atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Computers & Programming Computers, Software, Accessories Popups

I am somewhat comfortable with computer hardware and networking, but software isn't something I am very good at.

Lately, I have been receiving so many popups that I literally cannot finish typing a sentence without being interrupted. In almost every case, it's from online casinos. I have AdAware installed and running, along with a virus scan program from Computer Associates.

The last time that I went into AdAware and quarantined the questionable items, I totally screwed up my computer and had to do a restore to a few days earlier. Everything came back OK, but the popups still remain constant.

Our IT guy says that AdAware should be the trick, but it's obviously not working. We are using XP.

Does anyone know how this can be stopped? I thought popup advertising was illegal, like telephone soliciting to people on the do not call registry. Maybe I am incorrect, but I am about ready to come unglued!

------------------
Ed
---------
How come there's always enough time to go back and fix it a second time?

I use spybot and norton internet security along with google popup blocker and I get no popups at all. Firefox works well also.

For IE download the Google toolbar and it will stop popups or switch to Mozilla Firefox which stops popups by default. Don't download the Google toolbar for Firefox though, it has caused a java script problem in my Firefox.

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

CommSmith \"Forging telephone and data solutions.\"

Googlebar on Firefox works flawless for me other than on PR ranking on it. Googlebar 0.9.5.06 Firefox v-1.0.4
No popups

Just an udate;

I downloaded Googlebar and it seems to be working great! I also got Registry Defender that found a ton (235) problems and after fixing them, I feel as if I can now get some work done.

Thanks to all of you very much for your advice. I know this is basic stuff for most, but I am a telephone man, not Nick Burns, the Company Computer Guy (Saturday Night Live) for now anyway!

------------------
Ed
---------
How come there's always enough time to go back and fix it a second time?

[This message has been edited by ev607797 (edited July 12, 2005).]

Crabb,
Exact same resipe here, once in a while a pop under might make it through but nothing
CTRL F4 cant handle....Dont Click On Anything

I use the free Ad-Aware and MS Anti-Spyware. I use the popup blocker built into IE for XP SP2.
This seems to get them all. If something gets through, I know it's time for a scan.

Firefox 1.0.6 (Irish) and ZoneAlarm for a firewall, and Avast for Anti-Virus, and I've had ZERO problems with every PC I own.

Be Careful ! The most highly regarded industry standard software for protecting your machine, at this point in time, can be found through merijn.com and annoyances.org, with links to majorgeeks.com.

For starters, here's a few programs I use:
AVG Free or AVG Pro edition virus stuff (also looks for malware in your e-mail.) And tends to have less overhead and better reaction time than Norton/symantec and McAfee... though symantec will give you free Fxbugname programs, they of late have tended to be a bit unresponsive to less-than corporate buyers, IMHO. McAfee used to be ok, but has always been a resource hog.

ALSO.....
Lavasoft AdAware, SaferNetworking SpyBot Search and destroy, and RegSeeker are your next best bets. RegSeeker has two or three versions that find many more registry errors than most other programs. Same for HijackThis.exe - very useful program if you know how to use it.

Another program you might consider is the Beehive RegCompact.

Popups come from (a)Mousetrapping and (b)Harvesting information from the cookies you trade, along with the "surf-n-trap" schema.

FYI....
Many MANY MANY of the programs that are available on the web are actually malware in themselves, claiming to help you, but actually signing you up for their own particular sponsor's woes.
That's generally the way things like the "WeatherBug" and several other tools can REALLY ruin your computer. that program is a P-O-S ! (go to noaa/nws and get the infor yourself!)

Many toolbars are in reality nothing more than hijackers...
for example....
Remember when Yahoo! wasn't loaded down with all the stinking adverts? For all the cool stuff they offer... they have slowly changed since Mr. Cuban sold the company. Now they want you to do something "special" to get their "advertisment free" version....
Go to the Yahoo! privacy policy... and read the sections about web beacons.
I do not and WILL not use their toolbar, or their messenger... and don't even give them useful information about who I really am. And I'm still tempted to go to some other free mail service, because they participate in harvesting information.

while Google might be fine right now... how long before they succumb to the things their sponsors expect to get ? If you've given them information now, in order to use their "toolbar"... (such as surfing habits, useful IP addresses, E-Bay information,etc.) how long will it be before you can find your own information plastered across the www... (go to zabaware.com now and see how much they already know about you!)

Just a few thoughts for the underprepared www' ers
Jason