Being sent to adds when surfing the web

For several weeks I have been having a problem with adds loading the first time when I click on a link when I am surfing the web. An example is when I was looking for a router and clicked on the link and was sent to an add about purchasing cars instead. I have ran Malwarbites, Ad Ware and Spybot Search&Destroy. I use Microsoft Security Essentials for my security. I am using firefox web browser and it happens on both yahoo and google. Bookmarks work properly and go to the proper web page. I get my internet connection through a modem from Verizon. My comp runs XP Pro Does anybody know how to get rid of this problem.

 

It sounds like spyware, but it's odd that it hasn't been caught by anything you mentioned. It might be spyware that has integrated with your browser and you may have actually installed yourself without knowing it - check (and delete) any firefox addons that don't belong, and while you are at it you should get the addon "adblock plus".

To be double sure where the problem lies try opening a site in IE or chrome, if it does the same thing then you are either looking at a spykit installed somewhere, or a much deeper problem of a router/dns hack.

 

I normally do not use IE. It does the same thing there also. Do you know what I need to remove the problem.

 

Along with AdBlock plus as mentioned above, get the NoScript add on too! Very useful. See if it helps.

 

If it's happening on multiple browsers then it is spyware/malware, or a dns hack on your computer or router (very unlikely).

A question that is very important and will lead to catching this is: when you open a browser and click on a link, does it always direct you to the same domain and/or series of domains? Ie, is the ad always coming from "http://badsitenamehere.com/?123123512764" or soemthing similar?

Because if that's the case then, for the moment to stop it from happening you can edit the hosts file and just add the domain(cluster) there, but that's a bandage solution until you find the culprit.

 

I looked into the dns router hack and could not find a problem there. Ehow had an article on how to search for this problem. I do not know what a spykit is. I uninstalled firefox from my computer and did not save any prefs. I reinstalled and put the addblock on. I also completely uninstalled divx. I reinstalled my addons one at a time and just put the noscript addon on also. It is not happening anymore so this problem may be solved. Thanks for the information.

 

install WOT n adblock(i think u got tht already) WOT has been working grt for me ..whenever i see the ring changing colour i know its time to shut off the link

 

Very common behavior when you are infected with a rootkit.

 

Which isn't all that difficult to do as XP is a very old, very insecure OS by today's standards. Try using a trial of Norton.

 

I've yet to see Norton clean a rootkit, in fact, I've rarely seen norton clean anything but viruses that have been in the wild for at least a month, but I grant I am not a big fan so don't turn to it as a solution...