help with pop-up that won't go away?

[nineiron]

Hi. For the last day or so, when I open my internet browser, a FULL SCREEN pop-up ad appears, and I can't get rid of it. When I say full screen, I mean there's no way I can see to "X it out" the way you'd normally do with an ad. Also, if I try the only other way I know of getting rid of things (right clicking on the appropriate box in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, then X-ing out), the toolbar disappears. It reappears when I click anywhere on the huge white screen, but that doesn't help me get rid of the ad. Is there another way to get rid of a screen other than the regular X in the top right side or the right clicking of the bottom box on the toolbar? (As I'm typing, the ad seems to have refreshed and given me some unwanted porn.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've just been shutting the computer down, but there's got to be a way to get rid of this, no?

I tried changing the "internet options" home page option to what it used to be (this ad's sight had made itself my home page), but I'm still looking at this full screen ad (which has just refreshed itself yet again). Help!

[don't ask]

Go to Google and install the toolbar. It only takes amoment and has a built in popup blocker that may do the job.

[Martiju]

Short term, I reckon you could 'Alt-Ctrl-Delete' and open the Task Manager. You should be able to shut down the window from there.

In the longer term, you need something like AdAware which will delete the registry entries for the program creating the pop-up. Also, the Google toolbar (or similar) will help in the future.

J.

[Vaioman]

while you have that window selected press 'ALT + F4' or 'CTRL + W'

should close the window that time, but if it comes back consistently when you click it's probably something you should look into getting rid of through other means.

you could also press ALT+Spacebar to get the menu you normally would from clicking on the top left icon.

[Martiju]

Originally Posted by Vaioman

while you have that window selected press 'ALT + F4' or 'CTRL + W'

Hey that's cool - I didn't know that one and just tried it. Now I have to explain my little cheer of delight in the otherwise peaceful office.

Yes, I'm easily pleased!

[RealityChuck]

This is definitely a symptom of spyware on your computer. Get Ad-Aware or Spybot and run it ASAP.