I need computer help! Attention all super smart geeks!

[Lucy of Nine]

Ok, so this is my issue -

Suddenly for no reason, new Windows boxes are opening whenever I open a new window. Sometimes three or more open - they are always for random search sites, argh I hate spam! They aren't popups - because i have popups blocked. These are brand new windows opening of their own accord.

How can I stop them from opening all the time, its driving me crazy!!! I have AVG anti-virus but it hasnt found the problem!

Surely someone here is a smarty pants??

 

[trekkiedane]

Have you installed any new stuff recently? -something that might also install a search-bar or change your browser settings.

Do also ask the nice people in the tech forum, btw, not everyone comes to Misc.

 

[Blip]

You're definitely infected I'm afraid...

AVG is generally useless I've found - and it's an annoying little bitch when you want to uninstall it (which I definitely recommend doing, BTW)

Uninstall IE, switch over to Firefox and get a copy of Sygate Firewall. With regards removing this virus, give Avast a try - I've found it to be very effective in the past.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Second the infected part, and second AVG -- it's the best free anti-virus program you can get.

Also go get Ad-aware from Lavasoft, the best free spyware program:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php


I don't recommend Spybot: Search and Destroy anymore becuase it never finds anything, even though there is stuff from Ad-aware and Norton, so I am guessing Spybot sold out secretly to have things removed from the search list.

 

[Colin Xavier]

Second the infected part, and second AVG -- it's the best free anti-virus program you can get.

Also go get Ad-aware from Lavasoft, the best free spyware program:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php


I don't recommend Spybot: Search and Destroy anymore becuase it never finds anything, even though there is stuff from Ad-aware and Norton, so I am guessing Spybot sold out secretly to have things removed from the search list.

Lavasoft has worked well for me over the years, I'd recommend that you run it in Safe mode to be sure.

 

[Kryton]

Got hit with Fakealert-D over the weekend and before I had the opportunity to obtain and implement any removal tools, it had already taken over my system...fucking extortionists ("just buy SpywareGuard 2008 and it will all go away"...fuck you!).

Wiped the entire system and reinstalled it all. A pain to be sure but even though I spent some of my time on the matter, I didn't spend a DIME on what those bastards wanted me to spend it on!

 

[Pingfah]

Sounds like a browser hijack possibly. If that is the case, anti-virus and AdAware are unlikely to do the trick alone.

I have unhijacked many browsers using hijackthis, but unfortunately is is not something you can explain how to do on the internet, it requires some knowledge of the registry. You'll need somebody with experience at the computer itself to fix it if that is what it is.