Ad terror! Help!

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 05:55 PM

I am not altogether computer savvy, and I have only had a computer for 5 years, but have never had any of the problems that people complain about with pop-up ads.

Until NOW!

In the last two weeks my grandson who is 12 has been coming over to use my computer to download web games, and I have been here with him all the time, helping him join a couple of sites that carry games he can play. Since he has joined a couple of sites, I have had a flood of full-page ads that come out of nowhere whenever I call up my Firefox browser. I am seeing some filthy ads as well.

I was told to get a Firefox add-on , Ad Block, which I did, but I have to actually stop and click on each ad to get it to filter. I can't stand it! Do I have to click on each stupid picture? It seems so...

I have run a scan and an Ad Aware scan, and my Crap Cleaner also, but nothing has changed.

Also... I am getting unsolicited requests to view a link on my MSN Messenger from a couple from my friends list who are shown as "offline" and these links are to some innocuous sites. I can't seem to stop it, and the people are not actually sending them. In fact, two of my online MSN buddies have gotten the same solicitation from me!

I feel as though I am under attack!

Can anyone help me get rid of these things---especially the ads? I am thinking I need to cancel my grandson's accounts at Roblox and Pogo.

***Quickened*** · Aug 22nd 2009, 05:58 PM

Remove the games.
Add NoScript to your browser.
Run CCleaner again
Download and Run Superantispyware
Post results.

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:00 PM

Thank you. I will try that!

***Quickened*** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:12 PM

Do you have alot of important documentation on your computer? I am just thinking ahead. In case nothing else worked and we had to start from scratch. I use an add-on that saves bookmarks excellently for FF.

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Quickened

Do you have alot of important documentation on your computer? I am just thinking ahead. In case nothing else worked and we had to start from scratch. I use an add-on that saves bookmarks excellently for FF.

I don't have anything of utmost importance, except some of my personal documents. I did add NoScript, and read the user page for an explanation but I don't understand what NoScript does.

I do think I made an error in saying my grandson downloaded some games--he didn't download any, but rather played them on the sites he went to. Roblox seems like a responsible site as it has parental controls built in. I have recently paid for and downloaded some games through RealArcade, of which I am a member---I hope that isn't a problem!

***Quickened*** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:27 PM

My buddy's mom ran into this same issue on her computer. It seems reasonable to play these free games but alot of time that seems to come with the addition of spyware/malware amongst other things. Some of the time we dont even know we are allowing it.

One part of your post is making me think

Since he has joined a couple of sites, I have had a flood of full-page ads that come out of nowhere whenever I call up my Firefox browser. I am seeing some filthy ads as well.

What is your homepage set to? Also you said you are seeing filthy ads. What websites are you going to that has these ads? I have the idea that i will visit these sites in the form of a test. Things are running smoothly on my CPU so it will serve as a litmus test to see if ADblock is at fault here.

**vja4Him** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:48 PM

I use mostly Camino, which has a pop-up blocker that works about 98 % of the time, which is good enough for me.

I also use Webstractor, which has a pop-up blocker that works pretty good (not as good as Camino). Don't get very many pop-ups though.

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Quickened

My buddy's mom ran into this same issue on her computer. It seems reasonable to play these free games but alot of time that seems to come with the addition of spyware/malware amongst other things. Some of the time we dont even know we are allowing it.

One part of your post is making me think

What is your homepage set to? Also you said you are seeing filthy ads. What websites are you going to that has these ads? I have the idea that i will visit these sites in the form of a test. Things are running smoothly on my CPU so it will serve as a litmus test to see if ADblock is at fault here.

My homepage is my church's website.

I have never visited a filthy website and my grandson hasn't either. I am always in the room with him, plus he is more like a 9-year-old in many ways, is completely innocent, and is not one of those kind of kids.

I appreciate your kind help!!!

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by vja4Him

I use mostly Camino, which has a pop-up blocker that works about 98 % of the time, which is good enough for me.

I also use Webstractor, which has a pop-up blocker that works pretty good (not as good as Camino). Don't get very many pop-ups though.

I am wondering why after 5 years of not having one single ad come up that I have about 30 daily. What isn't working that worked before?

***Quickened*** · Aug 22nd 2009, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Desperaux

My homepage is my church's website.

I have never visited a filthy website and my grandson hasn't either. I am always in the room with him, plus he is more like a 9-year-old in many ways, is completely innocent, and is not one of those kind of kids.

I appreciate your kind help!!!

I wasnt intending to infer that! Forgive me if it came off as such!

An example. My friend has a laptop that doesnt have protection. Browsing various sites i was surprised to find some rather risque ads on the side that i didnt know about. Because my system is set up to block those.

So for example if you would have said "Cnn" then i would have browsed there to see if your current set up was solid and to cross check the add-ons.

I will be departing soon to go to the packer game but hopefully we can get this fixed

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 07:05 PM

I spend many hours a day on the computer. I do not surf the net except to Google pics for Photobucket on Google.

Here is a list of sites I frequent (Moderators, feel free to delete anything you want.)

Bibleforums
His Grace Oasis
Christian Fun Forums
Christ First Forums
The 4 Gospels Forums
Living Hope Christian Assembly website
Worthy Christian Forums
RealArcade games (bought and paid for and downloaded from the site)
Biblegateway
Dictionary.com
Photobucket
Yahoo Mail
Gmail
Hotmail
MSN Messenger
Google
Bing-Mozilla Firefox

(I used to frequent a lot more Christian websites, but thank goodness I am banned! I was running out of time!

)

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Quickened

I wasnt intending to infer that! Forgive me if it came off as such!

An example. My friend has a laptop that doesnt have protection. Browsing various sites i was surprised to find some rather risque ads on the side that i didnt know about. Because my system is set up to block those.

So for example if you would have said "Cnn" then i would have browsed there to see if your current set up was solid and to cross check the add-ons.

I will be departing soon to go to the packer game but hopefully we can get this fixed

I see, but your question was a very valid one, just the same!

Thank you!

Since I have added NoScript in the last hour, I have had to mark several sites as untrusted and then just a few minites ago, NoScript sent a pop-up with a list of forbidden sites I have logged.

It seems to be working.

**th1bill** · Aug 22nd 2009, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Desperaux

I see, but your question was a very valid one, just the same!

Thank you!

Since I have added NoScript in the last hour, I have had to mark several sites as untrusted and then just a few minites ago, NoScript sent a pop-up with a list of forbidden sites I have logged.

It seems to be working.

... Since I have stopped using Windows, in favor of the completely free Ubuntu operating system I have not experienced the malware/spyware problem on either of my computers. Before I switched and today, when I install Windows on a new unit I install Adaware from http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php and Spybot/Search and Destroy from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ and I advise all owners to run both programs on Saturday Night or some other convienent schedualed time. My experiance was always good and so far, everyone is happy.

***Beckrl*** · Aug 22nd 2009, 09:25 PM

Alot of times if downloaded free stiff (games) they will come with adware or addon's. The addon's will be a program added onto the browser.

Look within the add remove program folder and remove the addon or free stuff. Yes, RealArcade has spyware!!!!

If you don't like the NoScript,
Download Aware by Lavasoft. http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-An...-10045910.html

If that will not clean it up go to Beepingcomputer and download combofix.
That will fix it all.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/comb...o-use-combofix

Beck

**Desperaux** · Aug 22nd 2009, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Beckrl

Alot of times if downloaded free stiff (games) they will come with adware or addon's. The addon's will be a program added onto the browser.

Look within the add remove program folder and remove the addon or free stuff. Yes, RealArcade has spyware!!!!

If you don't like the NoScript,
Download Aware by Lavasoft. http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-An...-10045910.html

If that will not clean it up go to Beepingcomputer and download combofix.
That will fix it all.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/comb...o-use-combofix

Beck

I have been a member of RealArcade for a long time, and not had one ad, but it is only recently (the last 3 weeks or so) that I have purchased anything. Maybe you are onto the cause.

I already have Adaware by Lavasoft. I will run my CCleaner and AdAware again.

Nothing is being blocked. I still have to manually acknowledge everything. What a pain!