im getting constant pop ups!?

Question

the last week or so i have been gettin plagued with pop-ups! ive got my block on aol to stop them why are they still getting thru?

Answer 1

Your machine is infected. Pop-ups are mostly caused by adware, spyware, and other malicious and unwanted software and using pop-up blocker won't help an infected PC. No single program can detect and eradicate all spyware and I recommend using Ad-aware and Spybot (they are free). Other great free anti-spyware programs would be Super anti-spyware and AVG anti-spyware (formally Ewido).

Running these programs in Safe Mode (tap F8 as the computer boots up and choose to boot to safe mode) can be more effective.

If you do not have an updated anti-virus program always running, you need to get one. Install only one, but you can get AVG, Avast! or AntiVir for free.

I strongly recommend using FireFox, it's far better and safer than Internet Explorer.

Answer 2

Looks like the copy and pasters have beat me to answering your question! Go to http://www.download.com and get two programs which are totally free Spware Doctor Starter Edition and Spyware Terminator. Install, update, disconnect your computer from the internet, then run full scans with each of these spyware/malware cleaners and you will be pop-up free.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

You can also try running the utilities below..

Prior to installing and running read the tuts

HijackThis 2.0.2
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis
HijackThis Tutorial - How to use HijackThis to remove Browser Hijackers & Spyware
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.php
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial42.html
http://aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm
HijackReader 1.03 Beta - This is a must to run the program on your own!
http://www.majorgeeks.com/HijackReader_d5385.html



SmitFraudFix
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/desktop_software/desktop_security/smitfraudfix.cfm
How to use SmitFraudFix
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-use-SmitFraudFix-t109268.html

*SmitFraudFix is a tool that S!Ri created to remove rogue anti-spyware applications that utilize Trojans to issue fake
taskbar security alerts or that change your background in order to scare you into purchasing the full commercial version of their software..

These infections are difficult to remove and are usually bundled with so much other malware,
that traditional antispyware or antivirus programs have difficult completely cleaning these infections.
Due to this a specialized tool was created in order to help a user clean their system of these infections.
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How to Protect yourself from malware!
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=44525

Understanding, Cleaning And Preventing Spyware
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=25834

Answer 4

1. Download and run firefox to protect your from future spyware attacks and pop ups which are coming in through internet explorer (Trojan downloaders, win32 ) .Then update your windows through firefox
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05/spyware-fighter-essentials.html
2. Run the vundo and combo fix
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05/vundofix-and-combo-fix.html

3. Run the anti spyware remove programs spybot
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/spybot-search-and-destroy-spyware-and.html

and superantispyware
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/04/superantispyware-home-edition-free.html
to get rid of the nasties

4. Run a free online virus scan to be sure you computer is virus and spyware free.
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/online-virus-scan.html
download and run McAfee Avert Stinger
Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/stinger.htm

5. Get the clean up tools to clean up the spyware from your temp folder (the place they are stored when downloaded by internet explorer)
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/clean-up-tools-to-prevent-people-from.html
Also install internet explorer 7 which is now free for everyone oct2007
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/10/internet-explorer-7-available-now-to.html
This should stop 50% of the spyware and popups attacking your computer

WHAT DO YOU DO IF EVERYTHING FAILS TO REMOVE THE SPYWARE or You are not sure your computer is spyware and virus free?
If everything fails to get the nasty spyware removed let the experts take a look at whats happening on your computer.Visit the HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

Wiping your computer clean is NOT the solution.
Asking /paying someone else to fix the problem is NOT the solution .

TAKE A STAND NOW!
IT's YOUR COMPUTER !!

Answer 5

Samuel is right on the money. He really does know what he is talking about.

Answer 6

Google toolbar will stop most of them.