strange pop up, out of nowhere, can't stop it

Question

Level 1

8 points

strange pop up, out of nowhere, can't stop it

This morning, a pop up appeared in the exact cente of my monitor. it is a blue square, titled Contrast/Brightness, shows what looks to be adjustment bars that blink back and forth. I tried restarting, starting up from a different start up disk, tried starting from CD, and it always is the first thing to appear on the screen. I dont click on unknown email atachments, or download **** etc, so I am surprised to see this. I do however hook up my Android phone to my mac as well as a non-ipod mp3 player.

I am currently running sophos to find malware. Avast found nothing. It may be messing with my intenet connection too, as i am getting err connection errors,but i won' be sure until sophos finishes scanning and i can reset the modem.

in the meantime, the stupid blue window is there blinking, and just about is causing me to have a seizure.... I googled this issue, found absolutely nothing about it. I hope someone heer can help me!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 7, 2015 5:17 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 7, 2015 5:21 PM in response to Marigold

Running an AV software application on a Mac is bad. Running two of them is just asking for trouble.

I suggest you uninstall both Sophos and Avast as soon as possible.

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Answer 2

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 7, 2015 5:33 PM in response to Allan Eckert

the pop up problem started Way before i started running the anti virus!!!

I can do what you said, but i ask that you please address my urgent question, and tel me what i should do,instead of just telling me to stop sophos.

thanks

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Answer 3

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 7, 2015 7:01 PM in response to Marigold

The problem also seems to involve the internet. I am unable to connect to the internet from this desktop since the pop up appeared.

I checked with my service provider - problem is not with them.

IS THIS A VIRUS???? Pop up and loss of internet connectivity happened at same time....

What do I do????

Is this the correct forum for this questions?

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Answer 4

Sep 7, 2015 7:42 PM in response to Marigold

Macs don't have virus. Hence the reason I suggested you get rid of the worthless AV software, Sophos and Avast.

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Answer 5

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 7, 2015 7:56 PM in response to Allan Eckert

The problem began BEFORE any antivirus apps. Telling me not to use them is as useful advice as telling me to be kind to animals and to brush my teeth 3 times a day.

Thank you for advising me to not waste time with stupid virus programs, but it sure would be sweet if you could help me begin to solve my actual problem!

Thanks so much. If you can think of something to actually fix this serious problem,or any way to approach it, please do let me know.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

141,150 points

Sep 7, 2015 8:21 PM in response to Marigold

Uninstall "Sophos", uninstall "Avast", and confirm their permanent and irrevocable eradication from your Mac. Only then will you be in position to begin troubleshooting. Read below.

Uninstall Sophos by launching the Remove Sophos Anti-Virus program, installed in /Applications.

Uninstall Avast by launching the Uninstaller included with its downloaded installation program.

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Answer 7

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 8, 2015 1:45 AM in response to John Galt

Have uninstalled both.

Now how do I proceed to remove the square that sits in the center of my monitor and seems to have taken away my ability to access the internet?

If this is not as virus, then what is it?

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Answer 8

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 8, 2015 2:18 AM in response to Marigold

deleted history in browser, back on internet.

here is screen shot of the bothersome window.

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Answer 9

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 8, 2015 2:35 AM in response to Marigold

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Answer 10

John Galt

Level 10

141,150 points

Sep 8, 2015 5:00 AM in response to Marigold

That is the display interface for your monitor's contrast and brightness control. Refer to the monitor's documentation, because it does not originate from your Mac.

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Answer 11

Marigold Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 8, 2015 6:00 AM in response to John Galt

It is NOT an actual display interface!!!!! I KNOW what a display interface looks like and how to access it, how to operate it, and how to make it disappear.

THIS IS NOT A DISPLAY INTERFACE! It is some kind of blinking animation. The actual brightness contrast interface doesn't look anything like this!'' When i plug in a different monitor, it still appears! IT IS IN THE MAC.

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