I need help getting rid of pop-up's

[Rob@USC]

System/symptom history:

I reformated and reinstalled windows and a few basic programs on my computer about a week ago. It has AIM (v. 5.9.3690), Norton Sys Works, AdAware, Office 2k3, Mozilla Firefox, Steam (for CS and HL2), Alcohol 120%, and Quicktime/iTunes. Since I've reinstalled everything, I've been getting popup's every few hours. It's always for some travel company (I think it's Travel Zoo, or something like that). I've ran AdAware and it came up with nothing. The same goes for Norton's antivirus. Both of these programs have current definitions. I can't figure out what's causing these popups. It's not coming from any site I'm visiting because: 1) They're opening in Internet Explorer and I'm using Firefox and I've set Firefox as my default web browser and 2) it happens even when no web browser is open.

I checked my running processes and here's what's coming up:
[image name (User Name)]
aim.exe (my logon account)
alg.exe (LOCAL SERVICE)
ati2evxx.exe (SYSTEM)
ati2evxx.exe (my logon account)
ccApp.exe (my logon account)
CCEVTMGR.EXE (SYSTEM)
CLI.exe (my logon account)
CLI.exe (my logon account) [I can't figoure out why this is running two times]
csrss.exe (SYSTEM)
ctfmon.exe (my logon account)
explorer.exe (my logon account)
firefox.exe (my logon account)
GHOSTS~2.EXE (SYSTEM)
GhostStartTrayApp.exe (my logon account)
iexplore.exe (my logon account)
iPodService.exe (SYSTEM)
iTunesHelper.exe (my logon account)
jusched.exe (my logon account)
lsass.exe (SYSTEM)
MDM.EXE (SYSTEM)
msmsgs.exe (my logon account)
NAVAPSVC.EXE (SYSTEM)
OUTLOOK.EXE (my logon account)
qttask.exe (my logon account)
services.exe (SYSTEM)
SMAgent.exe (SYSTEM)
smss.exe (SYSTEM)
spoolsv.exe (SYSTEM)
svchost.exe (NETWORK SERVICE)
svchost.exe (SYSTEM)
svchost.exe (NETWORK SERVICE)
svchost.exe (LOCAL SERVICE)
svchost.exe (SYSTEM)
SymWSC.exe (SYSTEM)
System (SYSTEM)
System Idle Process (SYSTEM)
taskmgr.exe (my logon account)
ViewMgr.exe (my logon account)
wdfmgr.exe (LOCAL SERVICE)
winlogon.exe (SYSTEM)
WINWORD.EXE (my logon account)

That's everything listed under Processes. As far as programs open (in windows I'm using), I have outlook open, firefox, and AIM, plus Norton, Quicktime, and an ATI utility for my video card running in my taskbar. I really hope someone can help me get rid of these popup's. I don't know what's causing them or how it got on my system in the past week. I tried looking up the above processes and can't find anything that could be causing this, though I may have missed something.

Thanks,
Rob

Note: I started typing this up when I had my first popup after getting home from work. Now that I'm done, I just had another one pop up. Yes, the title bar says: http://media.travelzoo.com - Travelzoo - Top 20 - Microsoft Internet Explorer.
It has pricing listings for flights to different locations.


EDIT: I just looked in the add/remove programs thing and there's two things in there I don't remember installing: Viewpoint Manager and Viewpoint Media Player. I'm not saying these are causing it, it's just I don't know what they are or where they came from. Anyone recognize these?

[ December 22, 2004, 06:59 PM: Message edited by: Rob@USC ]

[3.4 slow to go]

kill that viewpoint crap. It's one of those "secret install" things. Also, if anyone starts getting "key words" underlined & turned into links, that's 180 viewer or some crap like that. My yahoo Anti-Spy is actualy pretty good. Why not unenstall IE if possible??? Read in PCWorld, there is somethingn called HI JACK this. but peeps should be careful, as it can target neccessary registry items, but you get to choose what gets killed.

[Tru2Chevy]

Yes, get that crap off. Also give avast! antivirus a try (www.avast.com) I was always a firm believer in Norton until my buddy convinced me to uninstall my currently updated copy of Norton 2004 and try avast!, then avast! picked up 2 viruses that were on my system. It's also free [img]redface.gif[/img] )

Poo on Norton.

- Justin

[andrew.brandon]

I could use some help too. I downloaded the google tool bar a few hours ago on my dads computer and now I am actually getting MORE popups than before. I am not willing to pay for a blocker for this computer so is there any good free ones?

[Rob@USC]

Okay, got rid of those viewpoint things. I'm going to keep an eye out and see if they manage to come back somehow (I heard AOL will install them if they're missing, hopefully AIM won't...) and also to see if the popup's stop. How's McAfee (sp?) virus scan? I can get a copy free through my school.

[Brett Garret]

I use the Windows SP2 pop-up blocker with the Yahoo toolbar (comes with Yahoo anti-spy and a pop-up blocker). Works GREAT, I still get a VERY small about every now and then but again its a very small amount.

As for spyware. Ad-Aware SE, Spybot, and the Yahoo anti-spy all work great for me.

[3.4 slow to go]

these pop-ups/spyware hate postings sure are popping up a lot lately ;)

[Dojo2000]

You just reformated and reinstalled Windows? Sounds like you haven't killed the Microsoft Messenger program yet.

[Tyler]

stop looking at porn.. Use Avast! antivirus, run updates on your spyware removal **** such as spysweeper, adaware, spybot Search and destroy, hijack this.. whatever you have... run those in safe mode.

then use mozilla for browsing

[EolGul]

I used to have pop ups out the *** but I downloaded spybot, adaware, and mozilla and never get them anymore.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.mozilla.org/

[Loochy88]

when i start up my computer i just close anything running under my log on account thats not my virus checker or explorer (or taskmanager of course)

i run lavasoft once every couple days and virus check once a week and i get alomst no popups.

[andrew.brandon]

i'll be dl'n mozilla tonight, hope it helps some

[andrew.brandon]

I also turned on the built in XP firewall. not sure if that'll help much, seems everything that is microsoft is already hacked

[Tyler]

the firewall doesnt do **** but block certain ports and access points. When enabled on my pops xp machine we run into problems viewing streaming video and whatnot online services we use.

[C.O.Jones]

You don't need Modzilla, try going with the "lite" version - Firefox. I've been using it for about a year now with no popups PERIOD. The only downside is that I still have to use IE for one or two sites that don't support netscape.