# YAPQ (Yet Another Popup question) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202 "2004-04-09T17:44:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/1 "2004-04-09T17:44:38Z")
I’m getting hundreds of IE (Internet Explorer) windows with ads in them magically appearing on my computer (WinXP). I’ve run Norton Anti-Virus (9.05) and Ad-Aware (6.0) a zillion times. Nothing helps. Can you help? ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/2 "2004-04-09T19:08:29Z")
You might try what is suggested at this link to spybot search & destroy > **[Home - Spybot Anti-Malware and Antivirus](https://www.safer-networking.org/?page=faq&detail=13)** > > Spybot offers a unique technology for your security. Far beyond antivirus Spybot searches and destroys unwanted software and protects your privacy. It worked for me, I was getting a bunch of stuff from cheap-tickets and orbitz. Since doing what is listed on the above site I have not had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/3 "2004-04-09T19:49:05Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > Can you help? A popup blocker wouldn’t hurt; [Free Surfer](http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/fs.htm) is what I use. Wouldn’t help though if what you have is getting in via some POS adware. When’s the last time you updated your Ad-aware? You should have it check for updates at least once a week, same for Spybot. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/4 "2004-04-09T19:57:08Z")
Ah, the day arrives when my sig becomes useful. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/5 "2004-04-09T19:58:15Z")
I see you already use adaware. Do you update it often? Do it once a week. Same with spybot. ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/6 "2004-04-09T23:11:19Z")
Normally I don’t have a problem with spy-ware but in the last month I have been hit twice with it while searching on Google. It will take over my homepage and ad pages take over my browser. I update my Adaware and Spybolt every time I use them. Sometimes it takes both of them to clear all spy-ware and junk from my computer. Also, for normal popups I use the free version of this tiny program [Another IE Popup Killer.](http://fadsoft.com/) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/7 "2004-04-10T01:48:42Z")
If Spybot or Ad-Aware can’t do it (and, despite being find products, it’s hard for them to keep up), download Hijackthis (do a Google search), run it, save the log, and post it in the forums at [http://www.spywareinfo.com](http://www.spywareinfo.com). You’ll get an answer in a few hours. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yapq-yet-another-popup-question/239202/8 "2004-04-10T02:33:59Z")
After you get the spy/adware cleaned off of your machine, I highly reccomend switching to another browser like [FireFox](http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/) or [Opera](http://www.opera.com/) that doesn’t have the gaping security holes found in Internet Explorer. Both these browsers have many other features as well - built-in pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, mouse gestures(need an extension to do this with Firefox), and so on.