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OK so one day you connect to the internet and suddenly hundreds of popup windows open up advertising anything from "Free Ringtones" to "Free Porn" plus your internet connection is much slower. To make matters worse everytime you close a window more pop up.
Annoying isn't it, however the answer may be simple. You have probably got Spyware on your PC, sounds painful doesn't it. The definition of Spyware is:
"Any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes."
Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware software or some shareware applications that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. So everytime you use the internet more traffic is passing through your connection.
If you have XP with Service Pack 2 then you have a Popup blocker built in. This can be changed through Internet Explorer and can be switch on or off whenever you want. Alternatively you can download toolbars which have builtin popup blockers.
You can now get software to help with clearing Spyware off your PC. I have listed a few below for you, most you have to pay for. At the time of writing this the Microsoft one is in Beta, which means it is still being tested. I understand they are hoping to release it as standard with the next version of Windows (Vista).
As always there are others and I don't endorse any of the above.