Why does my computer suddenly jump to web pages I could care less about?

Question

For instance, just now I was sending a reply to an online vet, telling her about my cat's test results from bloodwork, etc. done by my local vet. Suddenly this page about CONSULT A LAWYER pops up in another window, with Gamevance.com's (which my Norton 360 Internet Security program says is a safe site) blue tab in the lower left corner of the page I started on. Or I get Microsoft ads, Google ads, or websites I have no clue what they're for. The other day some were for adult/porn sites! It even does it when I'm trying to answer a YA question, making me lose what information I've suggested and having to start from scratch again.
   I can simply have my mouse cursor pointed at the bottom arrow of the scroll bar, and an ad will pop up listing all these stupid sites I don't want to know about. Any suggestions??
   I've done virus scans, downloaded yet another antivirus program for a trial period (it is called AVAST and it often runs scans off and on all day while I am online, and has found numerous infected "malware/spyware cookies" that it has taken care of), and I am getting to the point of restoring  my computer to factory status--if I wouldn't lose my achievements on Facebook or my downloaded games.

? · Accepted Answer

It could be a redirect virus. You shouldn't have to reformat your drives, that's kinda overkill.
Try removing the virus first by getting a copy of malwarebytes, from malwarebytes.org.

Also, here's a Best Answer about the redirect virus.

"Any answers to why my computer keeps redirecting me when using Google?"

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090727221950AAGSPlX

Additional comments: DO NOT run multiple anti-virus programs on your PC at the same time. They will negate each other, resulting in false positives . The one program will 
"think" the other one  is malicious. Keep it simple for the computer by using only one, Avast works well. Spybot Search and Destroy also works well.

? · Answer

You have a virus of the adware type, not a traditional virus.
Traditional Virus detection probably won't flag it as an issue.

You installed something or gave permission to a program to do something
and 'it' was installed.  If you can remember what 'it' is, uninstall it and see if it helps.
Sometimes in the EULA you even grant 'it' permission to do this to your machine
so you can have the rights to play their game, run their program, etc...

Install and run Spybot latest version and see what it finds.

If you are really good with computers, Try HIJACKTHIS and see what is on your machine.

Research to see if you can backup facebook because the only sure way to kill it is taking it back to factory settings.

Be aware that you can no longer use this machine for anything important.
i.e. Banking, anything connected with your Identity like your SSN, Address, etc.

Anonymous · Answer

"Suddenly this page about CONSULT A LAWYER pops up in another window"  That's called a popup.  It's advertising.  Use a browser with a popup blocker to block them.  Firefox is pretty good at that.

Clifford D · Answer

the first to answer are what i think im a computer tech my sister had the same prob. she got it from facebook and i did have to reformat the hard drive but thay are all not the same some are more  harmful than others but i would  reformat the hard drive and just start over.

Anonymous · Answer

correction=is the computer virus more handsome than the HIV virus? rite? haiz!! brudder bruddr...what the virus do to u one? no lah, if the pc virus jump and bite me one, i will poke his eyes with my sharp 6B pensel ha.ha.ha. but so small then me, how i can see the eye ah? i think i wil use the big stikey tape like the football goal net one, put in front of pc and wait for the virus jump out. lol. the komputer virus and the hiv virus two two also not hansome one lah. the two same bad one virus.

Trending News

Why does my computer suddenly jump to web pages I could care less about?

5 Answers