Hello, I have PC windows 8, and use Google Chrome as my browser.
I have been having weird and random sites popping up that I can't seem to stop. (These sites will try to offer privacy services, search engines, shopping sites, 18+ videogames, reward surveys, or even 'friendly' neighborhood community searches/forums.) At first it started as an additional redirect browser been opened as the random spam site. After buying Norton and clearing out the detected bugs/viruses, it still persists but as an extra 'redirect' tab instead, not browser, with mute audio. These pop up browsers or extra tabs will happen about once every hour without me even clicking or doing anything, I do not necessarily have to be browsing. However if I DON'T click off or just ignore the pop up browser or extra tab, no new pop ups or tabs happen afterwards. I have tried several anti-virus software and sometimes they will find new things, but the problem still persists. Malwarebytes are able to block the unwanted sites but can't seem to stop them from happening altogether.
Possible Origin of Problem:
The problem started happening after I start playing the game, Don't Starve Together, a PC steam multiplayer game that I bought, which is relatively safe, however I have gone on other people servers who are hosting the game that have mods (extensions/plugins), to supposedly make the game easier or more interesting. (Generally mods are used to alter the game's interface and/or improve gameplay.) I believe I went on an infected modded server(s) because that is when I started to have the problem. I have not engaged or clicked on any of the weird pop up sites.
Steps I've taken:
- Ran both a quick scan and full scan of Norton Security twice. First time round, they found a bunch of threats that were quarantined then deleted. 2nd round, clean.
- Deleted Chrome browser history and cookies. Uninstalled and Re-installed Google Chrome.
- Downloaded Malwarebytes and ran a full scan. They also found a few more threats. (a lot of PUP infections.) Quarantined and deleted. 2nd time round, clean.
- Constantly blocking the unwanted websites and they have blocked 10+ websites that are sent in the SAME minute, but can't stop it from happening in the first place.
- Downloaded HitmanPro and scanned. They round a bunch of tracking cookies. Deleted those. 2nd scan, said cleaned.
- Downloaded Zemana AntiMalware and scanned. They found a host file with too many empty lines??
- After all this, the site pops still happen, what can I do to fully delete this problem from my computer?
- Will plan to set Google Chrome to default settings but highly doubt this will fix the issue. Also considering trying SUPERantivirus and AVG to see if they can find anything more.
Any help/advice will be highly appreciated! If there's any more info needed to clarify and help fix my problem, let me know!