# Popup infestation **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 24, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popup-infestation/170902 "2003-04-24T17:50:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popup-infestation/170902/1 "2003-04-24T17:50:35Z")
I’m now getting popups when I access the SDMB front page. I don’t think the Reader is sponsoring them 'cos they have some sort of disclaimer at the bottom saying their ad is not presented by the site I’m visiting. Needless to say this is a bit of an annoyance. Who do we report this kind of thing to as far as the Reader is concerned? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popup-infestation/170902/2 "2003-04-24T18:50:52Z")
It sounds like you might have inadvertently allowed some plugin to install itself; (assuming you are using windows/IE)In Windows 9x, thwese would be found in c:\windows\installed program files (or something like that); I’m not sure where they are in XP, but also look in the add/remove programs applet in Control Panel. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popup-infestation/170902/3 "2003-04-24T19:01:07Z")
Failing that, get either Ad-aware or Spybot, which search out and remove nastyware from your computer. Also consider Popup Stopper to prevent browser popups. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popup-infestation/170902/4 "2003-04-26T16:49:51Z")
OK, will check that out and see what I can find. Thanks for the tips. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popup-infestation/170902/5 "2003-04-26T17:11:54Z")
Here’s a recent [related thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=168238)