Until recently, there weren't enough Macs for malware writers to bother.

Macs did not have the problem because they were rare. Making the smug morons correct. But times change, and Macs are significantly more popular, and thus are a worthwhile target.

Linux devotees will make the same claim. They're also wrong.

I just need to get rid of adware not rekindle that old argument.

I was able to remove it by going into the add-on section of browser settings, and deactivating the adware from there.

It is cross-platform.

I would also recommend using Mozilla Firefox as your internet browser. They have lots of free add-ons that are very helpful to enhance the function of the browser. Also, since I have used Firefox, I have not had a problem with getting much in the way of viruses. I do not know if it is the browser or the helpful add-ons.

We do use Webroot anti-virus that we purchased, as well. I would not recommend Norton, from my personal experiences. YMMV

works great!

in firefox, it's a free add-on...

Windows has a recovery mode in the control panel that if you get a virus from down loading something you can pick a date from the past and the program will take your computer back in time like it never happened and it doesn't affect anything but what happened during that time frame, I've saved my computer at least a half dozen times!

good luck.

Al

Ah, Well. Live and learn

AdwareMedic for Mac
2.2.1
22-Jan-2015
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/52105/adwaremedic

And everyone else for your suggestions.

AdwareMedic cleaned up all the pop-up windows, and it was free.

Sorry, that was sarcasm!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

Sorry.

version of Malwarebytes for spyware. You should also add adblock to your browser.

Ghostery as an "add-on" with FireFox browser. Somewhere in one of those program you can also block or destroy "flash cookies" that are a real tracking device and hard to get rid of. I also perform "disk cleanup" (in Windows) every day... takes only a couple minutes. Works pretty good. I see very few ads and most sites load much faster.

You shouldn't have to "buy" anything else.

I don't have a Mac. I have Mozilla Firefox and Win8.
Some of these may be useful to you. Just be aware when installing, as some also include a link to Google Chrome.
Just uncheck the box for Google Chrome unless you do want that as well.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

SuperAntiSpyware free edition

Wise Registry Cleaner

CCleaner

JRT-New

Revo Uninstaller

I now use a chromebook and chrome box along with the ad blocker extension for web surfing and simple tasks. I use a Win machine for needed programs and apps most of which won't run on chromebook. Bad to have to use two machines but chromebooks seem fairly impervious to viruses and malware, I have been using these for over a year, all good so far. Most of my work can be done through the web and apps on the chromebook but I also use the chrome remote desktop app to use my Win machine through the Chromebook, works well.

Let me guess. Your pleasant web environment has been turned into a game of whackamole by adware that displays adds at a mile a minute on whatever you are trying to view.

I have a PC. I went to the Control Panel and uninstalled anything that looked suspicious. By suspicious I mean anything that has the same name as the as the what follows "ad by" note in the small print under the offending ads. Remove any add on (maybe they should be called ad ons) that is sending these obnoxious ads. On Firefox, this was pretty easy.

You may need to contact a PC technician.

and you might want to check for updates on your Mac every now and then.

Available for a free download.

I have a hunch that a lot of these programs thatget rid of adware may be run by the same people who write the viruses.

1) On the web bring up http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/
2) Bring up CONTROL PANEL (in a system window) then go to UNINSTALL

Now working back and forth look through all the programs that appear on the uninstallable list and enter their names on in the shouldiremoveit screen. If it reports RED (bad program) uninstall it.

I do this every now and then (whenever I see ads pop-up).

Good luck.

1) shouldiremoveit interprets the search as a generic, so if you type "microsoft" it find every entry it has with *microsoft* in it;

2) obviously many of names do not have to be looked up, e.g. itunes.

I've been caught by them on occasion:

go to Safari System Preferences and then to Security. Click the box that says "Block pop-up windows"