Need some help with PC on screen pop ups?

Question

On my daughters PC when you are doing...well anything really there are numerous pop ups. We have the pop-up blocker on at maximum, but still it doesn't stop them. They are highly annoying and are very frequent and not from a single site-there are numerous ones. I went into where it says to allow pop-ups from a particular site and cleared it, but no avail. Please I'd be grateful for any help. Thanks

Answer 1

get Spybot search and Destroy from http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tg=dl-20&qt=spybot&tag=srch it's a guaranteed fix

Answer 2

You may need a better pop-up blocker. Mozilla Firefox (an Internet browser - like Internet Explorer, only better) has a brilliant built-in one. Google it if you want to try it, and you will easily find a download link. AND ITS FREE! :D

Also try a few pieces of spyware cleaning things or registry cleaners. I don't know the technical stuff but they helped me! RegSupreme is a really good registry cleaner, with a free trial. download it by clicking:

http://www.macecraft.com/downloads/RegSupreme_setup.exe

(or copy and paste that link into your web browser)

Hope that helps
Phil

Answer 3

Maybe it is time that you switch browser, use Firefox which prevents a lot of popups from doing its annoying deed - pooping up just about anytime. A good antivirus as well would scan your system to check on any file / malicious code that inhibits this popups to become more frequent and prevent them from doing so.

Answer 4

Switch off System Restore as back up files may be hiding in there, and it will just restore itself. Go to Start - programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.
Run your anti virus and anti spyware in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode repeatedly press the F8 key after the bios screen loads but before Windows loads. You'll know if you made it because the screen will be at 800 x 600 and your pc will be slow.

Then beef up your security. Its easier to prevent malware getting on to your sytem in the first place rather than trying to remove it. All the following programs are free for home use;

You need to install one firewall.
The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out.
http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall OR
http://www.comodogroup.com/ - Comodo firewall.

You need to install one anti virus;
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/ -AVG anti virus or
http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/site/Main/view/Download-Free-Products.html - Bitdefender 8 doesn't run in the background and can be used as a second back up anti virus.

You need all these anti spyware programs;
http://www.ewido.net - AVG(Ewido) anti trojan.
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware. Use the Teatimer settings to protect Internet Explorer, and the Immuniser to stop malware getting on your pc.
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
Plus;
http://www.lavasoft.com - Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware

And these are useful utilities;
http://www.mozilla.com/ - Firefox web browser.
http://www.ccleaner.com - Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool
Winpatrol is a handy utility that manages cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com
http://www.siteadvisor.com -MacAffee Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.

I use Firefox and don't get pop ups.

Answer 5

When I had this problem I printed out all the answers and sat down and worked through all and I was grateful for all the answers and the advice that you have been given seems spot on.

Answer 6

I think you probably have Spyware on the pc. Tell your daughter to take the following steps:

1. Get an antivirus program if she doesn't already have one. AVG Free antivirus is my favourite. http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

2. Get an anti-spyware program. Ad-aware is my favourite - http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

3. Install each program, and do a full internet update on each.

4. Run a full system scan on each program, and follow the steps to remove any rogue programs on your computer.

Hopefully, that should sort it out. If not, try downloading Spybot Search and Destroy and running that too - http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Answer 7

If you have Windows, the most likely cause is Malware so this wont solve all your problems, but you can disable MSMessenger which allows popups:
To Disable Messenger (Microsoft elevates THEIR messenger to a "service" to frustrate us from uninstalling it. That creates a security hole allowing popups.) :
Go to Control Panel click Administrative tools
Click Services
Scroll down list to find messenger
Right click messenger and click Properties.
There will be a drop down arrow, click it and select disable. When you reboot, I dont think you will see those popups.

Answer 8

I agree Spybot is great and free. Also try using a different browser. I recomend Opera. Have a look at snapfiles.com under "freeware", Good luck!

Answer 9

right i allways go onto :
tools \ internet options /delete cokies
thn onto /controll panel / and delete some off those programs that you dont no what do ? (these are most likey to be the problem ) and them use a good anti virus (avast is a gd one) and then i would clean your system with spybot and calm down if your randomly clicking the pc settings thn your bound to do more harm to it

Answer 10

You may also want to get Hijackthis, it is a very useful little browser op scanner, and can clean up your trackers like nothing.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php

AdawareSE (Lavasoft)
MicrosoftAntispyware Beta
AVG Free
AVG AntiSpyware


You could also check your startup list
run > msconfig