drewN85

Prominent
Feb 14, 2017
2
0
510
I got a new cpu and mobo so just to avoid future problems with windows, I did a clean install with the windows media creation tool. (Windows 10)
Everything went fine.

After windows was installed, it asked me to set up the basic things and login to my Microsoft account.
So I logged in and I started to install the programs I use. First thing I downloaded was Firefox, after that Java. This is where I've got a problem.

So Java was installed then the installer wanted to check if Java was working. It opened up Internet Explorer, not Edge or Firefox(which was set to default). Well... weird, but then IE asked if I wanted to keep the new home page (Hi.ru/?4).. I kinda freaked out.. I just clean installed win10 and already a malware?? So I selected the option to reset the default homepage. I checked Edge, Firefox but their home page wasn't changed.

After this I ran a couple scans ( Malwarebytes, HitmanPro, Emsisoft, Kaspersky TDSS Killer ). They all found nothing.

I actually had this browser hijacker on my previous windows which I removed from my browsers, maybe not from IE ... oops.
My suspicion is that the InternetExplorer home page setting was somehow backed up to my Microsoft account and that's probably why it was like that.

Am I correct? Is this what may have happened? Can Internet Explorer settings even be synced?

NOTE: I downloaded every program onto my newly installed win from their official sites.


 
Solution
"...and login to my Microsoft account"

Your MS account saves and knows your settings, incl the IE and Edge browser homepage.
Usually, this is a good thing, for portability.
Not so much in this case.

drewN85

Prominent
Feb 14, 2017
2
0
510


Thanks for the quick answer.
At least it didn't open that malicious page, good thing is that it right away asked me if I would like to keep it as my home page or not.