I'm also an @home user. If I were you I'd get a 
firewall, quick. Mine allows me to block the ad 
sites so I don't get the popups, or banners. I 
had to configure it thou.

When the @home tech installed the cable modem he 
installed an @home branded version of IE. I 
couldn't say how much of a customized version of 
IE it is because I refused to let the tech touch 
my machine. If you want to get rid of the @home 
logo on IE I think you have to uninstall IE and 
re-install a version from MS.