Popups and freezing - Google Chrome

I use Google Chrome web browser and recently I have been having a couple of problems:
1. It has taken to freezing when I close a tab (not every time and always a different tab)
2. I now see ads like the attached appearing periodically in a separate popup window.


Has anyone else seen this problem - or know how I can identify what is causing it.

Thanks

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and run a scan. If you can't download from your computer because of the pop-ups, try using another computer to download the program and then put in on a flash drive and transfer/install it that way. I've seen those pop-ups many times, Malwarebytes should do the trick.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and run a scan. If you can't download from your computer because of the pop-ups, try using another computer to download the program and then put in on a flash drive and transfer/install it that way. I've seen those pop-ups many times, Malwarebytes should do the trick.

Thanks

But if I may ask, what do you get with this tool for $25 that you don't get with the MS Malicious software removal tool?

Thanks

But if I may ask, what do you get with this tool for $25 that you don't get with the MS Malicious software removal tool?

All you need is the free version of Malwarebytes. I think the paid version is for real time protection but you don't really need that. I run Windows Defender along with Malwarebytes and that works just fine for me. I'm sure the MS Malicious Software Removal Tool helps a bit but Malwarebytes is a much powerful scanner that can get rid of some very nasty infections. Again, you can't beat free, right?

Thanks Christian.

I ran MS Malicious software removal Tool (latest update) and whilst running it showed 1 file found BUT on completion reported no malicious files found ???????

So I tried your recommendation and Malwarebytes found a file - called 'PUP.Optional.Wajam' - in 3 locations.
I'm not sure if that is the culprit - but I have quarantined them and will see what happens over the next few days.

Information on removing wajam at Malwarebytes blog:

Information on removing wajam at Malwarebytes blog:

Thanks Cliff.
When Malwarebytes reported finding the 3 files I did a bit of searching and had found the thread you linked to.

However none of the files referred to in that thread were found - just the 3 in my AppData directory.
Also, I could find no other reference to Wajam anywhere on my Laptop - in Control Panel or Program Files or any of the other directories mentioned in the thread.

So I am a little puzzled as I have never installed Wajam and according to MalewareBytes it is a download to install program.

Weird - but lets hope my problem has been solved by deletion of the 3 files found.

Unfortunately - the ads are back.

I rebooted the computer yesterday and although I have had no popup ads since my last post 2 days ago, as soon as I opened my browser after the re-boot - there popped up an ad.

I ran MalwareBytes again, and as I suspected would be the case it found nothing.

Why has this started again after a re-boot?
Why is MalwareBytes not finding the culprit?

Anyone any thoughts on how else I find the culprit and zap it?

Hi!
You can try the Eset Online Scanner. Very helpful...most!
Or you also can try HitmanPro to find the Malware. Disconnect your Internet and run your Maschine in Save Mode with MalwareBytes or HitmanPro.