Invisible audio ads playing randomly in the background

marcgzz · Feb 9, 2025

It's just happened recently, commercial ads (for local businesses!) or a short pieces of music just burst playing in the background. They are not associated with any browser (as no browser is opened, just the pc is turned on!) I've searched this topic on the web, found out that it happened years ago since Windows XP! I've followed the advice from this article "

How to remove Audio ads in background [Windows 10, 8, 7, XP]" (

How to remove Audio ads in background [Windows 10, 8, 7, XP]

The Audio ads in Windows background should not be underestimated, because the reason for their appearance is an adware (also known as 'ad-supported' software) which gets installed onto your PC. It can bring a security risk to your PC system. So, do not ignore it! Of course, the Audio ads in...

www.myantispyware.com

)

but to no avail. I've tried Malwarebytes in both regular and safe modes but it didn't work. Please advise how to get rid of this annoying adware or spyware (?).

Windows 11 version 24H2 (OS build 26 100.3037)

Ghot · Feb 9, 2025

Hello @marcgzz and welcome to ElevenForum.

Try Malwarebyte's AdwCleaner. It's specifically made for things like this.

AdwCleaner 2025 - Free Adware Cleaner & Removal Tool | Malwarebytes

Download Malwarebytes AdwCleaner 2025 for free to remove adware, bloatware, unwanted toolbars, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) from your Windows PC. AdwCleaner destroys adware and restores your PC's performance.

www.malwarebytes.com

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kelper · Feb 10, 2025

@marcgzz Is Microsoft Defender on and updated? Are you running any other anti-virus/anti-malware? Is your OS up todate?

marcgzz · Feb 11, 2025

Thank you all for your quick response.
@Ghot: I'd run AdwCleaner and other anti-malware apps, SpybotSD, Superantispyware, etc., but nothing is found!

@kelper: my MS Defender is always updated. Malwarebytes is the main antivirus protection.

kelper · Feb 11, 2025

Do you mean Malwarebytes Premium? The free version is an on-demand scanner and provides no real time protectinon. As you have discovered, Microsoft Defender did not prevent this adware loading, unless you chose to ignore the warning?

Ghot · Feb 11, 2025

@marcgzz

Have you installed any new software lately?
Sometimes adware will be included in those newly installed programs or Apps.

In some cases, the only way to keep the adware from "re-growing" is to remove the App.

andrew129260 · Feb 11, 2025

Look in your windows notification center. Is there anything there when the sound is playing?

:win:

+ N

Turn off /mute your computer speakers and make sure the sound is actually coming from the computer.

Go into the volume mixer and see what app is playing sound.

marcgzz · Feb 11, 2025

I went to the Malwarebytes forum, from their advice downloaded the ESET's online scanner and ran a full scan. As of now the audio ads seem to have stopped, maybe the ESET did the trick. The result log file shows it discovered more ad/malwares and also deleted a lot of files, i.e., "Everything" from voidtools which is a very useful tool.

@kelper also by their advice I updated Malwarebytes to the latest version. It is a trial version without real time protection. Do we really need third party antivirus app? Is the Microsoft Defender Antivirus good enough for averagel user?

dacrone · Feb 11, 2025

marcgzz said:
I went to the Malwarebytes forum, from their advice downloaded the ESET's online scanner and ran a full scan. As of now the audio ads seem to have stopped, maybe the ESET did the trick. The result log file shows it discovered more ad/malwares and also deleted a lot of files, i.e., "Everything" from voidtools which is a very useful tool.

@kelper also by their advice I updated Malwarebytes to the latest version. It is a trial version without real time protection. Do we really need third party antivirus app? Is the Microsoft Defender Antivirus good enough for averagel user?

if they come back, you can follow the instructions in the post i linked in the following thread to track down the source:

Can't stop this irritating sound notification

Every once in while I get this irritating sound notification 5 note descending melody 1 sec pause and 5 ascending melody. This is a recording studio computer, so it's coming through my loud studio monitors. I went to Control Panel / Sound and on the 2nd tab it says "sound scheme" I put it on no...

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kelper · Feb 12, 2025

Most forum members feel that Microsoft Defender is good enough, but it did not protect you did it, unless you ignored warnings? Did you?

andrew129260 · Feb 12, 2025

marcgzz said:
The result log file shows it discovered

Can you post the log here? I would be interested

kelper said:
Most forum members feel that Microsoft Defender is good enough, but it did not protect you did it, unless you ignored warnings? Did you?

Windows defender doesn't warn for pups by default, which is likely what this was vs actual malware.

Windows Security has reputation-based protection that can help protect your PC from potentially unwanted applications. Potentially unwanted app blocking was first introduced in Windows 10 May 2020 update, and is turned off by default. Source.

So this is interesting, I found here from microsoft and here from our forum that it should be enabled by default. But every time I have installed windows 11 it was off by default and I had to turn it on. So now I am not sure.....

Invisible audio ads playing randomly in the background

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but to no avail. I've tried Malwarebytes in both regular and safe modes but it didn't work. Please advise how to get rid of this annoying adware or spyware (?). ​

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but to no avail. I've tried Malwarebytes in both regular and safe modes but it didn't work. Please advise how to get rid of this annoying adware or spyware (?).