Outlook Express hijacked to be MSN

My shortcuts to Outlook Express (OE) suddenly started bringing up a sign-up for MSN instead of my mail client. The MSN sign-up box didn't even offer to cancel out of it or skip it -- signing up was the only option and it takes about 4 "x'ing" out to get past it. To fix, I deleted my desktop shortcut to OE and created a new one, which works fine, but... the shortcut on Internet Explorer (IE) to email (the little envelope) still launches the MSN sign-up, even though I've made sure it points to OE through Tools/Internet Options/Programs/Email.

Q: how can I change the shortcut on the IE toolbar to OE other than through Tools/Internet Options? And how did this happen ... meaning why would MSN hijack OE? BTW, I have all sorts of anti-virus/spyware/adware utilities I faithfully run.

 

Sounds like maybe a worm or a spoofed address. Are you sure it's really Microsoft? Might be a hijacker trying to mine some information out of you. Maybe you should run HiJackThis (available on majorgeeks here) and go to this thread for info on hjow to interpret the results. It's a pain learning how to use HiJack This but well worth the effort.
Good luck
Bill

 

I found a thread on this here. A couple of possible solutions...

If you have MSN Messenger installed try this:

#2 is a good idea either way.

No MSN Messenger or that didn't fix it? Try this:

To get to 'Servers' tab:
Tools > Accounts > (select your account) > Properties > Servers