My computers are picking up audio from something else...

[Superman]

My desktop and one of my laptops occasionally picks up and plays what sound like television commercials. I'm not sure exactly, but I usually get about 20 seconds of audio, then they fade off. I've scanned for viruses, spyware, etc., and I'm sure that's not the reason.

Ever hear of this? What should I do?

[General Zod]

Could it be pages or popups opening that you're not aware of with embedded audio?

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I've only heard something like that in the sense that the speakers for my mother's old computer in her office used to faintly pick up the signal from a local country radio station, particularly during the winter.

[Superman]

Could it be pages or popups opening that you're not aware of with embedded audio?

That's what I thought, but my laptop is also doing it. It also seems to be random bits of television commercials. My desktop has also just been reformatted.

[Resinence]

I've only heard something like that in the sense that the speakers for my mother's old computer in her office used to faintly pick up the signal from a local country radio station, particularly during the winter.

I've heard of this before, and have had it happen with headphones (that are not even plugged in) when near radio transmitters, what's worse; turning up the volume amplifies the interference as well, so you can't even drown it out. Good if you want a radio that doesn't use power though I guess?

[Darth Wong]

My desktop and one of my laptops occasionally picks up and plays what sound like television commercials. I'm not sure exactly, but I usually get about 20 seconds of audio, then they fade off. I've scanned for viruses, spyware, etc., and I'm sure that's not the reason.

It must be the inter-dimensional vampires.

[Zablorg]

My desktop and one of my laptops occasionally picks up and plays what sound like television commercials. I'm not sure exactly, but I usually get about 20 seconds of audio, then they fade off. I've scanned for viruses, spyware, etc., and I'm sure that's not the reason.

It must be the inter-dimensional vampires.

No, man, no. We can't waste all our resources screwing with peoples laptops, we've got a war with the Illuminati to win!

I'd guess the cause is your laptop picking up things like radio signals, and perhaps tv audio. Similar thing happened with someones laptop showing a vague picture of what video game someone was playing in the next room.

[RThurmont]

I'd guess that its a malfunctioning malware app. A number of pop up adware-type malware apps deliver ads with audio... In this case, perhaps the GUI component of the app was broken, to some extent, or is, in the manner occasionally possible with Windows, stuck just outside the accessible boundaries of your viewable desktop (I have that happen routinely with non-maximized windows on my dual-head workstation).

[Superman]

Okay, but two of my computers are doing it. One is a laptop, and one is the desktop. Odd.

[Darksider]

Okay, but two of my computers are doing it. One is a laptop, and one is the desktop. Odd.

have you linked the two computers together, or transfered any files between them?

Some malware can spread.

[Phantasee]

My old computer speakers used to do this as well. It's probably just interference, your speakers are picking up TV signals, and playing the audio. If the signal is strong enough, it will do this.

SHIELD UR WIREZ.

[Laughing Mechanicus]

A similar thing used to happen to my girlfriends' old, broken computer speakers. Except hers used to pick up transmissions from a baby monitor. The sound of a baby crying is not something you want to catch just on the edge of your hearing when alone at 3 in the morning.

[RThurmont]

Or perhaps with both computers you visited the same malware-infected website.

[Phantasee]

Or perhaps with both computers you visited the same malware-infected website.

Christ. He's picking up TV commercials. Several other people in this very thread have pointed out that they have experienced speakers that pick up sound that wasn't generated by their computers.

Why don't you be a useful little tool and find us an open-source solution to electromagnetic interference?

[RThurmont]

Some audio/video advertisements delivered via various random online channels (including malware) roughly approximate TV commercials for the same brand. Malware-as-an-advertising-vector is not limited to non-mainstream brands; former clients of one New York-based malware firm (I believe it was called Intermix-it was one that Spitzer went after) included Vonage and Delta Airlines.

I would be more inclined to consider electromagnetic interference as a possibility if he was also hearing other types of television content, such as, you know, actual TV programs. The fact that he's apparently only hearing advertisements suggests malware is the culprit.

[Lord Poe]

Okay, but two of my computers are doing it. One is a laptop, and one is the desktop. Odd.

Do you have an iPhone, Blackberry, or some other similar device sitting near the speakers? The only thig I can think of is my cell phone zapping interference into my speakers when someone is about to call.