Starware is a piece of adware that tries to disguise itself as a toolbar for Microsoft Internet Explorer.  It may hijack your searches, redirecting them through its home server instead of through the search engine you were trying to use.

Firewalls often have a difficult time blocking this type of program.  Starware attaches itself to Explorer, and this being so, the firewall will simply think it is part of the browser.

Like all adware, it displays annoying pop-up advertisements.  It creates a host of directories within Microsoft Windows and can be very difficult to remove.  It may also download updates to itself and can slow your browser speed.

A free scan with SpyZooka should show all traces of Starware, as well as any other unwanted programs which may have infected your system.