how do i stop porn pop-ups. everyday i am over run with them.  sometimes they
freeze up my computer. to were i have to turn off my computer at the hard drive
or totally from the electrical outlet.

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 22 Apr 2003 14:22 PDT

To answer your question, I (and probably other researchers) would need
to know some more information:
-- Which operating system are you using?
-- Which browser are you using?  Do you know if the same thing happen
when you try using a different browser?
-- When do the popups appear?  Be as specific as possible.
-- When did the popups start appearing? Specifically, did it start
after you downloaded any particular software?

Thank you.

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Clarification of Question by 47kathy-ga on 22 Apr 2003 16:29 PDT

my internet is thru time warner roadrunner. I started getting porn pop
ups  after someone used my computer to visit porn sites. lately the
pop ups have start showing up as soon as i turn on my computer.
sometimes they take over the entire monitor screen to the point i
can't get them off unless i turn off
my hard drive or unplug the computer from the electrical outlet. i
would appreciate any help i can get. thank you

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 22 Apr 2003 17:41 PDT

47Kathy --

If I were at your home, it is very likely that I could solve your
problem for you.  It might even be possible if talking to you over the
phone.  But using this format is a bit trickier.  So I'm going to ask
you to do two things and then tell us what happens, so then it might
be possible for me or another researcher to tell you what to do next.

1. Once the first popup appears, press the Ctrl, Alt and Del keys all
at the same time.  (I'm assuming you're running Windows.  If not, let
us know.)  You should get a little window on your screen that gives
you a list of programs that are running.  Write them all down, then
list them here as a question clarification.

2. Go to the following site
http://www.zonealarm.com
and download the free ZoneAlarm program.  Read the instructions
carefully, and then don't let any program access the Internet unless
it's a program you know for sure, such as your browser or your e-mail
program.  It might be that once you start up you'll find out what
program is trying to access the Internet.  Try this program and let us
know what happens.

Again, please let us know what operating system and other software
you're using so we can be more helpful.

Thanks,

Mvguy

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Clarification of Question by 47kathy-ga on 22 Apr 2003 18:51 PDT

i have tried ctrl alt del it didn't work.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 22 Apr 2003 18:58 PDT

Are you interested in a software solution? I so, I can help you. 

I have a pop-up ad stopping program that runs silently in the
background and kills all pop-ups. In addition, I frequently use a
spyware cleaner. As a result, I have neither problem and I've been
surfing for years. They are both very simple to use (virtually
effortless). If this is what you are interested in let me know and I
will post them as an answer.

Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 25 Apr 2003 08:10 PDT

Hi. Has there been enough information here for your to solve the
problem, or are you still looking for an answer?

Kathy --

We use a program called Internet Sweeper and it does a very effective
job at closing down ALL popups:
http://www.bmesite.com/

It's a freeware program and can be turned off when a 2nd Internet
windows needs be opened (something GA researchers do quite often).

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Another solution (unless there's some sort of a rogue program that's
displaying the popups) is to use current versions of Opera or Mozilla.
 Both can be set to show requested windows only.  I use Opera, and I
haven't seen a popup since I upgraded to Opera 7 about a month ago.

Hi, Kathy:

I suspect, if you are getting porn windows popping-up for no
discernable reason, that your computer has been "infected" with some
"trojan" spyware files.

There are a couple of good programs available for download.  I use
Lavasoft's Adaware program (the freeware version), but PC Magazine's
recent review of these spyware detection utilities:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,994086,00.asp

recommends Spybot's Search & Destroy.  CNET's review was similarly
charitable:

http://www.cnet.com/software/0-806181-1204-20848563.html

My idea would be to run on of these utilities to see if you have such
files and registry settings.  My kids regularly get them on their
computer, and after many experiments with Security Settings in the
browser, I settled upon a draconian measure -- installing a Ratings
system.

Most Web pages are not tied into an active Ratings system, so it
really has the effect of requiring an adminstrative password in order
to see much of anything on the Internet.  But as a side benefit,
pop-ups can be blocked by dismissing them without approval.

regards, 
mathtalk

Just to add, as Mathtalk mentioned above, I've used Spybot Search and
Destroy and it's really great.  Hope you solve your pop-up problem...

-Andrewxmp

Hi Kathy,

I'm so sorry you're suffering from this!  The last person who did this
to *my* computer wasn't able to walk for a week after I got through
with him!  Let me add my voice to the chorus of recommendations for
SpyBot Search & Destroy.  It's a terrific program, and it gets the
bugs out.

Once you've run that, go here:  http://www.mozilla.org

Install it, set it as your default browser, then go to
Edit-->Preferences-->Privacy and Security-->Popup Windows.  Select
"Supress Popups", and you won't see them anymore.

Good luck!

--Missy

If someone did such a thing to my computer and I couldn't fix the
problem, I'd have the responsible individual take it to a computer
shop and pay to have it fixed.  That would solve the problem
effectively.

The following two answers should be of interest to you:

mysterious bug while using internet explorer
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=183540
(Discusses "Spyware" and software solutions.)

I want the porn pop up pages to end!
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=18204
(About "normal" pop-ups triggered by websites, and how to get rid of
them while keeping Internet Explorer.)

I recommend Ad-ware, check out google.com for a search on it or try
download.com.  It's a free program and has saved me from a lot of
spy-ware(which could be the cause of your problem)

(Message to 47kathy-ga)
If you are using Windows 95 or up, you can use Alt+Tab (when full
screen pop-ups come up) to switch from window to window. If you
remeber the date your "friend" was on your computer, you could do a
search for all the files and folders created that date (he might have
downloaded something that makes pop-ups). You can do this by going to
start>find file or folder>Click on the second tab and specafy the date
your friend was on.

Hi, Kathy:

The home page for the authors of "Ad-aware 6.0" is here:

http://www.lavasoft.de

The "personal" version can be downloaded for free from several
"mirror" sites, found under the Download link.

-- mathtalk-ga

If you are running XP with a broadband connection you will want to
turn off messenger, which spammers have recently found as a new
delivery method.  Check out the following link for a description of
the problem and how to turn off:

http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/answerstips/story/0,24330,3374542,00.html

If your Operating System is Windows you should check wich software is
running on your PC. Use the  ALT CTRL DELETE keys and you will get a
list of programmes currently running on your PC. If you see some
xxx-alike names it is probably the name of the application wich
klaunches the pop-ups. Memorize the name of the application and the
use the "Find Files" feature. Search for the program and delete it.
Hope this helps

http://www.admuncher.com/  - The Best prog for removing pop-up's and banners ;)

written in ASM.  It means it's small and fast ;)

The pop-up may not be directly related to internet explorer.  It may
have installed a separate program on your computer.  To stop any
unwanted programs from loading when ur pc starts then go to Start >
Run and type "msconfig"  click on the startup tab and un-check any
items which are not vital to load up when your computer starts.  Don't
worry about unchecking stuff that you do need cos it's likely that
these programs will ask you again if you want them to start when ur pc
starts up.

That should do it.

First, you may want to go to your control panel and in add/remove
programs look for things like gain, gator, savenow, new.net and remove
them.  Others have suggested spyware/adware removal tools such as
ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com).  You can also download a popup stopper
such as Panicware's pop up stopper (www.panicware.com).

Dear elnoyola-ga,
You can not nessaserly find out the "file name" of a program by
pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Pressing Cnytl+Alt+Delete gives you a list
of the names of the aplications being run. For example, you will see
"Internet Explorer" in the Ctrl+Alt+Delete window, but the "file name"
of "Internet Explore might be "lexplore.exe."
(this is excluding Windows XP)