This is about the computer I use. It's an HP Pavilion desktop, 4GB memory, 1TB hard drive, A-4 Vision processor, OS is Windows 7, set to auto download and install all updates and security patches from Microsoft. It's not super fancy, not super modern, may not be the best processor or computer there is but it is good enough to suit me. Or at least it was until yesterday.
I run the free versions of MWB, SAS and the paid version of Norton Internet Security 2012. I bought the computer a few months ago after my old XP machine picked up a bad root kit. I noticed yesterday that now when I browse the web, search for info on Google or spend any time on the web sites I use such as BITOG, Dodge Forum, the Yahoo business section and a few other sites, I get the little circle next to my mouse pointer arrow. It just sits there spinning and down in the lower left corner of the screen I see a tab that says "waiting for Yieldmanager" or waiting for "loadus.excelator" or any number of other spam/spyware tracking garbage. Usually it runs through a handful of sites it says it is waiting for then it will say in the tab "waiting for www.facebook.com". That tab will stay like that for a long time and all the while, I have the little green circle spinning next to the pointer arrow. It also seems my internet browsing speed is not quite as fast as it was before I noticed this problem yesterday. I do have a Facebook account. I use it to keep up with my daughter who is away at college. Sometimes Facebook is easier to catch up with her than a phone call. That is the only reason I have a Facebook account. I tried logging out of Facebook and still get that "waiting for Facebook.com" tab and green circle.
I am assuming this is some kind of spyware or tracking gimmick. How can I get rid of it or block it from my computer? It was never there before and I got this computer back in March. Computer seems to be working OK, no unauthorized changes have been made that I can see anyway.
I did try a Google search but did not come up with much of anything that was of any help. I appreciate any help you guys may have on this. It is driving me batty.
I run the free versions of MWB, SAS and the paid version of Norton Internet Security 2012. I bought the computer a few months ago after my old XP machine picked up a bad root kit. I noticed yesterday that now when I browse the web, search for info on Google or spend any time on the web sites I use such as BITOG, Dodge Forum, the Yahoo business section and a few other sites, I get the little circle next to my mouse pointer arrow. It just sits there spinning and down in the lower left corner of the screen I see a tab that says "waiting for Yieldmanager" or waiting for "loadus.excelator" or any number of other spam/spyware tracking garbage. Usually it runs through a handful of sites it says it is waiting for then it will say in the tab "waiting for www.facebook.com". That tab will stay like that for a long time and all the while, I have the little green circle spinning next to the pointer arrow. It also seems my internet browsing speed is not quite as fast as it was before I noticed this problem yesterday. I do have a Facebook account. I use it to keep up with my daughter who is away at college. Sometimes Facebook is easier to catch up with her than a phone call. That is the only reason I have a Facebook account. I tried logging out of Facebook and still get that "waiting for Facebook.com" tab and green circle.
I am assuming this is some kind of spyware or tracking gimmick. How can I get rid of it or block it from my computer? It was never there before and I got this computer back in March. Computer seems to be working OK, no unauthorized changes have been made that I can see anyway.
I did try a Google search but did not come up with much of anything that was of any help. I appreciate any help you guys may have on this. It is driving me batty.