A user is receiving repeated pop-up advertising messages while browsing the internet. A malware scan is unable to locate the source of an infection. Which of the following should the technician…

Windows updates are for security and feature enhancements, not directly related to stopping pop-up ads originating from potentially hijacked DNS settings.

Misconfigured or malicious DNS settings can redirect web traffic to ad-serving servers or malicious sites, even if no local malware is detected, leading to repeated pop-up advertisements. Checking DNS settings can uncover if an attacker has changed them to point to a malicious DNS server, circumventing local malware scans.

The certificate store manages trusted certificates for secure communication (HTTPS), and while important for security, it is not the primary cause of repeated pop-up ads if no malware is found.

Browser plug-ins are a common source of pop-ups, but the question states a malware scan was unable to locate the source, suggesting more fundamental issues like DNS misconfiguration might be at play.