How come I keep getting really annoying pop-ups?

Question

I have my pop-up blocker on, yet I keep getting pop ups, that direct me to thier sites, this happens regardless of what site I'm currently visiting, and it even happens when I'm watching videos, and when I click shut down I keep getting pop ups and commercials videos. Please make it stop.

Answer 1

Before going through all the other hoopla, just download and run SuperAntiSpyware...

http://www.superantispyware.com/...

Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as AntiVirGear, VirusProtectPro, DriveCleaner, SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins, AntiSpyGolden and thousands more!

Answer 2

Popup blockers, such as the Yahoo and Google toolbars and IE's built-in blocker, will only stop web based popup advertising. They can help somewhat but will do nothing to stop popups on a computer that is badly infected with trojan downloaders that are "phoning home" and contacting other computers to download and deliver the pop up ads. I believe that your computer is badly infected.

Try a full cleaning and dis-infection routine, if you are getting excessive popups, or are getting popups even when you are offline.

This is the one I use (it will take some time). These are on-line scans, you do not need to uninstall any of your current protections.

1. Scan for virus, worms, dialers, etc. and remove (free online scan) with BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/

2. Scan for trojans, adware and spyware and remove (free online scan) with Ewido (now called AVG Anti-Spyware)
http://www.ewido.net/en/

Answer 3

im sorry to say you may have a virus but just in case go to tools-->internet options-->and delete cokkies files and history if that donsnt work you got a virus its a typical one if it is and the anti virus prob wont suspect anything as it will just be like a normal web page with a bit of no virus code it gets installed in the start up folder or its on auto run

Answer 4

It would have helped if you could have posted the name of the popup. Spy Shredder, SpyAxe, WinFixer 2007,...?
If you can identify the malware in the following link you may find a pre-packaged solution to assist in removing the malware. If not follow the instruction in the second link.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic34773.html

Answer 5

start up in safe mode (F8)
go into the following folders and delete all the contents including folders in there

open windows explorer

kill everything in them, spare NONE !
-----------------

- delete all files and folders in this directory (NOT THE DIRECTORY ITSELF!)
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Temp\*.*

-----------------
- delete all files and folders in this directory ! (NOT THE DIRECTORY ITSELF!)
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\*.*

-----------------

look for suspicious programs or something dont look right in here
- then delete that particular file/s and/or folders in this directory or uninstall it with Add and Remove programs ! (NOT THE DIRECTORY ITSELF!)
c:\program files\*.*

-----------------

- scan and view anything that looks odd (maybe delete (NOT THE DIRECTORY ITSELF!))
C:\windows\temp\*.*

and then empty RECYCLE BIN

After that scan for virus and spyware if u have the program/s.
-----------------
Then restart in normal startup and see if this continues.
If it does then I strongly and urgently request you to reinstall your Operating System and your drivers etc...

you have possibly been hit by a virus that has affected the performance of your hardware and/or software
-----------------
Then when u get connected to the net

download
http://firefox.com and use this instead of Internet Explorer

check this out! I am a Firefox user and find it safer and faster
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7byO3LvkSe8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7oIot3Qxu_U

Answer 6

You may be infected with adware.

Try free spyware cleaner from http://www.secureMyWindows.com

Answer 7

Because you're on a computer. Pop-ups are like cockroaches - they'll never die.

Answer 8

Run your antivirus software!

Answer 9

got a pop-up website to introduce to you
http://www.panicware.com/product_psprofessional.html?tag=PSFREEEDITION

Answer 10

Internet Explorer 7, Firefox, and Opera have perfectly good built in pop-up blockers. They must be enabled to work. After they are enabled pop-ups should be rare.

IE7 : Tools > pop up blocker > turn on
Firefox: Tools > options > content >Check "block pop up windows
Opera: Tools > Quick Preferences > Block unwanted pop-ups


If you get more than 3 pop ups per day with the browser pop up blocker enabled, you are infected with malware. If you follow all the following steps it should get rid of your problem and prevent future problems. All programs listed are free.
------------------------------...

Securing a Personal Machine
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/studentchecklist.html

OS Reinstallation vs. Virus Removal
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/guides/rebuild_repair.html

If you follow all the following steps it should get rid of your problem and prevent future problems. All programs listed are free.
------------------------------
Update your antivirus and run a full scan.

Full Time (Active) Virus Protection
If you do not have active virus protection, install only one. All are excellent.
Try AVG first.

AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10669237.html?tag=lst-0-1
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

---------------------------------------------------------
Update your spyware protection and run a full scan.
If you do not have active spyware protection, install

Windows Defender
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
---------------------------------------------------------
Install the following four programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all four. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection. They will greatly increase your protection. Install and run now.

Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper
After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/
------------------------------
Install:

CCleaner:
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Do not install optional toolbar.
Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list
-------------------------------------------------
Install either one not both:

McAfee Site Advisor: Internet Explorer and Firefox
http://www.siteadvisor.com/
Indicates if a site is unsafe and can link to a page to explain why it is unsafe.

TrendProtect™
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/free_security_tools/trendprotect.php
TrendProtect is a FREE browser plug-in that helps you avoid Web pages with unwanted content and hidden threats.
--------------------------------
Note if a scan detects a problem but is unable to remove, start the computer in safe mode with the internet line disconnected and run a full scan.

In severe cases your system restore files will also be infected. In these cases you will need to turn off system restore to prevent malware hiding in the system restore files and reinfecting the computer during removal or during a future system restore. Turning off system restore deletes the system restore files.

Right click on "my computer"> Properties > System Restore Tab > Check box turn of system restore

After the malware is removed turn on system restore.
------------------------------
Run this time:

CWShredder: run
http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/
Shoot The Messenger
http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

VX2 tool for Ad-Aware and run tool (Install and run)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/securitycenter/vx2_cleaner.php
-----------------------------------------
Special Removal Tools
Run only if indicated

Roguefix.bat
http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm
SmitFraudFix
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_use_SmitFraudFix-t109268.html
Vundo Fix and
VirtumundoBegone (if VundoFix does not work)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic18610.html
------------------------------
Run this time and monthly:

Microsoft Update:
Run in "Custom Mode". Install everthing, reboot and repeat until nothing is left to install.
http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”
Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
------------------------------
Rootkits Removers
Pick any 2 install and run one each month.

AVG Anti-Rootkit
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-rootkit-update-app-art/?ver=1.1.0.29
F-Secure BlackLight
http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/
Panda Anti-Rootkit
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/antirootkit/
Sophos Anti-Rootkit
http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html
------------------------------
Online Free Scanners:
Run Trend Micro, Kaspersky, and Panda Scan now.
Run a different one each month.


BitDefender Online Scanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
CA eTrust® PestScan
http://pestpatrol.com/pestscan/index.htm
eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
F-Secure Online Virus Scanner
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
Kaspersky - Free Online Virus Scan
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
McAfee - Free Scan
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs
Panda Software - ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/activescan/ascan_2.asp
Symantec (norton) - Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp
Trend Micro™ HouseCall
http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp
------------------------------
Additional Information:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/hijackthis-log-help/15968-updated-important-read-before-posting-log.html
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Overview
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Prevention:_Prevent_Re-infection
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.org/secure.htm
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.php
http://www.castlecops.com/t102301-Hijackthis_Guidelines_Read_Before_Posting.html
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075&sid=901703d08c2ace31389ffef2d84b6607