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Deleting flashing ads (malware?)

beadstylin avatar
beadstylin from beadstylin 2:29 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
Okay, so I know Etsy doesn't put flashing ads at the top and sides of the screen, but my computer has been assaulted tonight by these annoying ads.

Yes, I realize these aren't of Etsy origin (they show up on a few other sites as well), but can someone here please tell me how I might get rid of these in I.E?

Super-annoying. I figure it's maybe malware of some type? I did an AVG scan just now, but it's not picking this up as a virus.

Anyone had this happen to them before...and have you been successful in removing?

I'll check back in the morning--thanks.

20 Responses

crochetgal avatar
crochetgal from crochetgal 3:23 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
If you have malware, one product that I use to keep it at bay is MalwareBytes . The free version works very well as long as you keep it updated.

beadstylin avatar
beadstylin from beadstylin 10:05 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
Thanks.

Any other advice on those who had this and got rid of it??
beadstylin avatar
beadstylin from beadstylin 10:30 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
Installed MalwareBytes and ran it. It didn't catch a thing, and the ads are still there.

Anyone?? The ads are on Facebook too, so this is a system-wide thing for me.
kidichimama avatar
kidichimama from kidichimama 10:33 am Jan 7, 2013 EST edited
You may also may consider using:

www.safer-networking.org/
This is called Spybot Search and Destroy. It has been available for several years, is donate only, and the authors have very good reputations.

www.iobit.com/
IObit Malware Fighter has a free version that works well for proactive monitoring.

There is also:

lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
They were just adware but have started offering more options - I have not tested this software in several years.

The combination of spybot and iobit is quite powerful.

I saw you tried malwarebytes - it could be that an addon like 'atomic' has been added to your browser and many will not detect this as a threat. What browser are you using?
beadstylin avatar
beadstylin from beadstylin 10:36 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
Thanks for the links!

What I am actually looking for at this point (before I start downloading more software) are people who have actually had this happen to them before and got rid of it.

We had this on our upstairs computer last year--but I can't remember how we finally got rid of it.
beadstylin avatar
beadstylin from beadstylin 10:37 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
Using I.E. It's also attached itself to my Google Chrome browser as well.
Fynorrahs avatar
Fynorrahs from Fynorrahs 10:42 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
it most likely an add on program. Check your add ons and disable, one at a time, the most recent ones that you do not recognize.

Do them one at a time so you can go back and enable it again if that wasn't the culprit. Starting with the most recently installed you should be able to locate it without too much trouble.
beadstylin avatar
beadstylin from beadstylin 10:43 am Jan 7, 2013 EST
How do I check my add-ons please?
kidichimama avatar
kidichimama from kidichimama 10:45 am Jan 7, 2013 EST edited
There are two possibilities:

1) an addon has self installed or was installed
2) a dll or similar has been hijacked, replaced, modified

You need to look for any browser addon that may have installed, that is why I ask what browser - it is easier to tell you where to look if I can to know what you use. If no addon then you need to use a tool that will make a deep scan for adware/malware/etc.

I have done this once or twice.....

For IE - there is a little gear in upper right of browser, just under eXit (red X)
Click that gear and select manage addons

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