For some reason I seem to be getting more pop-ups
now that I've downloaded PopSwatter. Why is that?
If you have downloaded other programs on the
Internet (file-swapping software,
for example), you may very well have simultaneously downloaded adware that
generates additional pop-ups once it identifies a pop-up blocker on
your computer. These
pop-ups basically appear when your adware software tells them to
appear.
Here's one way to check for and remove such
software:
1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del
and click on the "Task Manager" button.
2. Click on the "Applications" tab. (You may already be on this
screen.)
3. Select "WINSERVS" or "WINSERVN". (If you don't see either, close
the window.)
4. Click the End Task button. Be patient - it may take a minute
or two before you see a "not responding" warning. When you do, press
End Task again.
Windows 98 users: You will need to remove WINSERVS.EXE or
WINSERVN from your StartUp folder.
1. Go to Start > Settings > Taskbar
2. Click on the Start Menu tab.
3. Select "Remove".
4. Find and select the StartUp folder, then delete WINSERVS or
WINSERVN.
Windows XP users: You will need to do the following:
1. Click the Start button and select the All Programs option
2. Click the item marked Startup
3. Right-click on the WINSERVS or WINSERVN item and select "Delete"
from the right-click menu
4. Click OK or YES to delete the shortcut, if prompted.
Of course, you can also eliminate adware/spyware
pop-ups by removing the software yourself. Here's how:
- To see if you have adware installed, simply
click on your computer's Start button, select "Settings", and then
select "Control Panel".
- Double-click on the "Add/Remove
Programs" icon and review the list of software currently
installed on your computer. Should you find a program that you
believe is adware, select that item and click "Remove".
Of course, in doing this, be careful not to eliminate programs
that you actually want to keep.
If you are feeling uncomfortable about doing
this without a little advice, there are a variety of products
available on the Internet to detect and remove such software. One
product we're familiar with is called "Ad-Aware." Please
note that we are not affiliated with this product, nor do we endorse
them, and you may wish to search for other such products that are
available to assist with removing these types of software generated
pop-up advertisements.
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