So I messed up and I now I have loads of adverts...

[kpowell911]

Hi, Long story short I tried to install a PS2 Emualator to relive my child hood, and ended up failing miserably. I run Windows 8.1, and Mozilla Firefox.

Every single page now has an immense amount of pop ups and adverts. They come up everywhere, the adverts are in boxes with "powered by" in small letters then it has things like "group coupon" and "deal2deal".

Google isn't the same either. It looks the same, but it has 8 squares underneath the search box with various links. Also when I search for something on google, the top 5 or 6 matches are adverts. Random words on this forum are highlighted and are "links" to shopping pages?

I have no discs etc, I dont care if I lose everything and start again, I just want a functioning web browser again

Thanks

 

[ChrisR]

Personally I'd want to just wipe and start again, you may never know what nasties have got onto the machine.

But you can try running stuff like Malwarebytes, AV scans etc to see what they pickup.

Here's a good start https://www.malwarebytes.org

 

[CrippsCorner]

I had some something similar recently, Groovorio it was called! Nasty thing. I reinstalled Windows and it was still there! Ultimately had to manually delete from all browsers etc.

 

[The Fatty]

I had some something similar recently, Groovorio it was called! Nasty thing. I reinstalled Windows and it was still there! Ultimately had to manually delete from all browsers etc.

you didn't re-install windows correctly then, sounds like you didn't format /fdisk the drive fully first!

at OP, use malwarebytes and if that doesn't work (it probably will, but make sure you run it with windows in safe mode), use a boot time scanner like avast's.

 

[1812lsd]

Try HiJackThis: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/hijackthis/

 

[CrippsCorner]

you didn't re-install windows correctly then, sounds like you didn't format /fdisk the drive fully first!

at OP, use malwarebytes and if that doesn't work (it probably will, but make sure you run it with windows in safe mode), use a boot time scanner like avast's.

I used the reinstall option Windows 8.1 comes with. I haven't got the means to format c:\ from scratch as I've not got a CD drive or 16Gb USB stick

 

[The Fatty]

Try HiJackThis: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/hijackthis/

I would say that unless the OP is competent with computer systems, don't use this. It wont fix the problem as it is just an enumerator which is helpful for people who know what they are looking for.

 

[coolspot007007]

Try Spybot search and destroy after Malware bytes, run both in safe mode.

 

[kpowell911]

safemode? lol

Is it possible to start again with no discs? I have nothing on this system of any use?

Thanks

 

[coolspot007007]

http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-boot-into-windows-8.1-safe-mode-guide/
You want safe mode with networking (so you can connect to the internet). If you have a Dell you can do a factory restore from the hard drive without disks.

 

[Darren S]

Personally I'd want to just wipe and start again, you may never know what nasties have got onto the machine.

But you can try running stuff like Malwarebytes, AV scans etc to see what they pickup.

Here's a good start https://www.malwarebytes.org

^^^ - Malwarebytes is definitely a good place to start. It resolved all the issues we had with one users' laptop here.
D.