I'm having a frustrating issue with my Windows 11 laptop. Every time I log in, my Opera GX browser opens automatically, and an ad appears on a NSFW website, which I definitely didn't ask for. I've tried resolving this for hours and have already talked to many resources, including ChatGPT, but nothing has worked. I've disabled Ublock Origin to see the site it opened, I ran Windows Defender in various ways (including an offline scan), and tried multiple adware removal programs, but to no avail. Even Malwarebytes—once my go-to solution—couldn't fix it this time. I've checked the autostart settings for Opera GX and ensured no other programs are set to launch at startup except the essential Windows services. I even tinkered with Regedit, despite knowing I probably shouldn't have. Any advice on how to remove this annoying adware is greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like your browser could be hijacked or a scheduled task is causing it to open. First, check your Task Scheduler to see if there's a task linked to launching Opera GX after you log in. If there's an entry there, that might explain the unwanted pop-up. Also, right-click the Opera shortcut to check the target field in properties; it should just point to the Opera executable. If you see anything else there, it's likely being hijacked. Running AdwCleaner may help as well!
You can search for 'Task Scheduler' in the Start menu. Once opened, look for tasks related to Opera or anything unusual that seems scheduled.
If nothing else works, consider switching to another browser temporarily, like Firefox. It might not be a permanent fix, but it can help you avoid the ads while you sort this out.
Make sure you haven't installed any dubious extensions or programs recently, as they can sometimes sneak adware onto your system during installation. Check your startup folder for any suspicious shortcuts that might be causing this too. If you recently uninstalled a game, ensure that it didn't come with hidden adware.
How do I check my Task Scheduler? I haven't done that before.