HELP!!!!! Where did all these pop-ups come from???

[Melora]

ACK..Somebody help me!!!

Sometime last week SOMETHING got onto my computer that is generating pop-ups and I have not been able to get rid of it.

I have run Ad-aware (including updating it and trying again), Spysweeper, and my newest Spybot, search and destroy (this by the way is an EXCELLENT program and found 50 items the other 2 did not!).

I found 2 programs that will not let themselves be removed.... , but Jeff found them on his comupter too and they arent giving him popups.

Most of the pop-ups happen while I am away from my computer (I am on line all day) and come back to find 7-8 full page windows open...

I JUST had one happen while I am typing here.

Does anyone else have a suggestion for what I could do or a program that I can try? This is driving me nuts!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

YIKES! That sounds awful! No suggestions, but I'll be watching this thread just in case!

 

[Patch'sD]

I use a program called Pop-Up Control Center. Do a search. Allows you to turn on and off. Spybot removed the Pop-up Creator. you may have to update it to get the offender.

Hope this helps.

 

[N.Bailey]

I'm sure it's not the best one on the market, but I downloaded the google toolbar (which is nice having a google search on any page too) and it has a built in popup blocker in it. My computer is maybe 3 weeks old and so far it's gotten 850 popups.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

The last time I hads uncontrollable pop-ups, the Trojan virus had invaded my computer. It gave me a bunch of weird computer programs that I couldn't recognize.

 

[Son of the Morning]

There's not much you can do, but I recommend the freeware program Adaware.

 

[Winka]

Sounds like you've been hijacked.

Unless, there's been an update-Adaware, Spybot are useless.

Maybe CWShredder. I actually ran a program called HiJack This and a couple of other powerful detection and removal programs to bump my many intruders off my system. (can't remember the names, but you might need to consult a spywareinfo forum for the specific programs you'll need to get rid of whatever trojans/variants you might have)

I'll look for the link and pass it to you.

ETA:

Diser Syracuse Wolverine passed this on to me:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Then, this forum was incredibly helpful too:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showforum=18

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

CWShredder and HijackThis can both be found at http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Warning: HijackThis is a VERY powerful piece of software. If you use it to delete stuff at random (without knowing what you're doing), you could royally screw up your computer. Best method is to run HijackThis then copy the log file it generates into a post on one of the computer security forums, and let the experts there tell you what to delete.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I downloaded google toolbar recently for the popup blocker function. However, I just found out last night that the google toolbar is actually spyware itself! Sure enough I was getting more popups than I was before downloading google!

I took off google toolbar and trueassistant/trueblock (also was downloaded simply to block popup ads) and now ironically I'm no longer having popup problems like I had been lately. Hmmm

But I also went into spybot and not only search/fixed problems but went in and DELETED everything that had shown up. I wonder if that's part of what my problem was... that spybot was saving all those things even when I clicked to delete them? I dunno... just thought I'd pass on the info that google toolbar itself has been found to have spyware included.

 

[Winka]

OMG...well speak of the devil. (ETA...I meant Syr. Wolverine!)

Yes...HJT is pretty daunting. IF you use, you need to consult with the experts on the spywareinfo forums.

 

[dmadman43]

are you getting them when not in the browser as well?

Not sure what version of Windows you are running, but on Windows 2000 and Windows XP, the other thing to try is turning off the messenger service (this has nothing to do with IM or email)

Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).
Double-click Administrative Tools.
Double-click Services.
Double-click Messenger.
In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
Click Stop, and then click OK.

Also be sure to have the firewall turned on.

In addtion to the above, I've also had luck with the Google pop up ad blocker, and using SpyBot http://www.safer-networking.org/