when browsing on my new windows 8.1 PC I keep getting tabs opening up requesting me to download all kinds of different stuff that doesn't look lagitemate - how
I just received my new windows 8.1 PC and downloaded firefox 30 onto it. When surfingf the net - I keep getting new tabs opening on their own. These tabs areweb pages that are either recommending different program downloads or issuing a virus and or maleware warning and recommending that I call a phone number to get tech support for the problems it is reporting. I know theses are scams but I can't figure out how to stop this action in the firefox browser. I have other PCs with the same version of Firefox on them and I have matched all settings that I can find. Can someone please help me with this issue? I am pulling my hair out - and there is not much hair left. Thanks
Chosen solution
Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml - SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Windows Defender:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender - Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
All Replies (3)
- Start Firefox in safe mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem:
- Firefox in safe mode
- See Troubleshooting extensions and themes if the problem doesnt occur in safe mode.
- Malwares can also cause these problems:
- You can also use some add-ons to block ads/popups:
Chosen Solution
Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml - SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Windows Defender:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender - Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
Hey thanks - took a day and used the programs you recommended - found tons of bad stuff - fixed the problem :) Thanks for the help - Roger