I have been getting popups when I am not using the computer. How do I get rid of them?

Answer 1

Pop ups are a sign that your PC is infected with spyware.

Here is a list of free scans.I would recommend running ewido first.
Spybots search and Destroy http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html?tag=pao
adaware se> http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
http://www.webroot.com/land/freescan.php
a-squared Free> http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_frame.asp
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
X -Cleaner Micro Edition scan http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Spywareguard too.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
Get free anti virus for free click here.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
http://avast.com

Answer 2

Popup blockers will only stop web based popups. They can help somewhat, but if you are getting excessive popups, and popups even when you are offline, it means you have trojan downloaders on your machine that are calling out to deliver the pop up ads.

Try a full cleaning and dis-infection routine.

This is the one I use (it will take some time).

1. Scan for virus and remove (free online scan) with BitDefender

http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/

2. Scan for trojans and remove (free online scan) with Ewido

http://www.ewido.net/en/

3. Scan for ad/spyware and remove (free download) with Spybot Search & Destroy

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html


If you are using an older version of Windows (pre XP-SP2) you may also be getting "Messenger Service" popups which are caused by Microsoft leaving the almost never used Windows Messenger Service enabled by default. This was corrected in Windows XP- Service Pack 2.

Understand that the Windows Messenger Service is completely different from, and not in any way related to, "MSN Messenger", "Windows Live Messenger" "yahoo Messenger", or any other well-known instant messaging system. Therefore, disabling the Windows Messenger service will have no effect upon your use of any other instant messaging applications. They will continue to work without trouble.


To disable this service in older versions of Windows use the free, Shoot The Messenger from:
http://www.grc.com/stm/ShootTheMessenger.htm

Good luck.

Answer 3

Let me explain, when we download any software, the spyware and adware programs along with the free version of the software will be downloaded in to the computer and it will geenrate the pop-ups automatically.
To avoid pop-up's enabled pop-up blocker on the Toolbar.

Clear cache and cookies and also clear Temp files and folder preset in the compuer.
To clear temp files on a windows computer.
click on Start -> Run, in the open field typ %temp% and click ok.
This will open temp foler, here delete all the files and folders present in it and leave which cannot be deleted.
Not to worry, deleting these files will not cause any harm nor loos to the computer.
If any Anti-Virus or Firewall applications is installed on the computer, scan the computer completely to check and remove virus if found any.

Answer 4

*You have spyware and got it from going to sites that you should not be on. Get adaware to get rid of it. Just type adaware in the address bar and you will find it. Do not get adware, it is different. You can get the free adaware or the one you pay for. On the one you pay for the program checks for spyware while you are on the internet and on the free one you have to do it yourself, so it is more time consuming BUT IT IS FREE so that is good.*

Answer 5

If you have a Yahoo! toolbar, you should have Norton Anti-Spy scanware on your computer. It's pretty effective. If you don't have the toolbar, download it asap. It's free.

Answer 6

IF YOU ARE USING WINDOWS XP, ON TH TOOL BAR,GO TO TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS, CLICK PRIVACY TAB, AND IN THE BOTTOM, CHECK THE BOX TO BLOCK POP- UPS

Answer 7

stop searching for porn.

Nun-rape is NOT attractive!