Issue with weird popups

[nokel]

Hi, I've been using vivaldi for a couple of years now, and pretty recently (like, within the last week or three) I've noticed that I'm getting weird popups while on the google webpage, usually udblock origin and ublock would deal with any and all popups and adverts, but that doesn't seem to be the case now? I did a deep scan of my computer for malware but nothing is coming up, I've used adaware, malwarebytes, adwcleaner, and AVG (all with nothing) but one of them mentioned something about the popup activity and called it "minisrclink.cool"... After looking at some search results they've mentioned that I need to reinstall the browser, but they're all talking about chrome, same deal with vivaldi? (considering it's built on chrome?) Also is the fact that I've synced everything on this account going to mean that if I sync again the issue will come back?

I can't imagine it being because of an extension considering I haven't added any new ones since today and I haven't seen any news of malicious updates to my old extensions since getting rid of the "mega" extension a couple of years ago...

[Ayespy]

@nokel it's entirely possible that something got embedded in your browser engine from a malicious site or download. That requires, not a reinstall, but an UNINSTALL, delete the program directory, and then reinstall.

The only way it could be in your profile is if it got installed as an extension. This is curable, too, either by examining the extension list and uninstalling anything you didn't install (good luck there - it could be hidden) or by refreshing your profile.

It is very unlikely to be in your sync data, unless it is an extension. Extensions (but not their data and settings) are synced across instances.

The sequence I would follow is this: I'd download the installer for the version of Vivaldi I am using. Then I would uninstall Vivaldi, then go to the Vivaldi directory and delete the "Application" folder (leave the user data folder) and then reinstall Vivaldi. If that did not cure it, then I would refresh my profile.

These two steps will preserve your data, if not your settings, and should cure the popups if they are from adware that you inadvertently installed.

I will comment that the overkill of anti-adware software and extensions that you are using may actually interfere with each other and weaken, not strengthen, your protection.

[nokel]

Thanks for the info, I'll have a try and let you know what happens!

The anti-tools weren't installed at the same time, unfortunately this isn't my first experience, I've had similar issues before with browser hijacking, spyware, malware and rest when I was younger and found that one would always work but the others wouldn't find anything, all of them have found different things previously which was why I thought I'd try them again... Last one was malwarebytes, before that for a while it was avg etc, always good to have a suite just in case which was why I thought it odd that none of them found anything this time...

[Catweazle]

@nokel said in Issue with weird popups:

Thanks for the info, I'll have a try and let you know what happens!

The anti-tools weren't installed at the same time, unfortunately this isn't my first experience, I've had similar issues before with browser hijacking, spyware, malware and rest when I was younger and found that one would always work but the others wouldn't find anything, all of them have found different things previously which was why I thought I'd try them again... Last one was malwarebytes, before that for a while it was avg etc, always good to have a suite just in case which was why I thought it odd that none of them found anything this time...

You can try also this one https://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/homeusers/solutions/cloud-cleaner/
(it downloads a small client before scanning)

[nokel]

@Ayespy Looks good so far, but unfortunately that's also kind of the problem as it wasn't completely obvious while it was happening... So fingers crossed for a while really lol.

(I clicked around and nothing so far, so meh. Looks fine, it's fiiiiine... probably haha)

@Catweazle thanks, I'll add it to my list suite for sure, the more the better

[Ayespy]

@nokel said in Issue with weird popups:

the more the better

Please don't believe this.

[Catweazle]

@Ayespy said in Issue with weird popups:

@nokel said in Issue with weird popups:

the more the better

Please don't believe this.

Having several AV installed and functioning is obviously counterproductive, as they can block each other. But not so with malware scanning programs, since they only work on demand. Cin these account their efficiency and can be based on blacklists that complement each other.
In this Panda Cloud Cleaner is perhaps one of the most efficient, to get your blacklist in real time from its server, not in a database that is updated from time to time.

[Ayespy]

@Catweazle said in Issue with weird popups:

not so with malware scanning programs, since they only work on demand.

Some do, some don't . Windows' built-in malware scanner obviously runs at the behest of the system, not the user. Many other 3rd party malware scanners also operate without user input.

To the degree that a program genuinely ONLY runs when the user asks it to, it's unlikely to cause conflicts and vulnerabilities. To the degree it runs "on its own," it will compete with other background services and programs for control of any given file - and therein lies the danger.

[Catweazle]

@Ayespy said in Issue with weird popups:

@Catweazle said in Issue with weird popups:

not so with malware scanning programs, since they only work on demand.

Some do, some don't . Windows' built-in malware scanner obviously runs at the behest of the system, not the users. Many other 3rd party malware scanners also operate without user input.

To the degree that a program genuinely ONLY runs when the user asks it to, it's unlikely to cause conflicts and vulnerabilities. To the degree it runs "on its own," it will compete with other background services and programs for control of any given file - and therein lies the danger.

Certainly Malwarebyte remains resident, by pretending to also function as AV. AdwCleaner only works on demand and does not interfere with the Windows Defender, Panda Cloud Cleaner also works only on demand, through its client, the scanner itself is online.
The AV Panda Dome is installed and remains resident, but when you install it automatically disables Windows Defender or another resident AV, this is also done by Avira and others, precisely to avoid conflicts.