Pop-ups are killing me. (New Windows user)

[5tevie]

Hi Guys,
For a long time now I have been using a Mac Mini but for personal reasons I have now bought myself a Dell OptiPlex 760 Small Form Factor PC running Windows 7 Pro, 64 bit. The last time that I used Windows I had Windows XP Sp3 as my OS and I was reasonably happy with it, but this computer is killing me with unwanted pop-ups.
The computer came with what was called a "clean install of Windows 7 Pro" with MSE and Vlc.
For security, this PC is running MSE, Malwarebytes and Superantispyware. I never click on links in e-mails and the like and I have not yet downloaded anything. Every 2 days I update all 3 security progs and run scans of my PC, deleting anything found. But it seems that no matter what I do I am still getting loads of unwanted pop-ups. Things from Anyprotect and sites that will speed up my PC are the worst offenders and just won't go away. As well as those, I also get a lot of what I can only call, "Mini web pages" that appear on either side of whatever web page I happen to be on that offer to take me to web pages showing similar kinds of things.
Anyway, ideally, you guys will be able to offer advice as to what I can do to solve my pop-up issue.
Cheers,
Steve.

 

[maxie]

Hi Steve ... Welcome to Seven Forums ... Read the Link below and follow the Instructions ..


Remove AnyProtect Online Backup (Uninstall Guide)

 

[bigmck]

What browser are you using?

 

[5tevie]

Apologies, Bigmck.
I'm trying to work through Maxie's advice at the moment so just a quick reply. I WAS using Chrome but now also using Firefox.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have PopUps blocked in Firefox at Tools>Options>Content?

 

[5tevie]

Gregrocker .... I do have pop-ups blocked there. I didn't do it myself, it was already set like that.

 

[gregrocker]

Then I'd think you have adware but SAS will almost always root it out.

Is this persistent and generated from the browser only?

Is the popup always the same or similar or is it random?

Try another browser, then try a popup blocker add-on.

Try reinstalling Firefox latest version.

 

[5tevie]

Gregrocker ..... Hello and many thanks for your contributions. I must just say that a lot has happened since I started this thread, and all to the good as far as I can see. Let me better explain what happened.
I was happily using a Mac with no problems at all with things like pop-ups and the like. Then I found that there were a few websites that I couldn't use so I bought myself this cheap Dell with a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro plus original software. I got it all set up and connected to my home router via wi-fi.
BANG!! .... Problems. I was getting pop-ups every 5 seconds. The major culprit wanted to either sped up my PC or from something called Anyprotect. Apart from those 2, I would also get strange sections of web pages covering either the left, right or bottom edges of my screen. I should maybe add that my screen is a 70" LCD screen, lol.
The good news is that I followed the insructions about deleting the Anyprotect issue as told to by Maxie and now, all of my pop-ups have completely stopped. The only bad news is that I was using Google Chrome as my default browser but now, when I try to get to a familiar website, I get a message saying that Chrome can't access the site because I'm on a proxy server. I don't even know what one of those is, nevermind how to get myself logged on to one. Still. I'm happy enough using Firefox for now.
Thanks again,
Steve

 

[maxie]

Glad you got the popups sorted Steve ... Maybe the Link below will help with Chrome if you decide to use it in the future ..

https://support.google.com/chromebook/troubleshooter/1257251?hl=en-GB#ts=1262505,1283341

 

[gregrocker]

Glad to hear it. I wonder why that spyware wasn't flagged by SAS or MBAM.

But having a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 in which one reimports the preisntalled factory bloatware - especially the duplicate utilties which interfere with better versions built into Win7 - defeats the purpose of the Clean Reinstall.

The tools and methods in the blue link will assure you get and keep a perfect install. It may be worth doing it over, or save it for later.

 

[AddRAM]

Do you have your pop blocker set to block all pop ups ? ( Internet Explorer ) Does not matter if you use it or not.

I use Chrome as my main browser and never get pop ups.

Have you gone into Add/Remove programs yet, there`s probably some unwanted programs installed there.

Chrome settings: