas? Should I go re-post in the virus forum? Help is very much appreciated! (My husband's solution to any problems I have is that I should just switch to Linux, but see above about my work requirements to know why that's not an option.)

Hi Karalianne

Microsoft say Navigation is canceled when you browse to Web pages that are in different Internet Explorer security zones

After you install security update 961260 (MS09-002) on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, you may experience a problem when you visit some Web pages that are in different Internet Explorer security zones. When the problem occurs, you receive a message that resembles the following:

Navigation to the webpage was canceled


So What version of IE are you using?
If its not the latest version iy might be a good time to update it.

Microsoft go on to say
This problem occurs because Internet Explorer 7 switches Protected Mode settings when certain Web pages are configured in the Trusted Sites area of the Security tab of the Internet Options dialog box. By default, Protected Mode is set to Off for Web sites that are configured in the Trusted Sites area.

To resolve this problem, install the most current cumulative security update for Internet Explorer. To install the most current updates, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://update.microsoft.com



Jim23

Hi Jim23, thanks for responding.

The thing is, I don't use IE for anything. I only use Chrome to browse the web, and IE is opening without me telling it to do so. Updating a program I never use except as it's necessary for using Windows seems kind of ridiculous. It should also be the most recent version of the program anyway, as I got the computer in August and it was pre-loaded with Windows 7. I always set updates to run automatically, as well, so if there's a new security update, it should have installed already, shouldn't it?

OK Karalianne

OK Let's try setting IE to run with no add ons

First go Start and select/All programs/Accessories/System Tools/IE With no ADDONS
IE will open and report Internet Explorer is currently running with no add-ons
Close IE. Can you now use your PC without IE randomly starting?

If not we can reset IE to its default settings and clear its history

Start IE. Now in IE from the menu at the top select Tools/Internet Options in that window select the advanced tab.
Now select the reset advanced setting button.
Click apply and OK
Now select tools and Internet options again and select the security tab.
Now select the Reset all zones to default level.
Select apply and OK and restart IE to allow the changes to take effect.
Now in IE select Tools and the Delete Browsing History.
Since you don't use IE untick the box Preserve Favorite websites data
You should now have selected
Temporary Internet Files, Cookies and History. Now select Delete. This will clear
your IE History. You can now close IE and continue as before
Try using your PC to see if the problem as now gone away.

Jim23

Thanks, I did that and it seems to have worked, for the most part.

Something weird is going on, though, in that I did all of that and shut down the computer and then the next day when I booted up again, IE opened for no reason again. I reset it to factory and no problem since; I guess I'll see what happens when I boot up tomorrow.

Originally Posted by karalianne

Thanks, I did that and it seems to have worked, for the most part.

Something weird is going on, though, in that I did all of that and shut down the computer and then the next day when I booted up again, IE opened for no reason again. I reset it to factory and no problem since; I guess I'll see what happens when I boot up tomorrow.

Have you at sometime in the recent pass done a Virus scan and your scanner as found and removed a problem?
If so it could just be possible that the virus made changes to you IE and although virus was removed by your virus scanner
The changers it made to IE still remained.
Doing the changes I suggested and resetting it to its default settings could have reversed those changes.
If the problem persists and because you say something weird is going on.
I would suggest you go here Spyware, Adware, Viruses and Malware Removal
Read and follow the instructions in the Sticky's
Just to make sure your problem is not virus related.

Jim23