Computer help

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
765
I was working on my desktop computer awhile ago and tried to update my Real player. Apparently I also downloaded a virus or some bad something. All of a sudden I have ad after ad after ad popping up on the screen. Can someone tell me what I have downloaded and more importantly, how to get rid of it?
 
Do you have virus protection or any type of adware protection? I would run a complete scan if you can.
 
I tried running the adware program. That didn't help. I thought I had Microsoft Security Essentials on the computer, but I can't find it.
 
I tried running the adware program. That didn't help. I thought I had Microsoft Security Essentials on the computer, but I can't find it.

Some viruses take down security essentials in my experience. I was looking at a site that was about Bear being a fraud, clicked on the link and got attacked. What exactly is popping up? When mine happened, an icon popped up claiming to be a malware program and ran its own 'virus screenings' and disabled my security essentials.
 
I second Malwarebytes effectiveness. Though, I do kind of question your choice in media player... why Real Player?
 
I second Malwarebytes effectiveness. Though, I do kind of question your choice in media player... why Real Player?

I was trying to play a song that I had purchased on my iPhone. It required Real Player. I don't usually use it.
 
OP, these are all the programs you should need.

Avira Antivirus - 96% detection rate, free, lightweight software
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Offers free version, high detection rate, cleans quickly and effectively
CCleaner - Cleans out unused files and makes space on your hard drive.
Defraggler - Better and lighter version of Windows defragmenter
 
I ran the Malwarebytes last night and rebooted the computer. It appeared that it was fixed. My Wife called me at work today to report that when she got online the ads started popping up again. I tried running the Malwarebytes this afternoon after work and the scan found nothing. Any ideas what I have going on here? Thanks again for all the help. I really do appreciate it.
This is an old computer and I have almost convinced my Wife that we need to replace it. At this point I am really trying to get to a point that I can get my music, pictures and other files that I want to save off of it.
 
Well your first problem is you have real player installed. real player has no actual use on today's computers.

First, run superantispyware
second, run malwarebytes
third, run combofix
fourth, win.
 
boot up in safe mode, download and install the free version of avast (just type 'avast free' in google, but make sure you click on the right link if it redirects you to download from somewhere else).
after it's installed, make sure you update the program and definitions.
have it run a boot-time scan and restart.
avast will conduct a scan before windows loads, and for anything that it finds, choose "move all to chest".
let it finish, and usually that takes care of it.
you can then run malwarebytes again after it's done.

and I echo the sentiments above about realplayer. if you need realplayer to play something, it's not worth playing in the first place.

if you are purchasing a song, make sure you get it in mp3 or mp4 format.
 
Hey bro. I highly recommend downloading one of the Linux OSs out there and ween yourself away from winblows. I personally use Linux Mint as my main OS and dual boot into winblows when necessary. You can also scan your winblows drive while running Linux. That way, whatever problems you are having in winblows won't be running while you are in the Linux environment.

If this is a little too much for you then I suggest using Firefox or Chrome as your main browser & download ad and script blockers to stop any malicious files from running. Good luck
 
If you can get to your music and have it in a hard location on the PC just put it on a zip drive. That way you can transfer it to a new PC. I just replaced my dell after about 5 years. When they get that old it's pretty much a no brainer to just replace. Check out Costco if you have one. They have pretty good prices on PC's. I got an entire set up (minus speakers, used my dell) for about 499.00. Computer problems are soooo frustrating.
 
Several of the anti virus software companies have bootable CD iso images you can download and burn. Make a CD and boot your computer off it. Runs the virus scan from the CD.
 
+1 on Avast free, but I would also recommend getting Spybot S&D and running it as well in safe mode. Once all that is done, if you are still trying to play music, what you need is a codec pack as opposed to Real Player. I use the K-Lite codec pack, and that enables Windows Media Player to play pretty much everything you would ever come across.
 
What I hear from my daughter's IT techie friends is that there is no one program that can find everything.

That being said, I've only had one virus in the last 10-12 years. Only Spybot Search & Destroy was able to detect the one I had.

If it were I, I would first get rid of Realplayer. It sucks little green toads, and could be the source of the issue.

I would then get and run the programs these folks have recommended.

I run both Avast Anti-virus and Comodo firewall and have never had any invaders since starting to use them. They are both freeware, and once you get your machine fixed, I would recommend you use them, also.
 
Probably realplayer causing the pop ups. +1 for spybot search and destroy (it's free). I run Firefox with APB installed (also free). Highly reccomended running a third party antivirus/security suite like AVG (free for 30 days).
 
As everybody has stated remove Real Player. The player itself is on spyware lists. From there install Avast antivirus, Free on their website. Then use the latest version of firefox with Ad Blocker Pro, also free. You should be good to go from there. But stay away from Real Player like the plague, its nothing but crapware.
 
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