While all the advice about security devices is admirable, the LookPortal thing is NOT (at least directly) a pop-up, virus, trojan, or any other kind of "nasty" that will be particularly affected by any of them.

LookPortal is simply a search engine, like Google or any other.

Quite a number of sites do "default" a search engine other than the one you normally use, when you make searches on, or from, their site. This can be quite helpful in a few cases. Since none of the standard search engines search .org sites, for example, an art or music site may use a lesser known engine that will get more appropriate results than the one you usually use, for sites with content similar to their own.

A SITE that you visit can, at the site operator's option, elect to let you (or make you) use LookPortal when you launch a search while you are at their site. The only real difference from any other search engine is that the site operator gets paid for making you use it. They get paid because searches using LookPortal ONLY FIND businesses who have paid LookPortal for a listing.

If LookPortal opens in a "lock-up" mode, as described, it's because the site operator is incompetent (or malicious), and the correction needs to be made by complaining LOUDLY to the site affected.

If LookPortal is persistent, i.e. if it continues to be opened after you leave the site where you first used it, you are dealing with an improper, incompetent, or malicious software utility implementation - but AV, antipopup, firewalls, etc., CANT do anything about it, because, by using search on that site you told your system was ok to run that software.

The fine print probably also includes the provision that using LookPortal consititutes "doing business" with the advertisers who pay LookPortal to include them in search results, so their telemarketers can ignore your "do not call" registration - or would if they could figure out how to get you phone number.

Given the kind, purpose, and implementation of LookPortal, it would be surprising if it doesn't at least lay an AdClick cookie on you, so they can track you; but the "up front" thing is just a utility that your friendly neighborhood webmeister has thoughtfully provided to make a few bucks for himself.

It's obnoxious, useless, objectionable, and all those other adjectivals - i.e. its ADVERTISING.

As long as it only appears when you choose to search on, or from, a site that's signed up to it, none of the "protections" offered above will help, although they are mostly very good stuff for other purposes.

The only real help here is to be aware of where you are on the 'net (don't walk down dark alleys) and don't go back to sites that mess with you.

Q - What you get with the search button depends on the version of IE that you have, and on how you've set it up (Web view, Classic, etc). If you open HELP from your IE toolbar and search for "search" it should tell you how to get to the options adjustments for your version. (If you are going to use IE at all, I'd recommend that you get the latest version (IE6 SR1) and current updates. It is a significant improvement over older versions.)

John