Stupid hijacking

Twice in the last month, my web browser has been "hijacked."

For those of you lucky enough to never have this happen, a hijacking is when your home page changes or favorites are added without your permission. This happens when you end up on a Web site with absolutely no ethics whatsoever. Then, before you know it, you have shortcuts for Golden Casino and other such nonsense all over your computer.

The one I hit yesterday was particularly frustrating. It changed my home page, and every time I reboot the computer, it resets back to what it wants the home page to be. That's really irritating in this case, since the page wants you to install a bunch of software and won't take no for an answer.

I still haven't fixed it, although I did have the sense to create a shortcut to my home page of choice (http://news.google.com) and put it where my regular Internet Explorer button was.

I just have to wonder what kind of marketing strategy this is for Web sites. The closest comparison I can think of is watching TV. You turn on the TV and flip it to your favorite show. Then someone else in the room changes the channel with another remote to a different show. You flip back. They change it again.

At what point are you just going to say, "Well, that's what they want me to watch, so I'll watch it"?

Or are you going to get beligerant, go over there and smack the other person around?

So if anyone knows who came up with this method of forcing us onto certain Web sites, warn them. I'm looking for them, and I'm bringing my circuitboard knuckles.