[Stealth]

since a few days ago, every time i leave my computer idle for a few hours, when i come back i have popups all over. like 7 or 8 of them... usually for the same product!  I can't find anything with Spybot S&D, and i'm really stumped.  also, very often (like every few minutes) something will pop up from god knows where.

these damn popups are pissing me off, does anyone know a good protector against these things in the first place (forget getting rid of it now, is there any program that will stop them originally?)

thanks

[Fury]

Originally posted by Stealth
anyone know a good protector against these things in the first place (forget getting rid of it now, is there any program that will stop them originally?)
 

Already considered of replacing the user?

- Don't use IE. (I prefer Mozilla Firefox)
- Disable messenger service (W2k, XP, http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm#Messenger)
- http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ (Remember to update the reference file)

[Stealth]

no waht i was planning on doing was taking my computer outside and tearing it apart with a chainsaw.

then i considered formatting,

then i realized i was being too drastic, and yes, i considered deleting the user
however, the "user" is me, and i'm the only user on this machine.  other than just copying and pasting all my files to the "new" user, there's nothing i have to worry about, when transferring files to the new user, right?  i was just going to put all MP3s, etc. in the "shared documents", then delete the user, then add a new user, and copy the shared documents over.

[SadisticSid]

Maybe you could try making a limited user account, lock out the registry for it, and do all your browsing with that? Of course you trade the problems of spyware with the fuss of preventing it...

[delta_7890]

I've had this problem too.  Try X-cleaner.  And search for anything regarding CWS.Searchx.  I'm betting that's what you have.