Has Nick's gone over to the dark side?

[Neil Appleby]

I've noticed that every time I click on a thread or add to a post the last 48 hours or so, my browser opens a new window advertising a betting agency. Surely not! Say it aint so mods.

[David]

Neil, sounds like you might have picked up a virus. My manager had a similar thing happen to his computer so that every time he went to sites like imdb, ezydvd.com.au and anything else he'd get popup ads. I can only presume that's what's happened, because nothing like that is happening to me.

[Tannin]

There is a lot of this going about lately, Neil. I've has three or four machines come into the workshop to have this infection (or one like it) removed over the last two or three weeks. As computer infections go, it's moderate, neither particularly difficult nor particularly easy to clean up. (I'm assuming a typical case here, sometimes something like this turns out to be the tip of a very large iceberg, sometimes it turns out to be the only thing that needs attention; mostly there are some associated and/or similar things to remove also, and nearly always there is some retraining required to prevent reinfection.)

I'd expect a competent computer tech to clean this up for you readily enough; as a guide I'd usually charge $85 and need the machine for a full day, though I expect you'll pay a bit more than that in Melbourne. In theory you could do it yourself but that's not something I'd recommend in your case - the fact that you didn't immediately recognise it for what it is hints that you are a normal person (as opposed to a computer geek) and that you are likely to have a bit of a battle on your own. If you have a good computer guy, give him a call.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

[CoastPie]

Sounds like Malware, try the free version of Malwarebytes

[Tannin]

You will need more than Malwarebytes for this one. It's moderately tricky and needs multiple steps to eradicate. (Assuming it is the same thing I've seen several times over the last few weeks, which seems likely.)

[CoastPie]

[all free]:
avast
Malwarebytes
Hitman 3.5
CCleaner [Just for a tidy up]

[collie dog]

Stop visiting adult sites Neil.