Adware Trouble (Don't Ask!)

[Shakaza]

Due to circumstances that will remain anonymous to the people on this forum , I have gotten seemingly unremovable adware on Firefox, Chrome, and Steam. I have tried uninstalling both Chrome and Firefox NUMEROUS times, I've used MalwareBytes, Avast!, and even a program dedicated to removing adware, but there are ads that keep appearing on the left and bottom sides of the screen, as well as some that open in new tabs. I mainly use Chrome, and I have temporarily circumvented the problem by using Adblock Plus, but does anyone know how to remove this stuff entirely? Would reinstalling all three affected programs/browsers help at all, or is there some other way to get rid of this?

I noticed that, in Chrome, the affected file is the "Preferences" file when scanning with ADWCleaner, if that is any help.

[Jaybird]

add/remove programs, uninstall adware program. set the filter to date of latest install and uninstall anything you dont want. 

[Shakaza]

add/remove programs, uninstall adware program. set the filter to date of latest install and uninstall anything you dont want.

I already did that, and I was fairly sure I got everything. I knew I forgot to mention something. Thanks, though. I'll take another couple looks.

[Jaybird]

I already did that, and I was fairly sure I got everything. I knew I forgot to mention something. Thanks, though. I'll take another couple looks.

it could be attached to a program you recently installed. I installed gimp on my pc a month ago and I started to have serious kernal issues. unistalled everything up to the date it started and everyting seem to go back to normal.

[Shakaza]

it could be attached to a program you recently installed. I installed gimp on my pc a month ago and I started to have serious kernal issues. unistalled everything up to the date it started and everyting seem to go back to normal.

Oh, okay. Thanks! I'll get right to it!

[DavidTheWin]

You could also just copy everything you want to save over to another drive and completely reset the original drive.

[Shakaza]

You could also just copy everything you want to save over to another drive and completely reset the original drive.

Yes, I have already planned that to be my last-ditch effort to fix everything if nothing else works.

[Shakaza]

it could be attached to a program you recently installed. I installed gimp on my pc a month ago and I started to have serious kernal issues. unistalled everything up to the date it started and everyting seem to go back to normal.

Right, the only program I could think that could cause it was Sculptris Alpha 6, which I installed only recently. The rest are things like Java, a Steam Game, Avast, and Microsoft Visual C++ stuff. Avast wouldn't possibly install Adware, would it?

[Akolyte]

Use a tool called ADW Cleaner.  

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

[micedits]

I am not sure how well it works with adware but, there is a really brutal program called combo fix that takes out a lot of malware and viruses. Try run it but, I mean it when I say it is brutal it is known to break other things so I hold no responsibility for your actions if you do try it. 

[Shakaza]

Use a tool called ADW Cleaner.  

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

I already have ADW Cleaner. I've used it several times after uninstalling programs, but the adware always keeps coming back.

[Blade of Grass]

Have you checked your plug-ins for the browsers?

[Shakaza]

Have you checked your plug-ins for the browsers?

Yep. All extensions, plug-ins, etc., have been removed from Chrome aside from Adblock.

[Akolyte]

Okay. Can you run hit man pro trial by surfright? It's great at finding traces and infections

@Shakaza

[solomongrundy]

I would suggest using restore point and go back to before you think you got the adware/malware or whatever you have.

[Shakaza]

Okay. Can you run hit man pro trial by surfright? It's great at finding traces and infections

@Shakaza

Oh, I think I figured out the problem. I still had some malicious stuff in my recycle bin. I'm pretty sure it's fixed now; I don't see any ads on Steam like I did before I deleted the stuff. Thank goodness, and thanks for all of your help, everyone.

[Akolyte]

Oh, I think I figured out the problem. I still had some malicious stuff in my recycle bin. I'm pretty sure it's fixed now; I don't see any ads on Steam like I did before I deleted the stuff. Thank goodness, and thanks for all of your help, everyone.

Bad idea, you should NEVER put malware into the recycle bin and delete it.  It will still be on your system, you must secure delete the item with about 30 passes at least to fully delete it.  Luckily, it was just adware and cant really do anything now, just remember it for next time. 

[Shakaza]

Bad idea, you should NEVER put malware into the recycle bin and delete it.  It will still be on your system, you must secure delete the item with about 30 passes at least to fully delete it.  Luckily, it was just adware and cant really do anything now, just remember it for next time.

I know that. I just wasn't aware that there was still stuff there before tonight. I don't even know HOW it got there.

[Babbage]

Hi Shakaza,

 

Which Windows operating system are you using? What antivirus software are you using? Did you backup your files? Did you update your Windows? Are all your programs updated?

 

Please include screenshots so we could detect the root cause of the problem and research that adware thing.

 

Maybe this should help.

 

Shutdown your computer. Start it again and press F8 key immediately.

 

You'll see lots of options. Please select Safe mode with networking.

 

Log in your account. Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and delete the suspicious or unknown programs installed. Uninstall steam, google chrome and firefox.

 

Click Start > type msconfig > Click Services tab > Check Hide all Microsoft services box and click Disable All.

 

Click Startup tab and disable all items and click Apply.

 

Go to internet explorer and redownload and reinstall the software.

 

Google chrome > https://www.google.com/intl/en-CA/chrome/browser/

Firefox > http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

Steam > http://store.steampowered.com/about/

 

Lastly, download this antivirus software > http://www.malwarebytes.org/

 

Download the free version. Once installed, do a full scan. It may take a while to scan depending how large your file is. Once finish, remove all detected items and restart your computer. 

 

Please let me know the updates

 

Thanks and have a nice day 

[Bonsai99]

Bad idea, you should NEVER put malware into the recycle bin and delete it.  It will still be on your system, you must secure delete the item with about 30 passes at least to fully delete it.  Luckily, it was just adware and cant really do anything now, just remember it for next time. 

If it's deleted it's gone, you don't need to shred it at all. If you missed part of it, it will come back. It can't just magically undelete itself.