Some form of malware/virus

[Pancake Of Doom]

At some point I somehow downloaded this thing. It keeps popping up on random sites under the name "Ads by SmartShopper" It displays 3 or 4 items and just won't go away. Virus scan shows nothing, and I frankly have no idea what this thing is.

It shows up on the forums,facebook, and other places.

 

[Disorder]

It's most likely a bad rootkit.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Download the free version and scan with this, it's practically the best antivirus on the market.

 

[Pancake Of Doom]

As of now, it's gone. I guess I found the program it was attatched to. Crisis averted

 

[Disorder]

Do a scan with that antivirus, I can promise it will find at least ten non-malware.

 

[Helios]

id also say use adblocker for your browser
because fuck ads

 

[Imp]

Ad blocker doesn't always work with virus advertisements and adware, when I had adware on my computer I used a program called Zoek to clean the browser of the adware, followed by using Malwarebytes Antimalware to remove any causes of the adware located in areas that aren't my browser files.

 

[Helios]

adware and spyware you should probably use something like mbytes or spybot S&D yeah but im talking about just ads in general

 

[Ober]

Happen with me recently. I had to wipe my fucking computer.

 

[Gangleider]

use malwarebytes yeah but usually PUPs(potentially unwanted programs) are still technically "legal" and thus allow you to uninstall them, although sometimes with a bit of a detour. i'd always choose that option before forcibly removing individual files with any kind of scanner as that won't completely get rid of all the traces left by it.
look for an uninstall first, run it(if there is one), then run a scan. mwb almost always catches these sorts of things

if there's no uninstall taking a look at your extensions(chrome://extensions for chrome users, not sure about firefox but it shouldnt be too hard) is usually also worth doing because that's usually how they get into your browser

pay extra attention next time you run any kind of installer. it's usually how these things get into your system by some pre-ticked checkbox(such as java which still tries to force ask toolbar on you). always fully read every step.

 

[Pruney]

I don't know how people manage to get this kind of stuff. Removed something like this at work the other day.

I've never even got malware the whole time ive ever used a computer.

 

[Pancake Of Doom]

I don't know how people manage to get this kind of stuff. Removed something like this at work the other day.

I've never even got malware the whole time ive ever used a computer.

I had to reinstall chrome the other day and clicked on the first link when I searched "Google Chrome" on IE.

That was a mistake.

use malwarebytes yeah but usually PUPs(potentially unwanted programs) are still technically "legal" and thus allow you to uninstall them, although sometimes with a bit of a detour. i'd always choose that option before forcibly removing individual files with any kind of scanner as that won't completely get rid of all the traces left by it.
look for an uninstall first, run it(if there is one), then run a scan. mwb almost always catches these sorts of things

if there's no uninstall taking a look at your extensions(chrome://extensions for chrome users, not sure about firefox but it shouldnt be too hard) is usually also worth doing because that's usually how they get into your browser

pay extra attention next time you run any kind of installer. it's usually how these things get into your system by some pre-ticked checkbox(such as java which still tries to force ask toolbar on you). always fully read every step.

Also: This is the first unwanted program I've downloaded in the past... 4 years. Tell this to my dad, whom downloaded the virus that locks your computer down and claims its been locked by the FBI due to involvement in child pornography. It asks for something like 500 dollars to unlock your computer.

I had to system restore his computer. The cause?

"MILF Orgy 2014"
I'll never stop giving him shit for it.

 

[vey]

If you end up getting malwarebytes--it has malicious website protection. If you happen to click on a sketchy website, it'll block the page and say 'potentially dangerous website blocked'.

Really helpful when you want websitename but end up clicking websitenanne (two n's in place of the single m).