Annoying pop-up won't go away

[aleene]

A pop up advert appeared on my screen this afternoon. It says new Cuddly Fuzzy Doggy Package with 3 cartoon dogs on it and a big button saying click here now Clicking on the cross in top right corner only makes it go for 15 secs or so and it comes back. I shut down myPC and restarted it and it seemed to work, until five mins ago when it came back. A small logo in the bottom left corner says sweet im.
How can I get rid of it?

If ds is correct, you need to download a pop up blocker (he's usually right). Someone else may pop along in a minute.

No, you don't need a popup blocker - they are to stop popups such as advertising from websites you visit, whereas this sounds more like malware - malicious software that's installed itself on your PC. You need Malwarebytes. Download the free version, install and run it. It'll get most kinds of malware; it's really very good.

I concur, this sounds like a virus to me. Popups wouldn't come back after restarting your PC, they appear when you go to certain websites.

yes, it has the feel of a virus to me. need to get rid of it before the DC start clikcing on the cute puppies . Will try Malwarebytes, thank you.

Ran Malware but it said nothing malicious found. Google told me that this (sweet im) manages to get in under firewalls and is generally not detectable. I tried uninstalling something with a similar name in the Uninstall Programs list and it has gone. Fingers crossed it doesn't come back!

Guess what's just popped up on my laptop!

Oh no! Did you manage to get rid of it?

Sounds like it could be the SweetIM Toolbar. Removal Guide

I thought it was gone (control panel, remove/add programmes, then I removed it - it was SweetIM toolbar) but the fecker has just popped back up. I tried to repeat the removal but it's not showing up in the list of programmes.

I'll look at the link, thank you, nannynick. (sorry, I've name changed slightly as it's not Christmas )

Lots of info on the net about sweet im if you google it. Definitely seems v dodgy.

Pain in the arse to get rid of apparently. I've done the 'control panel, remove/add programmes' again. I'll have to wait and see if it comes back.