When working on your PC, you may see a pop-up window, warning that this PC is infected with a malicious program. Usually, such a notice contains some information about the would-be virus, a warning that your data is exposed and an option to contact tech support for immediate help. Sure, the phone numbers are given, too.
Actually, your PC is really infected, but not with the malware the notice warns you about. It got a form of advertising-supported software that is used as a malicious program. The program launches these random pop-ups with warnings in order to frighten you with the claim that someone is going to get hold of your personal data and your PC is not secure anymore. This would make you call to the specified tech support for help, but instead of help you will be offered various unwanted services – this is how this kind of advertising works.
Such an adware can be downloaded to your PC along with any free software found on the Internet. Its only goal is to scare you with these fake pop-ups and to make you give a call to a company that will try to sell its remote support services. From there, there is no immediate risk to your personal data and the least you can do is to ignore these false warnings and to refrain from making any calls. But your PC is really infected, and thus you need to put in place measures for removing the adware. Here is your step-by-step guide on both detecting and removing.
4 Methods to Remove Annoying Adware
Method 1: Use Malwarebytes AdwCleaner for scanning your PC
This is a utility, which is distributed for free and developed for scanning and cleaning computers. The program helps in detecting adware that could be downloaded to the user’s PC without permission.
- To download the software, just click the following link. Note that once you click it, the utility starts downloading to your PC.
- Since you are required to restart the PC after the cleaning is finished, it will be smart to save and close all files you have opened on the PC. This includes your browser, too. As the adware may prevent you from closing the browser, you can cope with this problem by aborting the browser through your Task Manager. Start with clicking the right button of your mouse on the taskbar and then clicking the corresponding button on the box. Review the list of processes running on your PC and choose the browser process, clicking on the left button of the mouse. Select “End Task” and the browser will be closed.
- When the program is downloaded, your Windows system may ask you whether you allow the program to introduce any changes – sure, you need to choose “Yes”. Also, you have to agree to the Terms of Use.
- As the utility is opened, start scanning by clicking the corresponding button that can be found on the left side of the window. The utility will start searching for adware and other kinds of threats.
- When the scanning stops, a log file will be displayed, specifying malicious programs detected. To clean the PC, choose the corresponding button and the utility will remove all the found malicious software.
- Then the program will remind you about saving your open files prior to restarting the computer. Click “Ok” to allow the process to be completed.
- As soon as your PC restarts, the program will open its log file to show all the files, software and registry keys that were removed. Close the window after reviewing this information.
Method 2: Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for cleaning you PC
This is powerful software for detecting and removing various threats and it is available for home computers for free. It also outstands for its conflict-free running simultaneously with other anti-viruses.
- Use the following link to get to a web-page where the software is available for download.
- Since a restart is required at the end of the malware removal, save and close all your files, browsers and documents in advance.
- Then double-click the “mbam-setup” icon to install the program and follow its “Setup Wizard” prompts (just press “Next” until you see the “Finish” button). Don’t miss to allow the software introducing changes to the infected PC by pressing the “Yes” button when asked.
- After the installation, the program will start with updating its antivirus database. Then you need to choose the “Scan Now” button located at the bottom of the screen. When scanning, the program will provide a report on the progress showing the amount of items scanned, threats detected and time elapsed.
- As soon as the scanning is complete, the program will show detected threats with their brief descriptions. Click “Quarantine Selected” to do away with malicious software. While removing malware, the program may ask for a restart, so agree in order to have the process completed.
Method 3: Use HitmanPro for malware removal
This trialware also works well along with other anti-virus tools, while detecting adware and other malicious software. It can clean your PC effectively, even where other anti-viruses fail.
- Follow the link to download the software to your PC.
- To ensure its smooth installation, first choose from 32-bit or 64-bit versions by clicking “HitmanPro.exe” or “HitmanPro_x64.exe”. Then proceed by choosing “Next” to scan your PC for malicious software.
- While searching, the program will report you on the progress specifying threats that were found. When the search is over, you need to choose “Next” again to move further.
- Then you will be asked to activate the program either by entering the product key or by using its free license, which is available for 30 days. Choose the second option by clicking the corresponding button and then all the detected malware will be removed from your PC.
Method 4: Reset your browser settings to default
If you’ve tried to apply the above-described methods, but this didn’t help to make away with the problem, then you may achieve the desired result by restoring your browser settings to default. Depending on your browser, you may not even lose your passwords and bookmarks, though you will have to part with some of your personal settings anyway. Here is our guide for the most popular browsers.
Resetting Google Chrome
- Find the button with three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the screen to enter the browser main menu and then select “Settings”.
- At the very bottom of a window that will open, find the “Show Advance Settings” button and click it.
- Go down the page again until you find the “Reset browser settings” button and click on it.
- Read the notification explaining which browser components will be reset to default and confirm your desire to reset the settings.
Resetting Internet Explorer
- Find the “gear” button at the top right of the home page and then choose “Internet Options” from the drop-down menu.
- After selecting the “Advanced” option, you will see the “Reset” button located closer to the dialog box bottom. A notice will emerge, informing you about resetting to default.
- After clicking on the button, read the information about components which the resetting includes, tick the box prescribing to delete personal settings and confirm the resetting by clicking the corresponding button.
- Close all the boxes upon completion of the resetting, as well as the browser itself – then you may open it again and it will have its default settings.
Resetting Mozilla Firefox
- The main menu button of this browser is similar to that of Google Chrome and it is located in the same place. But when you see the drop-down menu, you need to find the question-mark button at the very bottom and click on it.
- When the help menu is displayed, click the “Troubleshooting Information” button. If the help menu is inaccessible for you, you can get to the needed page by entering “about:support” in the browser address bar.
- At this point you should get to the browser page containing technical information. In the upper right corner, there is the “Refresh Firefox” button you need to press.
- Confirm that you want to restore default settings by pressing the corresponding button again and then wait until the browser closes, restores its settings and informs you about the imported data. Finish the process by clicking the corresponding button.
- In case the problem with the adware was not resolved, you may use the “Old Firefox Data folder placed on the desktop for restoring some additional data that didn’t get to your new browser profile. If this data is not required, it is better to delete the folder for good.
After all the above-described manipulations are carried out, your PC should be free of the scary adware, as well as all other viruses and malicious software. But since both HitmanPro and Malwarebytes provide conflict-free running along with other anti-virus software, you don’t need to delete them – you’d better use them for regular scanning and cleaning.