For the past month I've been getting a lot of windows popups, sometimes dirty ones. How can I stop it? I'm running XP, Ad-Aware SE, Zone Alarm and AVG 7.1.
2006-09-07 15:16:15 · 7 answers · asked by Daye C 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Spybot-Search and Destroy is the best software for this. It even provides realtime protection for IE 6 and is completely free.
You'll get it from http://www.safer-networking.org or http://www.download.com , (Never click on the pop ups u are mentioning)
2006-09-07 21:30:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are the popups the same ones and along the lines of a trial period has expired and / or you are required to pay a subscription. OR is it a popup that can't be closed and you have to let it run it's course before being able to close it. If the answer is yes to any of these then go straight to PART 2.
<<< PART 1 >>>
It could be caused by a number of different things - it may be adware in it's normal sense, it could be malware of it could be being caused by a program which has become installed on your computer.
Adware causes unwanted ads to appear, sometimes this is the price you pay for using free software, other times it's completely unwarranted.
Spyware is software on your computer that spies on you - which websites you go to, which programs you use and in some cases reports back on your every move including sensitive data you may key into your computer (passwords, credit card details etc).
Malware is a generic term for 'bad programs', things like viruses and worms. These can do pretty much whatever the writer has programed them to do, they may be relatively harmless or may corrupt your entire computer.
More about adware, spyware etc from Microsoft...
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/adware.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxpsp2/Default.mspx
Google Pack is an excellent set of programs which includes 6 months free subscription to Norton Anti-Virus as well as adware and spyware removal programs. There's loads of other stuff like the Google video player, Google Earth etc... http://pack.google.com
Free Anti Virus Software:
AVG - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5
Avast - http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
Clamwin - http://www.clamwin.com/
Free Adware and Spyware Removal Software:
Windows Defender - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Lavasoft Adaware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/default.shtml.en
Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/
AVG - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5
Try installing some of the above and see if that gets rid of the problem - hopefully it will. If not then continue on to part 2.
<<< PART 2 >>>
It seems probable that you have a program installed which is causing the pop-ups. The program won't be adware, spyware or a virus so it's unlikely to be detected by security software. If this is the case then you need specific instructions for the manual removal of the program and files and this can sometimes be a long winded and tricky business.
If the pop ups are for a particular product or service then try Googling the product name - this may lead you to removal instructions.
Another option is to perform a system restore - this will take your computer back to a previous state. There's more info and full instructions on this page... http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx
If nothing works then post another question and include as much info as poss about the adverts - what they're for, what site they link to, are they random or every time you perform a certain action etc etc.
2006-09-07 17:07:55 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The newest version of Internet Explorer does an excellent job of blocking 99% of the pop ups I normally encountered. Zone Alarm won't help you there because it is watching your data traffic. It thinks the pop up is just another window you requested.
Head over to the microsoft homepage and look for Internet Explorer 7.
2006-09-07 15:20:45 · answer #3 · answered by endless_smiles_2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have what is known as adware programs. AdAware SE is very good at removing these when the correct procedure and program setup is used. Go to this Microsoft site and you will be walked through the correct AdAware SE setup and computer setup to remove these popup programs.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/bugbusting.mspx
2006-09-07 15:21:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, i recommand you to use firefox with Google toolbar. which is most powerful in popup blocking.
besides, firefox can block any any poppus and disable any virus and adware, spyware on webpage, so, firefox is much safer than IE. as you know, most of the virus is spread throught internet and webpage.
firefox is much smaller than IE, so i run faster than IE.
download firefox for free:
http://www.bernanke.cn/firefox/
Best Wishes && Good Luck!
2006-09-07 21:29:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
up until a few days ago i had the same problem. even my homepage kept changing by itself! so i done a little reaserch on the matter & came across a great adware program that fixes everything. http://www.lavasoft.com/software/adaware/
The best thing about it is its free!
2006-09-07 16:11:51 · answer #6 · answered by oh sugar! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go on your information superhighway strategies then hit pop up blocker visit privateness a tab on the perfect then look below And hit pop up blocker and you will get carry of google toolbar and that blocks pop united statesto
2016-09-30 11:07:18 · answer #7 · answered by schugmann 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋