problem with strange pop-up ads
 

Running win2k, sp3
IE 6.0 (service pack unknown, not my computer)

I was actually doing nothing on the computer. It was "idling" so to speak. Internet explorer was not open. My Computer was. A couple pop-up ads appeared. It seems like there is an executable on the computer somewhere, possibly a registry key left over from a previous virus. I ran a complete virus scan, but to no avail. If anyone could help me out with some information as to what this could be, that would be great.

What sites were the ads from?
What virus did you have?

run adaware also. and there's another one but i can't remember, spybot i think...

there have been similar threads, try a tfp search on 'popup' and possibly google for ideas if you have trouble deleting the .exe's in question.

longjohns got it right you have ad ware (like software or spyware but it runs ads. Stupid Spammers!) and both programs are great but i prefer spybot!

are the pop-ups the gray kind. i'm thinking you have the network messenging service started.
right click "my computer", "manage", "services and apps" services, "messenger"

its prolly messenging service, I use it all the time to bug my friends ;)

Many thanks - I was having that problem too. Made me nearly shat myself when I got the messaage as I'd only just reformatted after a virus killed me off. :crazy:
I've never been able to find the damn thing, despite ad-aware, zonealarm and norton anti-vir running constantly. Thanks! :p

Have used Ad-Aware 6.0 for a while---just down loaded
spybot and it found 246 of those damn things in my registry..
they be gone...no more ads...

Thanks from me as well. These were driving me nuts!

thanks very much for the help

Go to any of the free download sites. I use spybot myself. Good to see a fellow Vancouver person online.