'Windows' help...

[Icey*Fire]

Can anyone help me stop 'microsoft explorer' windows from popping up?

After I have signed on and go to any site, 'windows' start popping up, anywhere from 10 to 20 of them, one right after the other. Sometimes I can get them to close, but most of the time they pop up so fast I can't stop them and the only thing I can do is shut down my computer. Or, if I can't stop them, then my computer will just freeze and I can't do anything at all.

This is so irritating that I hate to even try to get online most days.

HELP !!
Icey

 

[Kissophile]

Icey, it sounds like you have one or more nasty bits of spyware and/or viruses on your machine. I think that this kind of problem is most often caused by spyware. The first step is to acquire and run anti-spyware software. Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy are two that are effective and available at no charge. I don't have the links handy but you could find them easily enough in a quick google search on the names.

With some luck, one of the more tech-savvy folks like Weird Harold will show up soon and may have even better advice for you.

Good luck.

 

[ShyGuy68]

It sounds like your computer have been infected with spyware, download, install and run these two free programs, and delete everything they find

Ad aware

Spybot

 

[Porn _Queen]

Dude, definately use Adaware, it's the best anti-spyware program I've used. Also, try to use Mozilla Firefox as your web browser, it's got a really good pop up blocker, which is WAYYYYYY better than Microsoft's... You can download Mozilla for free at:

Mozilla Firefox

I hope this helps...

 

[Icey*Fire]

Thanks for the advise everyone.

I have downloaded the Ad-AWare. Hope I did it right.

I will let you know if it works for me.

Thanks again.

Icey

 

[Icey*Fire]

Thanks guys....I have been online this morning for 30 minutes now and NOT ONE pop up has happened.

Keeping fingers crossed that the ad-aware seems to have done the trick.

(only thing it seems to have messed up is the Kazaa file my son had, it is gone. Not sure if that had anything to do with the adaware , as I know I did not delete anything that had music or Kazaa in it.) puzzled.

Icey

 

[realcurious]

Thanks guys....I have been online this morning for 30 minutes now and NOT ONE pop up has happened.

Keeping fingers crossed that the ad-aware seems to have done the trick.

(only thing it seems to have messed up is the Kazaa file my son had, it is gone. Not sure if that had anything to do with the adaware , as I know I did not delete anything that had music or Kazaa in it.) puzzled.

Icey

Kazaa is well known to have spyware in it.
not sure what to replace it with, many file sharing programs are filled with spyware

 

[LLs Man]

Kazaa Lite is free of spyware (but otherwise works much the same), not sure if it's stall available though, I spent a long & fruitless time a few weeks ago trying to track it down

 

[sirmed]

Thunderbird.. aint no bad deal either.. is wonderfull at pulling out junk mail..... its is free and at the same place you got Firefox.... both are cool... good luck..

 

[Icey*Fire]

realcurious...thanks for the reply, I talked with my older son and he said the same thing about the spyware in Kazaa. Looks like his files are just gone.

LLs Man.......thanks for your reply,I will tell my son about the Kazaa Lite and see if he can find anything about it.

sirmed....thanks for the reply...I will also check out the sites you listed for me.

I wish I had done this sooner, as I have been having this trouble for several months now. I just hate to ask questions.

So far my computer is acting fine and no pop ups of any kind the last couple of times I have been online.


Thanks again to all who offered their advice.

hugs.....Icey

 

[Spenser41]

My 2 cents

I am a computer tech and just wanted to add my thoughts here.
Kaaza is not only a HUGE adware problem, but by downloading things from other computers you get adware, spyware and viruses. So be sure you have an excellent virus protection and make sure it updates every time you are on line. You could get the Symantec Internet Protection which is anti-virus, firewall, and other tools as well.

Also since you have 2 boys, be careful where they are going and what they are doing. Having had 3 teens, some sites these kids go do, download international dialers. They go to porn sites, that download these dialers that call to Spain, Germany, and other countries.

If you have DSL or cable hookup you want to make sure you shut the service down or turn computer off when not using. Why? You are connected to the internet 24/7 and that is like leaving the doors and windows open to your house. You are allowing hackers to get into your computer, to search for files, to take person information, and to download stuff to your computer. Some hackers take control of your computer and send out spyware and viruses from your mailing lists. So I tell my clients, when not in use, turn it off or disconnect. It is safer. Yes you can leave it on if you have all the software and things updated all the time, but many people never do that and then I get the call to come fix it. Some parents call me because every time the kids get on the computer, something gets screwed up. My advise is get a cheap computer for them to play on and they are to keep their hands off of yours. I can not gell you how many times I had had to go and rebuild or reformat after a kid as downloaded serious junk or deleted serious files, becuse he thinks he knows what he is doing.

Just some tips from the PC Doc.

 

[Icey*Fire]

Spenser...
Thanks for all your advice, so far the Ad-Aware seems to be doing a good job.

My youngest son is 18, and I have nightmares about the places he visitis on here. lol But I will tell him about the things you have said.


Thanks again for taking the time to reply, you gave me some good adivce, because I had no idea about being linked all the time and dialing up other countries.


Icey

 

[MagicFingers]

I agree with Spenser

I have seen the same things. On Thanksgiving day, I went to a friend's house early and removed 505 "Objects" in about 8 different malware categories. And his computer was supposed to be protected because I set it up. It appears that someone deleted his Spybot-Search & Destroy, and that may be the problem. It seems to have been infected through Kazaa, which his daughter is using. If anyone knows the Kazaa Lite site, let us know and I'll send it to him.

I would highly recommend getting SSD, getting the updates often, and clicking on IMMUNIZE. This will protect your computer from 2200+ malware objects from even getting into your computer. Unfortunately, Ad-Aware doesn't have this feature in the free version. I like Ad-Aware best of the two for finding and getting rid of pests. It does a good job of getting rid of pests that were formerly hard to remove, like 180, CWS, AboutBlank, etc.
SSD will find some different objects, so please use both programs.

AND, turn off Restore before you do a scan if your system is infected. Try to remember to turn it back on after all scans are completed.
Get all Windows Updates often. Norton/McAfee, Ad-Aware, SSD updates often.
Delete cache files, temp files, and offline content.

You have just saved $50-100 in service call charges by being a Lit member and reading the helpful info here! You're welcome.

One more thing, Icey*Fire, please see if you can put a cr/lf around about the second "Love" in your sig line. Or recreate it a little shorter, please. We have to scroll right and left to read your posts and that seems to be the cause.
Sorry if I sound anal about this. Just trying to improve the reading for us all. Thanks.

Edited: Found some info about Kazaa Lite. Seems they are pay mp3 sites, various ones. Here is one link with some info:
http://k-lite-legal.com/ and another,
http://www.klitesite.com/
I don't recommend or promote either. Only informing.

 

[ReadyOne]

Re: My 2 cents

{snip}

If you have DSL or cable hookup you want to make sure you shut the service down or turn computer off when not using.

{snip}

Don't turn off the modem, especiall a DSL modem. Unplug the calbe instead. Some cable modems have a "standby" mode which is OK to use. Hibernate mode (hold the shift key down on XP before clicking "standby") is a quick way to start and stop the computer.

The reason is that the modem fine tunes its operation as it runs. THe longer it runs (uninterrupted) the better it learns the line conditions. Power it off and it has to start all over.