Random Question/Plea For Help Type Scenario

[OptimusPrime]

Hello, General Discussers!

 

Ok, this has been bugging me for a few days now.

 

Basically when I log onto the internet, here and there certain words or phrases have suddenly started appearing as links in underlined green text.

 

The phrases that are highlighted are not always the same. For example, on Dragonmount the words "computer graphics" in the ACW description were highlighted, and if I hover over it with the cursor it looks like those words are a link. But a few minutes ago it wasnt the same words that were highlighted, and this is not just happening on Dragonmount. Different phrases, and on different sites, random as far as I can tell at this point.

 

I havent dared to click on the "links" of these highlightings because I generally dont trust links that I am not familiar with, if you know what I mean. If random words start appearing as links all over the place, its not a good thing, is it?

 

Another example. After writing this post out I scrolled up to type in the thread name and such like, and the word "Topic" in Topic Title is now highlighted. I sure as hell aint clicking on it.

 

I dont know what the hell is going on!

 

Does anyone have any thoughts as to what this is? I cant really say I think its a virus because it seems pretty harmless, but its annoying the crapout of me just because I know its not normal!

 

Any ideas?

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

it happens to me in e-mail all the time. keywords form hyperlinks. i don't think it's harmful, just invasive. i blame the google or theyahoo or something like that.

[raitora]

It happens on some ad heavy sites that pop up from Google searches for me, but never at the sites I frequent.

 

What browser do you use? You may want to look into getting some kind of adblock addon for it. And if you have anti-virus you should run a scan on your system, as this behaviour sounds like a malicious program.

[Red2111]

i haven't seen this on DM myself; but i know that when i'm browsing Answers.com or MSN.com come key words are highlited and linked like how you describe. i'm thinking along the same lines as Cindy, as i've scrolled ovr one of those and it pops up with info about the word. like if the word in question is Travel, then travel sites url's and vaction destinations are linked to it.

[OptimusPrime]

Yeah, I just cant understand why its suddenly doing it all over the place. Certainly never seen it on Dragonmount before this, and several other sites I frequent.

 

Thanks for the replies, folks. Im using my computer upstairs at the mo and this ones not doing it. I think I will just do a virus scan like Tor said.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

i also just noticed a link at the bottom left of the dragonmount forum page to delete your cookies. can't hurt.

[JenniferL]

You have a virus on your computer that's making your browser display ads that aren't placed by the site owner. Run SpyBot and Ad-aware to get rid of them and consider upgrading your firewall so it doesn't come back.