Random hyperlinks on my forum

I recently got a new laptop yesterday, and for the first few hours on the forumotion website I attend things seemed normal. However all of a sudden many of the words on the website that were not already links to threads and forums, had become hyperlinks. They took on blue tints and were underlined and when I hover my cursor over the words a web address does appear. In addition clicking anywhere on the site page opens a new tab for some kind of survey that looks suspicious. I've asked other members if they've seen anything like this on their computers but they have said no, so it appears this is unique to me. Even when I come here to the support area, many of the words have been turned into hyperlinks.

It's not a browser issue since it shows up both on Chrome and Internet Explorer, but only on Forumotion sites. I am not sure if it is a virus because I have a norton protection that's been sending my scans back as clean. 

http://www.haloroleplay.com only because the box said to provide a forum URL for appearance problems I am not advertising.

It sounds like the new text ad system that was added awhile ago.

Is there a way to remove or block it? I have adblock but that doesn't seem to be working. I admit that as it s now it's not a big issue, just don't click the links but it has me a little nervous over things like viruses. And of course that I can't click anywhere on the screen short of my open tabs bar, without opening a new tab for some survey I don't want to take.

Do they appear when you are logged into the forum or as a guest?

Both. Logged out and tried as a guest and I got the same deal.

It might be an extension. Browser Settings -> Extensions => Remove any unknown/unused extensions

I can't find that option in the extensions menu. But I don't think this is a extensions issue since it shows up on two different browsers and no other member on the forums gets it.

Try scanning your computer with a different anti-virus program.

I only have the one program Norton.

also here's the screen cap I was able to take https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/16/96/70/68/hyperl10.png

Ask an administrator on the forum to check here:

Administration Panel > General > Forum > Configuration
General Section
Text Ads:

I am an admin there, have gone to where you have indicated, and it says it adds or removes ads for guests. Will this still work for me?

Turn it off and check.

I've done so, with no change. I have also checked the forum sites through use of my tablet, and have found there to be none of the hyperlinks seen on the sites, when viewed from my tablet.

This probably means that whatever is going on is specific to my laptop.

Correct.  I would try a different anti0virus program.

Well I downloaded malwarebytes and ran a scan, removed four items and restarted, and now it seems that the problem has been fixed. There are no more hyperlinks, no random tabs opening. I'll keep my eyes peeled but for the most part, this looks solved. Thank you very much.

By the way how do I mark this as solved? Do I hit a button or type solved in at the bottom?

Edit your first post and check the circle by the solved icon.

Topic solved and archived