Colourful adds apearing on my websites.

[Trish]

Does any one know how to get rid of adds that suddenly appear on websites? Since this morning, I have adds popping up all over the place. Now, I can't see the full screen because of them. I've done scans for viruses and spyware, but those horrid adds are still there. How can I get rid of them and what caused them? Any one know?

The adds are for things like Telstra, insurance, job centres and other stuff. It's driving me nuts.

[Medievalist]

Try another browser; does it still happen? On all Web sites or just "yours?"

I think you've may have malware; possibly a third-party cookie that's allowing ad insertions. Trying another browser will help narrow down what's happening.

[Trish]

Thanks Medievalist. It happens on Goodreads, Amazon and a couple of others websites. I'll try another browser like your suggested. Yipes! I havene't checked to see if it happens on my website or blog yet. I'll go and check. Thanks again.

[Matera the Mad]

Your original post suggested by its wording that the ads were appearing on your website. But since it is apparently not a per-site problem, it's a matter of cleaning up your computer.

Scan with more than one anti-malware product.

Check browser add-ons and plugins. You may have acquired a new "helper" without knowing it. Many, if not most of these plugins and toolbars don't show up in a spyware scan. Their main purpose is to lead you to products you don't need (i.e. ads galore).

-- IE: Tools > Manage Add-ons > Enable or Disable Add-ons
(or something like that, I don't have the latest version)

-- Firefox: Tools > Add-ons (check both Extensions and Plugins for new, unfamiliar stuff.

Unexpected add-ons are often installed along with other "needed" plugins. The Veehd movie plugin is an example of a sneaky home-page hijack. Others clutter your browser interface and/or wrack you with ads.

Clean browser cache and other temp files! You'll see the same stuff over and over if you don't.

Download CCleaner and install it. BE CAREFUL, watch for the bundled toolbar during the installation (*sigh*) so you don't get stuck with that. The nuisance can be uninstalled after, but it's best to be aware of and avoid such things. There is a way to install CCleaner without "installing", but I have to assume that most of those reading this only know how to click and say yes or no.

CCleaner gets rid of junk files more effectively than other easy methods. You can choose to keep your cookies, but a thorough purge of those would be good too.

There are other free cleaners around, but I haven't tested all of them. Some are chancy. CCleaner has never behaved inappropriately on the job, in my experience.

[Trish]

Thanks, Matera. I've scanned with numerous anti malaware scans, but the adds are still there. Someone suggested I use a different browser, so downloaded Google Crome. That seems to work, but now I'm worried that those little gremlins are still in my computer and will create havoc when they please. I had a computer crash on me last year and don't want that happening again. (I've kept the old browser too as it has all my bookmarks and I need them.)

If I disable Add-ons will I lose my bookmarks? I'm a bit nervous of that as there are websites I need and will forget which ones.

Thanks for the help, Matera, long time no see. :)

[defyalllogic]

you can get a dropox or a jump drive and save all your important files.

you can export/save your bookmarks from most browsers then upload them again (you can save this file with the rest of the files.

Clear your cookies, history, all of that. restart your browser. see if that helps.

(dropbox, exporting bookmakes, and clearing cookies can all be goggled easily and will have steps relating specifically to your computer and browser and computer type.)

If that doesn't fix it. delete and redownload and install the browser and any add-ons.

[Trish]

Thanks, defyalllogic, I'll try that.

[AmericaMadeMe]

Trish, in future try to be more specific about....everything. It sounds as if you're describing pop-ups, and if that is the case, you really need to use a browser with selective script blocking - basically, any Mozilla browser with the NoScript add-on. However, if you have a malware issue, which seems likely, you really have to deal with the underlying issue. First you really have to be clear about the details.

[Trish]

Trish, in future try to be more specific about....everything. It sounds as if you're describing pop-ups, and if that is the case, you really need to use a browser with selective script blocking - basically, any Mozilla browser with the NoScript add-on. However, if you have a malware issue, which seems likely, you really have to deal with the underlying issue. First you really have to be clear about the details.

Thanks, AmericaMadeMe. I think it's malware. The adds appear at the top left hand of some websites I use. They flash and move around. Sometimes covering a large part of the webpage so I can't even see what I'm doing. I can't see them now as I downloaded Google Crome (thanks for the suggestion, Medievalist)

If I go back to IE they're back again. I've done many scans, but have to do more. I'm following advice given.

Thanks for the help everyone.

[Medievalist]

If I go back to IE they're back again. I've done many scans, but have to do more. I'm following advice given.

Thanks for the help everyone.

The fact that it only affects I.E. is interesting. There's a kind of malware that used cookies, especially "third party cookies."

You need to delete all your cookies in I.E.
Look for a Preference setting that lets you control "third party cookies." Only allow them if you know the source--say, your bank or credit card. Most sites do not use them.
Clear your browser cache
Shut down I.E. completely.

[AmericaMadeMe]

Thanks, AmericaMadeMe. I think it's malware. The adds appear at the top left hand of some websites I use. They flash and move around. Sometimes covering a large part of the webpage so I can't even see what I'm doing. I can't see them now as I downloaded Google Crome (thanks for the suggestion, Medievalist)

If I go back to IE they're back again. I've done many scans, but have to do more. I'm following advice given.

Thanks for the help everyone.

What version of IE were you using? Which version of Windows? Do you have automatic updates turned on? You mention mention having "done many scans," but what anti-malware program are you using?

I'll stick by my recommendation of a Mozilla browser with NoScript, although there might be an analogous script blockign add-on for Chrome.

[AmericaMadeMe]

The fact that it only affects I.E. is interesting. There's a kind of malware that used cookies, especially "third party cookies."

You need to delete all your cookies in I.E.
Look for a Preference setting that lets you control "third party cookies." Only allow them if you know the source--say, your bank or credit card. Most sites do not use them.
Clear your browser cache
Shut down I.E. completely.

I'd argue that third party or "tracking" cookies should have been detected by a decent anti-malware program. I'm inclined to say that clearing the browser cache and cookies won't do a thing, although it's a good practice to do so.

[Trish]

I was using IE and had updates regularly, then a week a ago, they suggested updating to IE9, so I did. Then the problems started, but also at the same time, I had been having trouble with my browsers shutting down on me all the time. I posted a question on Google and someone said to go into internet options and change the security settings to 'Medium' instead of 'Medium High' so silly me did that. Then a few moments after that, I was on another website that had adds in the right-hand side bar and I accidently clicked on it. I ended up in something about ‘Brain Games’ (i won’t mention their name though). Silly me answered all their questions, but when I realised I'd subscribed to some game website, I unsubscribed straight away. They sent me an email, saying it would take 24 hours. Maybe it was because I lowered the security settings and the malaware got in. I did go on another website that morning that that asked if you knew what asthma symptoms were.

Anyway, I've changed back to 'medium high' security settings for browsing and also found out my browser was shutting down because I had my laptop settings to turn off every five minutes if I wasn't using it. Trouble was, it shut down when I was using it. I changed those settings too, but now, I've got these adds from Telstra, Insurance companies and Job Centres stopping me from visiting certain website. Don’t these companies know that it doesn't encourage people to use their products and has the opposite effect? I'll avoid their products for ruining my week, that's for sure. One of them is my own darn insurance company and I intend complaining to them. It's an invasion of privacy.

I’ve also kept IE9 just so I can check my saved bookmarked websites when I need them. I’ll delete them eventually.

Sorry to drivel on, but I'm trying to explain the problem so it doesn't happen to others. So far, I'm finding Google Crome is working okay.

[Medievalist]

You can export your I.E. bookmarks, and import them into another browser.

I'd export them once a month or so, anyway, from any browser as a regular backup routine.

[Matera the Mad]

Eliminating add-ons won't affect your browser's bookmarks at all.

You can back up your favorites by copying the folder somewhere else,or you can export them through IE's File menu (if it still has one?). I usually make a compressed zip file of my faves and stash it somewhere.

When you install other browsers, they will offer to import your IE bookmarks. You can do it later too.

[Trish]

Thanks so much, Medievalis and Matera. I'll do that. I didn't know I could. How dumb am I? LOL. Cheers.

[ave]

I was using IE and had updates regularly, then a week a ago, they suggested updating to IE9, so I did. Then the problems started, but also at the same time, I had been having trouble with my browsers shutting down on me all the time. I posted a question on Google and someone said to go into internet options and change the security settings to 'Medium' instead of 'Medium High' so silly me did that. Then a few moments after that, I was on another website that had adds in the right-hand side bar and I accidently clicked on it. I ended up in something about ‘Brain Games’ (i won’t mention their name though). Silly me answered all their questions, but when I realised I'd subscribed to some game website, I unsubscribed straight away. They sent me an email, saying it would take 24 hours. Maybe it was because I lowered the security settings and the malaware got in. I did go on another website that morning that that asked if you knew what asthma symptoms were.

Anyway, I've changed back to 'medium high' security settings for browsing and also found out my browser was shutting down because I had my laptop settings to turn off every five minutes if I wasn't using it. Trouble was, it shut down when I was using it. I changed those settings too, but now, I've got these adds from Telstra, Insurance companies and Job Centres stopping me from visiting certain website. Don’t these companies know that it doesn't encourage people to use their products and has the opposite effect? I'll avoid their products for ruining my week, that's for sure. One of them is my own darn insurance company and I intend complaining to them. It's an invasion of privacy.

I’ve also kept IE9 just so I can check my saved bookmarked websites when I need them. I’ll delete them eventually.

Sorry to drivel on, but I'm trying to explain the problem so it doesn't happen to others. So far, I'm finding Google Crome is working okay.

yeah, I tend to avoid clicking on adds- a lot of times they take you to websites that exploit security vulnerabilities in your browser.

Whatever was placed on your pc needs to be removed.

What anti-malware program are you using?

As mentioned above, its probably a good idea to use a browser like firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/), with no script (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noscript/) enabled. (I think there is a "no script" equivalent for crome)

[Trish]

Hi ave, thanks for the help. I use Super anti Spyware, Avast antivirus and I recently downloaded Ad-Aware. I guess I'll have to get rid of the IE for now, then.

[fivetoesten]

I've heard some pretty good things about malwarebytes (http://malwarebytes.org/), and there's always the adblock extension for chromium and firefox.

[Trish]

Thanks, fivetoesten. I'll check it out.

[Matera the Mad]

One should never go out without AdBlock Plus for Firefox ;)