Recently I did some surfing on my office computer and I don’t know what I did or clicked.
But now there is a “seach bar” (ads) on my screen which is like a tool bar and is really annoying. Moreover, the computer uses DSL so I’m always connected. The pop ups show up once every minute even when I’m not surfing and is killing me.
What can I do?
Thanks.
I’m not sure what the “search bar” is. Can you take a screenshot and email it to me? I might be able to come up with an answer.
The popups you are referring to might be Messenger Service Spam (which is really, really annoying!).
Messenger Service Spam @ Spyware-Guide
http://www.spywareguide.com/txt_messengerspam.html
Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q330904
if you put Google on it theres a popup blocker on it, or you should have a popup blocker in your firewall
If it’s Messenger Service Spam, popup blockers can’t do anything about it. The Messenger Service popups are part of the operating system, not the browser. The popup blockers only affect browser based popups. Firewalls won’t help much either. You have to disable the service. The one guide walks through how to do it.
I’d recommend using an anti-spy-ware app called ad-aware. Its free and works pretty well:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Also, in the future, your can get the Google pop-up blocker from:
http://toolbar.google.com/
Short of removing the offending application from your system, you can try and disable any unwanted tool bar within internet explorer by going to View → Toolbars and then disable (uncheck) the toolbar in question.
But, the best solution is to remove the application by uninstalling it manually and/or using ad-aware to remove it from your system.
If you go the ad-aware route, make sure you run it periodically to remove any other spy-ware type apps that might, unknowingly, install themselves on your machine.
oh its that stuff
i used something like adaware on my dads pc to get rid of that stuff
i searched for a PC magazine called “Computeractive” and got something called evidence cleaner got it from here http://www.computeractive.co.uk/Download/Utilities/Security%20and%20Encryption
and its free
I don’t remember if it is Ad-aware or Spybot, but one of them can also be setup to run in the background and actively monitor your system. One of them can also “lock” specific items on your computer (although you should understand what it’s locking and the ramifications).
Ya, I’ve got the Google tool bar and I’ve been using the Pop-up-blocker for almost a year now and it does work, real good.
The google tool bar is so awesome…it blocks even the FSM pop-up ads!!! LOL (Sorry guys [;)][:P])
LOL!!
You shouldn’t have said anything. [;)]
We could always email you the ads each time you visit so you can see what you’re missing. [:D]
Luckily I have internet class every friday, and we’re not allowed to download anything, so it’s “pop-up gallore”!!! LOL No need to e-mail me!! [;)][:P][:D]
I don’t have a pop-up blocker yet FSM doesn’t pop any ads on me since I registered. I go on a different computer and it does though.