What is Ad Remover and how to remove it?
Ad Remover
Our guide explains what Ad Remover is and helps you remove the Ad Remover extension from Chrome and viruses, malware, and other threats from your PC.
Description and Permissions
Ad Remover blocks online ads and activity trackers, which helps sites load faster and protect your privacy.
- Display notifications
What is Ad Remover?
Ad Remover by adremover.org is a misleading and deceptive internet browser extension compatible with Google Chrome and other web browsers. The Ad Remover extension claims to block online ads and trackers. Although the extension can be used to do this, it will not block all advertisements on the websites you visit and it will display misleading information in order to persuade you to purcahse the extension for $9.99 USD per month or $39.99 annually. The Ad Remover extension is initially offered as a free 7 day trial.
The image above shows that the Ad Remover extension is installed. There is a pop-up notification from the extension in the bottom right corner. When we visited a web page on our website that contained 0 advertisements the Ad Remover extension claimed to have blocked 93 ads. This was the only web page we visited while the Ad Remover extension was installed.
Furthermore, the Ad Remover extension claimed to have blocked 328 ads and 3 that were likely malicious; However, we only visited our own web page that does not have advertisements on it. Therefor this shows that the extension patently displays false, deceptive, and even slanderous information in order to scare victims into purchasing a subscription to the extension.
To add more, we visited a web page on our website after this. The Ad Remover extension did not remove all the advertisements on the web page. So, not only is the Ad Remover extension deceptive, it does not work as advertised.
A serious concern with the Ad Remover extension is that it is advertised on websites that also advertise and host malware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), adware, and spyware. This means that if you have seen an advertisement for Ad Remover or found the extension installed it is likely that your computer has been introduced to other threats that should be eradicated with urgency.
- If you’re looking for a legitimate and safe extension to block ads, check out our article The Best Ad Blocker Extensions for Google Chrome.
How is Ad Remover distributed?
The Ad Remover extension is usually distributed like most common unwanted programs and browser attachments are. The extension is bolstered by advertisements that can be deceptive. It might be advertised as something it is not in order to trick victims into installing it and other potentially unwanted programs and malware. However, as previously mentioned, the biggest concern with how the extension is distributed is that it is advertised on websites that are considered dangerous.
The extension is also promoted by adware and ad-serving browser extension like CoolioFunGames. Adware and ad-serving extension can often redirect your browser to a new web page that contains ads for the Ad Remover extension.
How to remove Ad Remover
STEP 1: Remove malware from your computer
1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software to scan your computer and remove malicious files and potentially unwanted programs.
2. To install the program, click the file you just downloaded. It can usually be located in the Download folder.
3. A window that says “Welcome to the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard” will appear. Click Agree and Install to begin the installation. Once complete, click Finish.
4. Now the Malwarebytes is installed, open the program and click the Scan Now button – or go to the Scan tab and click the Start Scan button.
3. When the scan is complete click the Quarantine Selected button.
4. If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.
5. Next, Download HitmanPro to perform a second-opinion scan and remove any remaining malicious trace files.
6. Once installed, open HitmanPro and click Next to start scanning your computer. *If you are using the free version you may chose to create a copy or perform a one-time scan.
7. When the HitmanPro scan is complete click the Next button.
8. To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
9. Click the Reboot button.
Your computer should now be completely free of Ad Remover Extension and other malicious files; However, you can still use the manual repair and uninstall instructions below if your browser settings have not been repaired or if you think an unwanted program is still installed on your machine.
STEP 2: Remove Ad Remover extension
Chrome
1. Open the Customize and control Google Chrome menu and go to More tools > Extensions.
2. Find the Ad Remover extension in the list and click the Remove button to remove it.
- How to change your Google Chrome homepage
- How to change your Google Chrome search engine
- How to remove extensions from Chrome
Firefox
- How to change your Mozilla Firefox homepage
- How to change your Mozilla Firefox search engine
- How to remove add-ons from Firefox
Internet Explorer
- How to change your Microsoft Internet Explorer homepage
- How to change your Microsoft Internet Explorer search engine
- How to remove add-ons from Internet Explorer
Safari
STEP 3: Uninstall unwanted programs
If you are infected with adware and other unwanted programs you might be able to uninstall unwanted programs from your computer. Use these instructions to uninstall unwanted programs that may have installed on your machine. If you do not find a program installed on your machine make sure to scan your computer for malware using the instructions above.
