Stopping this annoying pop-ups

How did this happen?

[johnnydequino]

Not sure if this is the correct forum to ask, but I seem to have a pop-up problem. I have a pop-up blocker, but somehow there is a company that has embedded it's pop ups on my computer so that everytime I browse, it serves me an ad. I can't get rid of it, or find it.

Any advice? It's not GAIN, the gator network.

jd

[Birdman]

No problem, just disable Messenger Service [microsoft.com] and they are good as gone.

Birdman

[Alternative Future]

Is it spyware?

If so there is software that gets rid of it for you, just do a search for spyware removal. As I think it has reached the registry level when you persistently receive them with the blocker in place.

-George

[Birdman]

From Microsoft:

If advertisements are opening on your computer in a window titled Messenger Service, it may indicate that your system is not secure. You should enable the Internet Connection Firewall and disable the Messenger Service in Windows XP to help protect your computer from unwanted spam and other potential threats.

The Messenger Service was originally designed for use by system administrators to notify Windows users about their networks. However, some advertisers have started using this service to send information via the Internet, and these messages could be used maliciously to distribute a virus.

[maluka]

I don't think he meant the messenger service, but popups in general.

Why hasn't anyone suggested the Google toolbar which takes care of popups?

[ukgimp]

[webmasterworld.com...]

pop ups could be the least of your worries my friend, without tyring to alarm you.

[WeirdoPL]

If it's not the windows messenger, then...

My solution:
1. Disable non-vendor expansions in IE.
-> No effect?
2. Check the autorun section in Your windows registry: anything suspicious? DESTROY!
-> Still not the thing?
3. Run anti-adware software.

By now you should have gotten rid of any bandwidth-stealing popup-making scum that was there. If not: virus-chceck yourself (the least possible thing - but still: it's always good to be on the safe side).

And also use the directions in the link posted by ukgimp. But that's actually part of being on the safe side ;)

[grahamstewart]

Sounds like spyware to me.

Download and run a spyware removal tool (like AdAware - available free from Lavasoft) and remove anything nasty that it finds.