Audio Ads Play With No Browser Open

Thanks captain obvious. Regardless of how old this is, the community can benefit. This happened to me yesterday I discovered #2 was the culprit. I often find solutions to issues that have been posted far in the past yet still relevant today and I always share my gratitude. Furthermore the comment is off topic, let's not perpetuate.

It could be one of two things

1) Another device (iPad, MacBook, iPhone) is using your device with airplay/mirroring.

but most likely

2) Check your widgets, (swipe right with two fingers) and you will see a video or page you accidentally saved to your widgets that has started to play automatically.

Let me know if that was it.

Cheers

LeonidasColke wrote:

It could be one of two things

1) Another device (iPad, MacBook, iPhone) is using your device with airplay/mirroring.

but most likely

2) Check your widgets, (swipe right with two fingers) and you will see a video or page you accidentally saved to your widgets that has started to play automatically.

Let me know if that was it.

FYI, you're responding to a five year old post. It's unlikely that the OP will respond to you.

Are you sure you don't have any applications or widgets that may be accessing radio stations over the net?

Next time this happens disable your internet connection and see if it stops.

Please read this whole message before doing anything.

This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

The purpose of this exercise is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:

• Be sure your Mac is shut down.
• Press the power button.
• Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
• Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

Note: If FileVault is enabled under Mac OS X 10.7 or later, you can’t boot in safe mode.

Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.

The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

Test while in safe mode. Same problem(s)?

After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Did the problem come back when you booted out of safe mode?

Look in system preferences> Accounts, and under the Login Items tab to see what items you have loading when you log in.

If you see anything that you do not recognize or are not sure what it is, take a screen shot (cmd+shift+4) of the preferences panel and post it here.

Maybe we can identify the culprit there.

This is pretty spooky. As i add to this thread it is Feb 2014 and nothing has been added in more than a year. If anyone has solved this mystery, and still subscribed to the thread please explain what may be causing these random audio advertisements.

The same thing started happening to me today, February 14, 2014.

It has happened to me twice today, for the first time. However I did have a browser open both times (Chrome). Once an audio ad was accompanied by a pop-up browser window.

Have you tried any anti-virus applications yet to scan your mac because despite popular belief Macs do get viruses.

Yes, i have narrowed it down to Chrome. It seems to occur about every hour or so. I will start keeping track of the times. The last event, i was able to close every Chrome window and the sound continued, but when i quit Chrome it stopped. So it is not associated with a visable window. Is there such a thing as an "invisable window"?

Also before the last event, i wiped all Chrome cookies.

Enable phishing and malware protection - is checked.

I use an extension called Ghostery that should monitor tracking and much malware, but apparently not this.

And i use WOT (Web Of Trust) which warns against most malevant sites, but apparently not this one.

I am not certain of Ziltam's contribution. I am curious why posting stopped in this thread in May 2012 then started again now. I dont know where to go next with this. I would appreciate any other discussion found in searches.

Ziltam, thank you for your post. I am not certain how to interpret it because of the grammar mistake. I think you are saying that though most people believe there are no Mac viruses, there actually are, and that we need anti-virus software. Please correct me if this is a misunderstanding.

In fact, this is not a virus technically, but rather malware coming from a previously visited website, i assume. This is not uncommon on any OS or browser. Frankly "cookies" are confusing to me. For example when this started i wiped my Safari cookies and they would immediately reappear, why, how that works, i have never understood. This may be similar.

Can you recommend specific anti-malware software?

Maybe you'd like to tell those of us that subscribe to "popular belief" what those virus's are?