jjmack Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hiya, I am pretty good with my PC but for the last week or so I have had a weird thing happen on any webpage. I have upto date virus software and have scanned and nothing has been picked up. What happens is that any webpage seems to have odd hyperlinks in each bock of text. If you hover over it or near it there is a pop up offering you a free iphone or similar. I am pretty good at not clicking on any of these but got conned when on amazon and it popped up asking you to complete a survey. There is a cross on each of the pop ups but suprise suprise, when you click on the cross it opens it all up. It is really annoying more than anything, but I am hoping its not doing anything to my computer. Anyone had similar? Any tips or hints? Thanks Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmack Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Just checked my post and it has set up a hyperlink in my text on my computer. I haven't set up this link. Not sure if you lot can see it or not? Hope I haven't caused anyone else a problem by posting about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'd download Malwarebytes (it's free) and see if that throws anything up. I have McAfee and find it pretty useless so run Malwarebytes regularly too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 which browser are you using? Despite being uber-careful I got a virus thingy from a website when I used IE I use Chrome now - techy friends say it's safer. Do you use Spybot or Adaware? if not, download one (or both - I use both) and run them. will take quite awhile. They pick up stuff that anti-virus software can leave behind You can download them from CNet.com (for free - no need to get the paid for versions) (don't have let ad-aware run its 'always on' version - it slows things down too much ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 From what you're describing, it may be the Text Enhance adware app, which is surreptitiously installed as a browser add-on. It's worth having a shufty at this page for various steps you can take, none of which are serious "here be monsters" actions needing major technical knowledge. Bear in mind, though, that the Text Enhance add-on can masquerade under a number of different names, such as Better Links, Browser Enhancements, Codec-V, Codec-C, Facetheme, Freemind, I-Livid, I Want That, I Want This, Media Plugin, and VMWare. Without wishing to put down any of the advice so far given, I do think I need to modify one point. Chrome and Firefox are not any more inherently safe than Internet Explorer. There have certainly been points in the past where each have had serious security flaws, but current versions of all these applications are pretty well on top of things security-wise (or perhaps I should say that for each IE flaw, I can think of a Chrome or Firefox one, and vice versa). I use them all, since each has strong and weak points, but I don't have a "favourite". If we're right about the Text Enhance adware, then whatever you did that allowed it to install would have been successful with whichever browser you were using at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmack Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Thanks for that. I have started the process of deleting bits and pieces and it seems to have done the job at the mo. i use AVG for my security and I use IE. Not had a prob before so lets hope I get it sorted this time. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
