What virus do I have if web pages open up randomly even when I don't have explorer open?
446163
Download the free spybot from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html\nIt is probably just spyware.  I know of at least one case where a link in a source here on answers caused a cascade of browser windows to open (not too nice, either).\nI reported it as abuse.\nSpybot cleaned it up.
1103462
Try doing a "System Restore" in safe mode (f8 on restart). That turns off most of the programs that automatically run on startup. This where a lot of virus' hide. Make sure that you go back to a date far enough  to restore system prior to the suspected infection.
269018
Are you using PC or MAC. \n\ntry accessing the page from another computer to determine if its the sites.\n\nThen i would try reinstalling the web browser\n\nIt could also be filtering/protection software which i would also check settings on
697468
You might have a virus or a trojan in the computer as well so try to run your security software.\nOpen up your Internet Explorer icon.  Wait for the page to load up completely. Try to clear out the cache in your browser as well.\n1. Click on <Tools> and <Internet Options>\n2. Look for address and type in the website address of your homepage. Example: http://www.yahoo.com\n3. To clear out the cache, click on <Delete Cookies> and click <OK>. After that click on <Delete Files>, put a check mark next to delete offline content and then click <OK>. Wait until the hour glass is up and then click <OK>.
898615
You may have a browser hijacker. Use these scans to remove it.\n\nSpybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.\nhttp://www.safer-networking.org/\n\nhttp://superantispyware.com/\nSUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!\nEasily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!\nMake sure after you download any of these, that you update them.\n\n *Be sure to come back to Yahoo Q&A and vote for one of the answers as best answer!
263046
I would run some spyware and anti-virus software, or go into the control panel and check to see if it has installed something.\n\nOccasionally happenes to me too, even though I have not accessed these sites.
935999
Having been around the block a few times on similarly complex problems, maintaining Windows and Linux boxes, there are two main things to consider.\n\n1. Virus checkers modify the (undocumented) Windows kernel in ways that can interfere with many other programs which will operate normally if the virus checker is turned off. ALWAYS suspect the virus program, the firewall rules set, and other third-party "malware" systems when things get strange.\n\nSo the answers mentioning your favorite virus checker as the culprit may be right. All virus checkers change their basic behaviors regularly, in order to keep up with new threats. Just because you ran the checker for a while in parallel with Firefox and had no problems, doesn't mean it isn't causing the problem now.\n\n2. The extensions available for Firefox are its "weak link" and everyone should add and use them with caution. Though most are first class and quite well behaved, some try - with varying degrees of success - to implement some undocumented features of Windows in order to provide functionality jealously guarded by Microsoft and which they reserve for their own applications - such as Internet Explorer. And, other extensions have old fashioned bugs that can cause varying degrees of havoc.\n\nHaving spouted off this way, don't take me as an authority. Your information is a little thin. You could have malware on your system, and that could be the culprit. Malware often is designed to "piggy-back" on top of system calls made by other programs, and Firefox (being open source) documents all its calls in its source code.\n\nBut by any stretch of the imagination, Firefox is order of magnitudes more secure than Internet Explorer. IE is a program useful ONLY because it is required by Windows Update and certain other locked-in-to-Microsoft sites.\n\nSo what should you do? Consider trying out another combination of malware products, or disabling the malware protection briefly to see if the crash message goes away. Remove Firefox and all extensions using Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs. Then re-install Firefox with a FRESH download (version 1.5.0.7 is proven and solid). Add your favorite extensions back no more than one every other day. \n\nGood luck!
986737
this really sounds like you have adware...\nif the same couple of popups come up, then you are definitely infected...\n\ntry this free antivirus:\n\nhttp://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
1083057
eh? did u virus-check your computer, that can be a cause of problems...
1176261
I have seen spyware do this, have you scanned the system with spybot or adaware? This could also indicate a denial of service attack.
845595
There's a good list of free virus removal tools here, also has some good info on how to avoid stuff like this.http://www.basicspywaretips.com/getridofspyware.html
851954
I would start with Virus/Spyware scans. Be sure to update your Virus definitions first. (always a good place to start and quick to do). \n\nAs you didn't mention your OS I will assume you have Windows XP. However, all instructions will still work, just slightly different menu options.\n\nAnother quick attempt to resolve this would be to clear the temporary Internet files and the history cache.\n\n1. Start Internet Explorer. \n2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options. \n3. Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files, click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK. \n4. Under History, click Clear History, and then click OK. \n5. Clear the temporary Internet files and the history cache. To do this, click Clear History under History, click Yes, and then click OK. \n6. Restart Internet Explorer. \n\nNext I would move onto toolbars (Google Toolbar, Yahoo Toolbar, HotBar, etc.) Sometimes these plugin toolbars don't play nice with each other. They could also be corrupt or just poorly written. I'd remove them all and then reinstall only the ones your want. (sometimes spyware automatically installs toolbars on you)\n\n1. Close all open Internet Explorer windows.\n2. Open the Control Panel (Click on Start, Control Panel or Start, Run and type CONTROL then click OK)\n2. Select Add/Remove Programs\n3. Select a toolbar listed and then click Remove/Uninstall.\n4. Repeat for each toolbar found and then Reboot.\n\n\nThis issue can also occur as a result of a corrupt index.dat file used by Internet Explorer.\n\nTo remove the history folder\n1. Restart the computer. \n2. Use a different account w/admin rights to log on to the computer. \n3. Open Windows Explorer. \n4. Locate the C:&#92;Documents and Settings&#92;username&#92;Local Settings&#92;History folder for the username you normally use.\n\nAlso - The Local Settings folder is a hidden folder. To view this folder, enable the Show hidden files and folders option in Windows Explorer. To do this, click the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options, click the View tab, enable the Show hidden files and folders option.  \n\n5. Right-click the History folder, and then click Delete. \n6. When you are prompted to confirm the folder removal, click Yes. \n7. Close Windows Explorer. \n8. Restart the computer. \n9. Log on to the computer as you normally do\n10. Start Internet Explorer. \n11. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options. \n12. Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files, click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK. \n13. Restart Internet Explorer. \n\nLastly, I would try to scan for any corrupt files. There could be a corrupt dll or one replaced by another program which is being used by Internet Explorer.\n\n1. Click Start, Run, Type "sfc /scannow" (w/out the quotes)\n2. Click on OK and follow the prompts. (you may need your Windows CD for this)\n3. When completed - reboot.\n\nIf this doesn't work there are even more steps you can take. However, one of the above steps should resolve it for you.
890549
nice and simple. right click and run anti virus. word of warning\nif its a download from a unknow source stay clear. a anti virus dosnt always detect a hidden virus.
889804
It might not be a virus as such.  Have you downloaded some Windows Security patches lately?  Or IE 7?  Is your home page set to 'Blank'?\n\nThe first link has some possible solutions (if the usual methods of anti-virus/anti spyware programs fail).\n\nLook near the bottom of the 2nd link for some background information.
395034
Sure it's a virus. Get "norton anitirus", "microsoft antispyware" and "search and destroy".
671870
It may be a virus reinstall WIndows
771222
I suggest that you  try to carryout system restore to a day previous to the day when there was no virus. The problem is likely to be solved. Then,You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software  and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at\nhttp://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html