I have an antivirus program and have had it for awhile with no problems. All of a sudden I am seeing popup ads when I mouse over links on a few sites. Not all links are doing it however, only some. I don't have an adaware remover at the moment. If I really need it can someone give me a link to a safe one to download and use please.

You didn't state which browser you are using so i assume Mozilla?
Most of the time it's Firefox addons from other programs showing you stuff you like or they think you like according to your browsing history.
Try going to Help>Trouble Shooting Information and click the reset button on that page.

Sallyanne, you could always use Ad-Aware free, but there are other ad blocking APPs available too.

I had a real bad infection on my kid's computer last year.

I'd set up a (free) account at http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ ... t-do-i-do/ and post in that forum asking for help.

They have volunteers that will talk you though installing software, etc. to diagnose and clean up any infections you might have. They were invaluable for me, and I consider myself fairly tech savvy!

Good luck!

-Rob A>

Thanks Rod & RobA

Any update? Did you have an infection?

-Rob A>

Sorry RobA, just checked up on this thread again. No I didn't have an infection (touch wood)- although my AV kept telling me that gimp is bad. So I eventually 'told it' to allow it.
I only today downloaded (firefox addon) adblock and that has stopped alot of extra ads appearing on my browser.

Hi sallyanne,

From the symptoms you describe, it really sounds like you do have malware on your system. Either that, or you are visiting websites which use IntelliTXT or some variation thereof. Rather than (or in addition to) running ADs, some websites convert keywords of their content to advertising links using "Text Enhancer" AD scripts, which is an attempt to trick you into clicking on a link that you think is there to give you more information, but it's actually an AD.

You're web browser can also be hijacked with one of these "Text Enhancer" apps, which is likely what happened on your PC. The most common way to get infected is to install a Web Browser Add-on or Extension (or an app) that contains a toolbar, which does the hijacking. Things like "Coupon Companion" and other "Deal or Sales" toolbars, as well as various Download Managers, Video Player/Codecs are notorious for this kind of thing and I frequently clean them off of my clients' PCs.

You will want to check your Firefox Add-ons & Extensions to ensure none of these toolbars or other "helpers", have been installed. If you use a lot of Add-ons & Extensions and are not sure which of them might be responsible, disable all of them, then enable one at a time until you find the culprit.

From your Windows Control Panel, you should also check your "Add/Remove programs" or "Programs and Features" (or whatever it is they're calling it in your version of Windows) to see if some toolbar or another out of place app has been installed there.

Installing an AD Blocker alone doesn't really fix the underlying problem. Your AD blocker and malware might be fighting each other, which can be a drain on your PC's resources.

Thanx Tux. I think that is what happened. I downloaded Spybot just after I first posted this message. I have had it before and that was the best thing I could think of to get rid of malaware. Problem with it is (because I have the free version) you have to 'run' it to get rid of anything.
Oh I am pretty careful which 'link' I click now

Oh, OK. Spybot Search & Destroy must have gotten rid of it for you.