While this was discussed at length in the Security Forum, the effect is not unknown or never seen. Here's what I found. When the pests are removed, sometimes the pest leaves some damage to IE as it's parting shot.

There are tools like IEFIX or SFT /SCANNOW or ... others that help the owner recover from SPYWARE.

Let me be blunt. Adaware didn't cause the issue, the spyware did.

Bob