Wi<i></i>nd<i></i>ow<i></i>sXP/2000 tip, lock your home page set
 

If your happy with your home page [set in default] then lock it up

In "Run..." type
gpedit.msc
in the left pane is
User Con<i></i>figur<i></i>ation
Adm<i></i>inistrative Tem<i></i>plates
then click once on [highlight]
Internet Explorer
in the right pane is
Disa<i></i>ble changing home page settings (enable it...<right mouse>)

This will shadow-out that setting in Internet Options on IE and any
attempts at hijacking will be bouncing off you like water off a duck's
back.

Of course to change your home page you "dis<i></i>able" the setting, make
the change, and "enable" it again. All this is done on-the-fly so there
is no need to reboot.

You can all thank M$ for that little ditty. If your feeling exploratory
there are other settings in there. Don't go too far though you don't
want to enable anything your not absolutely sure of what it does
or you may not be able to boot up.

nice tip, but I ditched Internet Explorer
much less hassles ever since I did