spyware/malware question

[quad79]

I sweep regularly. However, I keep getting pop-ups that throw me from the net. They're from Windows telling me I have critical viruses & that add-ons are taking place, to run a program from some unknown file & rid them. Yet when I sweep shortly after, there's nothing found. What's going on? Oh, I'm not running or saving these unknown programs either.

[zagam]

With Mozilla you can block popups and content from other sites.

For example in Mozilla Seamonkey you can:

Accept images that come from the originating server only.
Animated images should loop Once.
Block unrequested popup windows
Turn off Java (I never have this on)
Allow JavaScript for Navigator only (Seamonkey)
I only allow it to Raise or lower windows and Change images

Many web sites use popup spam to generate revenue.

Spam is a numbers game which means they have to annoy a very large number of people before they find some one stupid enough to buy this crappage.

[PN]

Do an online scan using Internet Explorer and then report back. I am not recommending that you use Internet Explorer to surf the net.

[TexasWheelz]

Sounds like a malware infestations that keeps trying to get you to buy something to fix the issue they are giving you....

[cypresss]

try the free version of http://www.malwarebytes.org/, it is very good

[quad79]

Thanks everyone.

I guess saying pop-up wasn't the correct term, since it isn't spam but a window message from Microsoft Windows instead.

The last scan I did, did find some high risk stuff(trojans, worms , adware,etc). I haven't been online since but as of yet, I'm not being pestered. I'm still taking advice from here though. I definitely don't want my laptop wiped out again!

Thanks again.

[mike]

Originally Posted by cypresss

try the free version of http://www.malwarebytes.org/, it is very good

I had a problem about two weeks ago with a virus. My Norton could not delete it or could any other software I tried. The above referenced software did the trick and saved me all of the time of having to reformat my drive and reload my operating system.

[Donno]

I use 2 free spyware programs in addition to my antivirus, and keep pretty clean. Try Spybot S&D and Spywareblaster. I definitely agree with cypress and mike about Malwarebytes, my granddaughter had scareware/rougueware on her laptop, and Malwarebytes cleaned it right up.

[KeyBored]

I learned here in this forum that Microsoft has a free antivirus/spyware program called Microsoft Essentials. I've been using it for about a couple months and I highly recommend it. I wish I had heard about it before I bought Norton 360. Microsoft Essentials does a pretty good job at detecting bad stuff, and it does so without slowing your PC is much as Norton and others.
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

[OFL]

I think I prefer to pay a yearly subscription for Kaspersky. I pay something like £50 for a five PC user license. The databases are updated every day automatically when it runs in the background and doesn't slow your computer at all, unlike Norton and McAfee. The free stuff is okay, it will give you a fairly good degree of protection against viruses. However,you're never going to get top-notch security unless you pay for it.