A virus or not?

[romanstopme]

I have recently started seeing a pop up appear with every new web page i open. Its really annoying the window is the same but ads inside change every time. I am not sure if its a virus or some malware i scanned with AVG but i keep just getting cookies on there. Can some one suggest a program that could scan and repair this problem? I am running windows xp

[MOVIEGEEK]

SuperAntiSpyware
MalwareBytes

[lowellriggsiam]

Spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

[HotDamn!]

I second MOVIEGEEK's reply. I run both of these and disable the real time protection for superantispyware as you really only need AVG.

Not to steer you away from AVG but I would suggest Avast also for your full time anti virus. I switched from AVG and found it to be a little more for me. Caught a few things right after my switch that AVG didn't find.

Haven't had a problem with spy-ware, malware, and a virus since I've started with these products. All free!

[freebird73717]

SuperAntiSpyware
MalwareBytes

Agree

Also second Avast suggestion.

[romanstopme]

Is avast free software? or is it like avg both free and payware?

[freebird73717]

They have a professional version that you pay for and they also have a free for home version. I use the free version myself and find it very good.

See the "Free Security Software" link in my sig for links to the free versions of Avast, SuperAntiSpyware, and Malwarebytes.

[HotDamn!]

And please check back if you have any questions about the programs. I'm sure someone will be able to help you since all 3 of us have been using them.

ps...I use the free versions for all 3 of them.

[jman98]

Not to steer you away from AVG but I would suggest Avast also for your full time anti virus. I switched from AVG and found it to be a little more for me. Caught a few things right after my switch that AVG didn't find.

To each his own, but I tried the free Avast a few years ago and was so unimpressed with it that went back to AVG and I've stayed with AVG. I know that this is sacrilege because Avast is just the greatest program ever written by man, but I just wanted to say that I tried it and it did not meet my needs. I have ZERO interest in explaining why I didn't like it and all I'm going to say here is that I didn't like it. If you do like Avast, I have no problem with that.

All anti-virus solutions differ in what they catch and sometimes what they "catch" is simply a false positive that another program avoided.

[freebird73717]

I got a chuckle out of your reply jman. Yep some people can be zealots when it comes to their antivirus software. I'm not but I've known a few that are.

OP
If you are happy with avg then you can stick with it. Most important thing is using a good a/v combined with some good malware scanners. I usually scan with my a/v first then follow up with a superantispyware scan and then a malwarebytes scan. Multiple layers of protection.

Another good tool for scanning individual files (like ones downloaded) is using virustotal.com

It scans your file with about 40 different a/v scanners.

[johns0]

Avast may be the greatest free virus scanner made for mankind but it doesnt detect Some of the malware that is running out there,that i have to delete by hand thru safe mode(customers pc).

[MJA]

Avira is free too if you wanna give it a shot. it's easy to turn off the nag screen

like the others said.
scan with SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition/Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware under safe mode

remove your old AV ,and install whatever u like (Avira,AVG,,,,)

TURN OFF SYSTEM RESTORE before you start scanning