laptop slowed down and ads!

[dfv87]

OK I have a 2-3 yr old laptop that I surf and play online games with... kids use it for same... I also do email and FB on it. About a week ago it got really slow on internet and now ads are all over the google home page and any page we open. I changed the security setting up to med high from med low and it did nothing. I also downloaded MacAfee security thinking I have a virus or something. I had Trend Micro, but was not sure when it ran or what version it was. It said it was current but I was not sure how to tell?

ideas? thoughts?

Son plays MInecraft and he said it is too slow and it jumps out of the game to ads... you x out and alt shift back to the game and 15 mins later it does it again?????

[LMITOUT]

I'm sure others will chime in with good ideas but the first one that comes to mind is to try downloading and installing Spybot Search and Destroy to clean up the tracking cookies and other garbage you pick up while surfing.

The other I would try is CCleaner. This will also scan your hard drive and get rid of the excess baggage.

Both are free so you're not out anything by trying them.

[delcecchi]

Also consider malwarebytes.

[smalliehunter]

Malwarebytes is all you need

[upnorth]

Like already said Malwarebytes, CCleaner does help by cleaning out hiding spots and just plain a nice clean up tool.

[walleyeking19]

Same thing happened to me a few months ago and I downloaded malwarebytes and my computer runs smoothly now! Also try deleting all your history and cookies, that may help too.

Downloading adblock makes sure you never see ads again on any page. I could never have a computer without it on there!

[bucketmouth64]

I recently had the same issue. I had ads popping up every time I went onto a new page, even on this forum. I saw the name of the pop ups (softocoup)or something to that effect and went into programs looked at what I have installed. There it was somehow it was installed and I then uninstalled it and ran my virus programs. Now I don't have any popups and computer seems to run better now.

[dfv87]

Malwarebytes did the trick. Thanks fellas!

[eyeguy 54]

i installed the free version. been getting the same adds popping up. good so far.

[LMITOUT]

Malwarebytes did the trick. Thanks fellas!

Good to hear.

Circling back to this topic...I got a new PC about a month ago and wanted to see how Malwarebytes and Spybot S&D compared. I only installed MB and every scan showed zero problems found. I ran MB again this morning and got the same results.

Installed and ran Spybot and it found 56 objects.

I had MB on my previous PC and it never really found much on that PC, either, while SB did the bulk of the work.

Might not hurt to put SB on your PC as well and see what comes up, as it's clear that MB isn't finding everything that might be lurking on your computer.

[Notime]

I have beend having the same trouble from and "adhold" and it has been slightly irritating! I just ran malwarebytes and it blocked and picked up 20 issues! Thanks for the free help! Now I just have to figure why my adobe keeps crashing.

[upnorth]

I would try removing and re installing adobe. I am not fond of the newer versions. There are other .pdf readers out there that work pretty well. Foxit is one of them.

[delcecchi]

I have noticed that spybot reports cookies as suspicious. Erase them all leads to annoying results.

[leech~~]

Malwarebytes did the trick. Thanks fellas!

So far so good for me as well. I spent 6 hrs on 3 different days with a Dell tech from India I could not understand and all he did was wipe out a bunch of my stuff and my PC was still slow and locked up ever 10 mins' So far so good! Where do I mail the check?

[upnorth]

I have noticed that spybot reports cookies as suspicious. Erase them all leads to annoying results.

Some cookies do collect info and send it back. I know some like spybot, but not one that I use.

[WalleyeSlayer21]

Got a new lap top this morning from Santa Samsung Chrome Book, so i can be logged on HotSpotOutdoors mostly 24/7!

[delcecchi]

Good for you.

[Coon]

Downloading adblock makes sure you never see ads again on any page.

Thanks for this mention...it works quite well

[eyeguy 54]

I just added the Simply Stop Ads extension from google and working great so far.

[Ole #1]

Spybot and Malwarebytes are great tools, but usually just running them won't fix the issue. It takes a bit of a deeper dive than that. If anyone has any issues, feel free to PM me. I work in IT security but do computer repair as a hobby/side biz. Malware and spyware are 2 different things, that's why spybot will find things and malwarebytes wont. If you only browse the internet, BUY A CHROMEBOOK!!! They are virus proof and you never have to worry about it.