How do I stop pop-ups that say I need my computer cleaned etc?

Question

Whether i'm on the internet or not I keep getting these pop-ups that say I need to have my omputer cleaned because they claim there are viruses and that alot of my files are infected.

Answer 1

You need an Adware removal program ... make take more than that depending on the infection, but start with this :

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware

(geez ... talk about tooting your horn ... the resume is longer than the answer...a little humility, fella (see answer before me) ....

regards,
Philip T

Answer 2

Your PC is infected with adware. Use these scans to remove it.
Both are free.

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.spybot.info/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!


After you install them, update them to get the full affect.

Answer 3

One of the first applications built to find and remove adware and spyware, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition's excellent reputation is well justified. The sky-blue, skinnable interface features five buttons. The first two, Status and Scan, lead to the core function of the application. These buttons initiate a scan of your files for adware components. After scanning is complete, the program presents a summary of results, followed by a list from which you select exactly which components to remove. Right-clicking an individual entry gives some information about the piece of suspected adware, though we would like more details.

Ad-Aware SE can alert you to more malignant forms of malware by separating items into critical and negligible categories. The third button, Ad-Watch, is nonfunctional in the Standard version. The fourth button, Plug-ins, shows you which Ad-Aware plug-ins are installed. The fifth leads to the help files.Ad-Aware SE does an excellent job of quickly finding and removing most adware and spyware components, although you will have to restart and rescan for a seriously infected machine. We were pleased to see an auto-update feature included with the program, keeping Ad-Aware up-to-date with the latest adware components. Ad-Aware SE should be part of your arsenal for keeping your machine free of adware and spyware components.

http://lavasoftusa.com/
Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.spybot.info/

Answer 4

If it is the messenger service and the messages are in small windows then try this from Microsofts site.

You may receive an Internet advertisement in a Messenger service window. The advertisement contains text that is similar to the following text:

Messenger Service
Message from source to your_computer_name.ISP_name on date time
Message Text

These messages are also known as "messenger spam.

To shut the service down:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).
2. Double-click Administrative Tools.
3. Double-click Services.
4. Double-click Messenger.
5. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
6. Click Stop, and then click OK.

I always turn this service off anyway.

Answer 5

You need to install and run a Spyware removal tool such as Counter Spy, Windows Defender, or Adaware.

Answer 6

I paid a techie guy to come to my house and have a look at my computer and he recommened a "ad-aware". I believe the website is just that. It's amazing and it finds critical objects (like pop ups) so you can delete them. Otherwise, my only advice is to make sure you have a virus program like Norton.

Answer 7

Use the free security tools that come with the Yahoo toolbar to clean the pop ups and other undesirable Internet bugs. Then follow the steps bellow to do a thorough clean up of your PC.

HOW TO DO A THOROUGH CLEAN UP:
Before doing any of the maintenance steps outlined below make sure that your system is free from viruses and/or of any other undesirable Internet bugs, by running a thorough security scan of your machine.
Now, do the following as needed:
“I” (FOR WINDOWS XP-IE6)
While you are connected to the Internet do the following:
1. Click on tools ... Internet options. There you will see three buttons next to each other... “Delete Cookies” ... “Delete Files” and “Settings.” Also, below the settings button you will see another one “Clear history.”
2. Click on “settings” - go to “Edit” - Click on “select all” - Go to files, click delete and wait till all Internet trash files are gone.
3. Go back and click on “delete cookies” and wait till all cookies are gone
4. Go back and click on “Delete files,” put a check mark on the little white square shown on the small window that will open, click OK and wait for a little.
5. Go back and click on “Clear history”, click “yes” and you are done. Go to item “III” now.
ADDITIONAL INFO.: Here is how to clean website addresses from you IE6 browser bar: While you are connected to Internet, go to “Tools” … “Internet Options,” “Content” tab … “Auto Complete button” … click on “clear forms” and you are finished.

“II” (FOR WINDOWS XP-IE7):
Go to Start … Control Panel … Internet Options. Under “Browsing history” click “Delete” and then click “Delete all,” put a check mark in the little white square and then click “Yes” and you are done. Go to Item “III” now.

“III” (FOR BOTH WIN-IE6 AND WIN-IE7)
1. Do a check disk and a defrag, then restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved. It is assumed that you know how to do a check disc and disc difragmentation.
2. If the above steps don’t do the job, here is a little program that keeps your machine in shape and free from Windows micro-problems that lead to slowness and crashes:
Get on the web and go to http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/site; download the free trial program, familiarize your self with it and use it to clean up your registry automatically along with a sort of other helpful and useful maintenance chores. It is an excellent little program and does wonders with PC maintenance tasks and I strongly recommend it! It works on the background on its own automatically.
3. After you are through with the above maintenance steps, go to Microsoft/Windows updates and download any and all available and/or applicable updates.
Hope this helps!
NDS

Answer 8

Hi. You may also have ad ware. There is a free program called "AdAware SE" that does a good job of finding and removing these pests.

Answer 9

it is ironic that those popups telling you you need spyware protection are usually made by spyware....

i recomend running spyware search and destroy, to get rid of any thing you have. (freeware, available here: http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html) also you can reduce popups in general by changing your pop up blocker settings. for IE 7.0, it is under tools>>>popup blocker

Answer 10

you have ad ware and/or spyware on your pc that make these popups. use spybot search and destroy and the norton's anti spyware found on your yahoo tool bar to get rid of them.