I bought the Webroot SecureAnywhere package to replace the free security package I got from Charter (just moved into an apartment with Uverse).
I was hoping it would fix my browser problem that started a few weeks before the move: I'm getting embedded ads in my browsers (predominantly use Chrome) with a footer that reads "Ads by Speed Dial." I also get pop-up windows advertising spyware removers (Max Spyware Detector, Microsoft Essentials, etc.). These pop-up windows usually include a smaller pop-up suggesting I immediately call a number to deal with downloaded malware, and it doesn't want to let me navigate away from the pop-up page.
I installed the Webroot package today, but the ads and pop-ups persist.
Anyone else dealing with this bs? Anyone got a cure for this malware that doesn't involve caving to the enemy?
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Hello librman,
Welcome to the Community,
Please have a look here and try to follow these instructions below. If you cannot then please issue a Support Ticket,
What you are seeing and describing sounds like it may be what we on the Community refer to as a PUA. (Potentially Unwanted Application) These are very annoying at best in that they cause pop-us, redirect your browser home page, and other behavior that may slow down the computer and direct ads your way, but they are not actually doing anything bad like damaging files or stealing information. Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools.. but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.
WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behavior that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.
For those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Trouble Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article.
For those that ARE detected by WSA, but cannot be removed automatically, you can submit a Trouble Ticket. Webroot Support will help you get these annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge, and the additional examples may help to better automatic removal of that particular PUA for all users in the future.
To make sure that your WSA is checking for PUA's with the best proficiently, it sometimes helps to reset the PUA detection within WSA's settings. For PUA's that had previously been scanned and determined to be OK, but have since been added to detection/removal, you may want to complete the following steps:
I hope this helps you both understand, and resolve the problem and if not please let us know!
NOTE: As noted above, PUA's that:
are often NOT detected and removed. This is partly for legal reasons: the source of the download can complain about it's extra software being blocked automatically by Webroot. There may be to allow WSA to recognize and block a LOT more PUA's than it currently can. Please see THIS IDEA for more information, and give a KUDO if you agree. User Idea requests are noted by the Webroot Team, and the more Kudo's on an Idea the more likely we may see dev time devoted to it.
Thanks!
Welcome to the Community,
Please have a look here and try to follow these instructions below. If you cannot then please issue a Support Ticket,
What you are seeing and describing sounds like it may be what we on the Community refer to as a PUA. (Potentially Unwanted Application) These are very annoying at best in that they cause pop-us, redirect your browser home page, and other behavior that may slow down the computer and direct ads your way, but they are not actually doing anything bad like damaging files or stealing information. Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools.. but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.
WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behavior that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.
For those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Trouble Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article.
For those that ARE detected by WSA, but cannot be removed automatically, you can submit a Trouble Ticket. Webroot Support will help you get these annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge, and the additional examples may help to better automatic removal of that particular PUA for all users in the future.
To make sure that your WSA is checking for PUA's with the best proficiently, it sometimes helps to reset the PUA detection within WSA's settings. For PUA's that had previously been scanned and determined to be OK, but have since been added to detection/removal, you may want to complete the following steps:
- Open Webroot SecureAnywhere
- Click on ‘Advanced Settings’ from the top right
- Select ‘Scan Settings’ from the left side
- Unselect the option “Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications”
- Click on the Save button (you may have to enter in a CAPTCHA)
- Reselect the option to “Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications”
- Click on the Save button
- Run another scan with Webroot and remove any items that get detected.
I hope this helps you both understand, and resolve the problem and if not please let us know!
NOTE: As noted above, PUA's that:
- Come in with other downloads
- Have a clear opt out ability prior to install
are often NOT detected and removed. This is partly for legal reasons: the source of the download can complain about it's extra software being blocked automatically by Webroot. There may be to allow WSA to recognize and block a LOT more PUA's than it currently can. Please see THIS IDEA for more information, and give a KUDO if you agree. User Idea requests are noted by the Webroot Team, and the more Kudo's on an Idea the more likely we may see dev time devoted to it.
Thanks!
Hello librlman,
With more research I believe you can reset your Browsers and/or here's some information for Chrome. That you might want to try.
Uninstall an extension to remove it completely from the Google Chrome browser. Extensions are extra features and functionality that can easily be added to Google Chrome. By using extensions, you can customize Google Chrome with features you like, while keeping your browser free of things that you don’t use. Unfortunately there are also extensions that are used to collect personal and internet behaviour from your computer for revenue.
Make sure you delete all extensions from Google Chrome that you do not need, know or trust. Keep the extensions in Google Chrome clean for the best and fastest internet experience while using Google Chrome. Might I also state you could uninstall Chrome and reinstall from Click the Chrome menu Chrome menu on the browser toolbar. Click Tools. Select Extensions. Click the trash can icon Remove an extension from Chrome by the Speed Dial extensions you’d like to completely remove. Make sure to remove all extensions you do not know or need. If you don’t use any extension remove everything listed in the extensions panel. A confirmation dialog appears, click Remove.
To reinstall Chrome go here https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html
Hope this helps and if not please do issue that Support Ticket,
Best Regards,
With more research I believe you can reset your Browsers and/or here's some information for Chrome. That you might want to try.
Uninstall an extension to remove it completely from the Google Chrome browser. Extensions are extra features and functionality that can easily be added to Google Chrome. By using extensions, you can customize Google Chrome with features you like, while keeping your browser free of things that you don’t use. Unfortunately there are also extensions that are used to collect personal and internet behaviour from your computer for revenue.
Make sure you delete all extensions from Google Chrome that you do not need, know or trust. Keep the extensions in Google Chrome clean for the best and fastest internet experience while using Google Chrome. Might I also state you could uninstall Chrome and reinstall from Click the Chrome menu Chrome menu on the browser toolbar. Click Tools. Select Extensions. Click the trash can icon Remove an extension from Chrome by the Speed Dial extensions you’d like to completely remove. Make sure to remove all extensions you do not know or need. If you don’t use any extension remove everything listed in the extensions panel. A confirmation dialog appears, click Remove.
To reinstall Chrome go here https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html
Hope this helps and if not please do issue that Support Ticket,
Best Regards,
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