Some sort of Ad popup everytime I search on google

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can help me out with this.

Everytime I perform a search in google or ebay (there are probably more sites, but these are the ones I've checked), this irritating small window (with a brown dog next to it) comes onto the screen advertising some site with the search criteria I put in. It's not really a popup, since it comes onto the Google screen itself, almost as if it was some sort of a div tag. It is extremely irritating, as it slows the system down and gains focus (so if you're typing, you lose focus).

I tried running ad-aware, as well as using a hosts file to try and stop it, but to no avail.

If anyone has any ideas to what else I could do, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

A desperately frustrated man.

 

I get no little brown dog.
SpyBot
BHO Cop

 

Welcome to the Boards.

Are you using Windows XP?

If so, it sounds as if you have the Search Companion with Animated Character turned on. To shut this off;

Open Internet Explorer, Click on the Magnifying Glass (search icon), Click on "Change Preferences" in the left hand pop-up area under where you enter your search criteria.

In the new window that opens click on "Without an animated screen character ". The dog should walk away and disappear and the search criteria window should be moved higher up on the page.

HTH