Ads. Ads everywhere.

[Ikania]

So, I think something may be wrong. I have a postmaster general account, which means no ads, right? Well, it was working up until now. There are ads pretty much everywhere on my screen. Top, side, bottom, and even some words on my screen have been turned into links leading to ADS. I've disabled NS++ AND my adblocker, just to make sure, but nothing seems to work. HALP

EDIT: It's not just NS anymore. There are ads on every site I go to. I think something's gotten into my computer. I don't know if you guys can do anything, but if you could try your best to fix it solely on NS, I'd be thankful.

[Jeckland]

So, I think something may be wrong. I have a postmaster general account, which means no ads, right? Well, it was working up until now. There are ads pretty much everywhere on my screen. Top, side, bottom, and even some words on my screen have been turned into links leading to ADS. I've disabled NS++ AND my adblocker, just to make sure, but nothing seems to work. HALP

EDIT: It's not just NS anymore. There are ads on every site I go to. I think something's gotten into my computer. I don't know if you guys can do anything, but if you could try your best to fix it solely on NS, I'd be thankful.

I don't think NS can solve it if it's on your computer.

[Leutria]

It it's a virus on your computer then there is nothing NationStates can do about it. First do a scan and see if that helps, and if not download the free version of malwarebytes. I find a scan with it can catch things my antivirus has missed.

[Ikania]

It it's a virus on your computer then there is nothing NationStates can do about it. First do a scan and see if that helps, and if not download the free version of malwarebytes. I find a scan with it can catch things my antivirus has missed.

I'm downloading that program right now. It might help.

[Leutria]

It it's a virus on your computer then there is nothing NationStates can do about it. First do a scan and see if that helps, and if not download the free version of malwarebytes. I find a scan with it can catch things my antivirus has missed.

I'm downloading that program right now. It might help.

Tell me if it helps ^_^

[Ikania]

I'm downloading that program right now. It might help.

Tell me if it helps ^_^

Thanks, it's really helping now. Except for one thing. There are still wide blank spaces on the top and bottom of my screen, which won't go away. It says 'adchoice' below them. I've enabled all my stuff again and it's done nothing.

[Ikania]

Oh crap.

Everything that software removed just came back. I'm getting ads everywhere and I don't know what to do.

[The United Motherland]

I've had the same thing.

You have to switch to a new browser.

[Valrifell]

I've had the same thing.

You have to switch to a new browser.

Me too.

Chrome and Firefox bit the dust with adware, then I got Opera and my life improved.

[Montesardo-East Adanzi]

Oh crap.

Everything that software removed just came back. I'm getting ads everywhere and I don't know what to do.

Sounds like malware to me. Check your installed programmes and uninstall anything you find suspicious. Otherwise, open up the command prompt and run the tasklist command. Then, Google search each of the services to see if they are suspicious (Be careful with this one as you can damage your OS if you stop essential processes.)

[Ikania]

I've had the same thing.

You have to switch to a new browser.

Me too.

Chrome and Firefox bit the dust with adware, then I got Opera and my life improved.

Crap. I never had this problem until today, when Chrome wouldn't open so I had to use IE, which sucked. Then when it started working, Chrome was like it is now for me. Do I seriously have to switch?
I heard that Opera is really slow. Any recommendations?

[The United Motherland]

Me too.

Chrome and Firefox bit the dust with adware, then I got Opera and my life improved.

Crap. I never had this problem until today, when Chrome wouldn't open so I had to use IE, which sucked. Then when it started working, Chrome was like it is now for me. Do I seriously have to switch?
I heard that Opera is really slow. Any recommendations?

Firefox works too. (At least in my experience)

[Leutria]

What websites did you go on after running the scan? You might want to run a full scan instead of a quick one, and look at your browser add-ons and delete any that seem sketchy/you don't remember installing.

How to uninstall Chrome add-ons

[The United Motherland]

The guy above is kinda right, in any of your addons, do you have one that you can't un-install?

I may have just had that part of the deal, but maybe not...

[Ikania]

I'm going to download firefox and see if it helps. If not, Safari.

[Ikania]

I've successfully switched to firefox. Although now it keeps constantly logging me out... it'll probably go away soon.

[The United Motherland]

I've successfully switched to firefox. Although now it keeps constantly logging me out... it'll probably go away soon.

What do you mean its logging you out?

[Valrifell]

Me too.

Chrome and Firefox bit the dust with adware, then I got Opera and my life improved.

Crap. I never had this problem until today, when Chrome wouldn't open so I had to use IE, which sucked. Then when it started working, Chrome was like it is now for me. Do I seriously have to switch?
I heard that Opera is really slow. Any recommendations?

Opera's not slow, at least, not any slower than Chrome or Firefox.

[Enfaru]

Ikania, you have a virus. no ifs and buts about it. If you have an anti-virus kit, such as Avast or AVG or something like that, use. If you've used it and it has removed a virus and you've restarted and it's all come back, you have what I think is a root kit.

If this is the case, you will need to format your machine...slowly. As in, you will need to overwrite everything with 0's. It's called a secure format. It gets rid of pretty much everything (so be a bit careful that you don't get rid of your Master Boot Record).

Of course, if you really want to solve your problem, move to a more obscure operating system. Such as Linux of BSD << these guys have anti-virus protection...but I've not yet encountered a virus or even heard of anyone encountering a virus for these operating systems (I assume viruses do exist however). (They're also free... btw).

If you still want to keep your Windows, but are still having problems with the ads everywhere, you're going to need to take it in to see a specialist and get your wallet ready. They charge minimum $40 an hour.

With regards to browsers. Currently the most secure browser is actually firefox, so long as you get the right plugins. I advise Adblock+ and HTTPS everywhere oh and NoScripts. Opera fell down from its pedestal in early 2013, it's yet to recover (it's still reasonably secure... at least when compared to IE and Chrome...)

[Ikania]

Ikania, you have a virus. no ifs and buts about it. If you have an anti-virus kit, such as Avast or AVG or something like that, use. If you've used it and it has removed a virus and you've restarted and it's all come back, you have what I think is a root kit.

If this is the case, you will need to format your machine...slowly. As in, you will need to overwrite everything with 0's. It's called a secure format. It gets rid of pretty much everything (so be a bit careful that you don't get rid of your Master Boot Record).

Of course, if you really want to solve your problem, move to a more obscure operating system. Such as Linux of BSD << these guys have anti-virus protection...but I've not yet encountered a virus or even heard of anyone encountering a virus for these operating systems (I assume viruses do exist however). (They're also free... btw).

If you still want to keep your Windows, but are still having problems with the ads everywhere, you're going to need to take it in to see a specialist and get your wallet ready. They charge minimum $40 an hour.

With regards to browsers. Currently the most secure browser is actually firefox, so long as you get the right plugins. I advise Adblock+ and HTTPS everywhere oh and NoScripts. Opera fell down from its pedestal in early 2013, it's yet to recover (it's still reasonably secure... at least when compared to IE and Chrome...)

Thanks for the advice, I'm gonna download those extensions you mentioned.

As for the logging out thing, it's over now. I'm happy! The mods can come along and lock this thread if they want, I'll just start another if the need arises.

[Ballotonia]

Since your [problem isn't with NS, but with combating viruses and such, I think it is best if you get help from websites devoted to those computer problems. They're more experienced than the average NS user.

Ballotonia