Hi rebapuck,
These computers can be downright frustrating Eh?
I'm not an expert at all but I'll swear by Malwarebytes AntiMalware. It's
not a virus remover per se, but a malware remover you use in conjunction
an anti-virus. I'll always use Malwarebytes after I virus scan with my anti
virus program.
That said, your problem sounds like some I've had in the past with "PUPs"
aka "Potentially Unwanted Programs". These aren't technically viruses or
"specifically malicious" programs, but their actions have the same effect,
in so many words. The adware pests are among them. [Different removal
programs may call them by similar acronyms, but the lowdown is that
these PUPs are programs that can make your computer do things
you don't want, or track your actions, or direct you to the websites they,
want you to go to - it helps their ad revenues - etc.,] I've had different
ones over time and I'd then Google "How do you get rid of 'such-n-such" , and
each time I'd find a website with the instructions on how to do so. [That's how I
found out about MalwareBytes a good while ago.]
Here is a link to a website I used to get rid of a different adware pest than
yours [one called "Value Apps"], but follow it's routine with the "Malwarebytes"
and the "adwcleaner" and the "junkware removal tool". It will work, Those
three used together have been of immense help with this kind of problem for me.
These three removal programs have always been the recommendation on
the instructional removal website pages I followed.
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/value-apps-removal/Also look at whatever browser(s) you are using and check on their extensions and/or
add-ons, or such. Oftentimes these kind of pests attach themselves to the browser
and through it somehow replace themselves elsewhere on the computer through them,
even after you have already deleted it elsewhere. So either disable or delete them on
the browser or do both if you can. Sometimes you'll need to reset the browser settings
to their original default settings to get rid of it too. [No problem unless you're someone
who has customized them to your liking.] Just look up how to do so for your browser, most
do so through their "tools" button and it's choices. I did this recently to get rid of
"Astromenda" an unwanted search program that somehow got on my computer and that
I had otherwise deleted everything on it, but it kept on showing up - then I recalled
reading something somewhere about the browser extensions and add-ons. I use Chrome,
but also have IE [which I never use.] since it's a Windows OS. I looked at them and found
the "Astromenda" active on them, so I deleted the extension/add-on in Chrome, and reset
the IE back to the default/original. It hasn't shown up since.
One other thing: here is a website that I've also found very helpful. I'd keep it in your
bookmarks or such: [I found out about Malwarebytes through them, years ago.]
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/'Hope this helps some.
Cheers,
Norm/mezmo
If you have a house - you have a hobby.