Help! Pop-Ups Are Attacking My Computer!

There are a number of reasons Pop-Ups occur on a computer. Some of those reasons require fast action from you, the end user. Malicious pop-ups occur when you have gone into a site that has been infiltrated by a bad actor and either malicious cookies are now attached to your browser session, or you have inadvertently downloaded a malicious application. 

What Do I Do?

The very first thing you should do if you think your computer might be compromised is to turn it off and disconnect it from the internet. Your computer connects to the internet from a cord that is attached to the computer that looks like a phone cord (an ethernet cable) or wirelessly. If it's plugged into the internet, then simply unplug it. If it's connected to the Wi-Fi, then you can disconnect from the Wi-Fi by clicking the Wi-Fi icon (small pizza slice) below on your taskbar and clicking your Wi-Fi icon over where it says Manage Wi-Fi connections. If you are unsure about what to unplug or how to turn off the WiFi, turning off the device completely is the best practice. Then you will want to contact IT.