How to Remove ExpressVPN ads (Virus Removal Guide)
ExpressVPN ads can pop up out of nowhere and ruin your internet experience. This guide will help you understand ExpressVPN a little better and what you can do to get rid of ExpressVPN ads and remove malware, adware, spyware, and other cyber threats from your computer.
ExpressVPN ads
ExpressVPN is a legitimate paid virtual private network service offered by Express VPN International Ltd. and the company has the legal authority to advertise its product to a demographic that may be susceptible to their advertisements. But, that doesn’t mean that people who come across their advertisements shouldn’t be concerned.
ExpressVPN knows their potential customer and knows that they should market to users who may want to conceal their tracks online. Therefore ExpressVPN ads are often shown on websites that contain content normal advertising networks may find potentially risky or unsafe. Websites that contain adult content, are security risks and furnish public access to copyrighted materials such as torrent and video streams fall under this category.
In addition, the advertising networks used to generate ExpressVPN ads on different websites across the web are also known to advertise software and browser extensions recognized as malware by reputable Antivirus vendors and websites that are bogus due to containing deceptive and fraudulent content such as survey scams and get-rich-quick scams.
This causes worry because if a potential customer is in a place where ExpressVPN advertisements are shown they may assume that the product is as safe as the products in the other advertisements which are usually easy to identify as malicious, deceptive, or simply less than average.
Pop-up and pop-under advertisements
ExpressVPN and their advertising partners also utilize a variety of different advertising styles from normal text and banner advertisements suitable for most websites to aggressive pop-up ads and pop-under ads that open up a new browser window or tab with a full-page ExpressVPN ad, or landing page.
This is a point of interest because pop-up ads and pop-under ads are notoriously known to be too aggressive and obnoxious and partially due to these facts this marketing tactic has been obsolete for over a decade.
Is ExpressVPN safe?
ExpressVPN is safe to use if access to the paid service is obtained through a legitimate ExpressVPN website such as https://www.expressvpn.com/. In addition, there is no free version of the virtual private network service therefore it is advised to avoid advertisements or websites that claim to have access to a free product. However, various tools and a free browser extension in the Google Web Store registry called “ExpressVPN: VPN proxy to unblock everything” do exist.
How to remove ExpressVPN ads
If ExpressVPN advertisements are not the result of an adware infection they can be blocked by installing and using an add-on or extension designed to block advertisements. To find an ad-blocker plugin suitable for your web browser visit the browser’s official website for discovering and installing add-ons and/or extensions. For example, if you are a Mozilla Firefox user visit https://addons.mozilla.org/ and if you are a Google Chrome user visit https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions and search for a recommended adblocker.
Recommended cross-browser ad blockers:
- Adblock Plus – free ad blocker
- uBlock Origin
- AdBlock — best ad blocker
1. Download Malwarebytes using the link below to remove malware and potentially unwanted programs. There is a free version, a free trial version, and a premium version, all of which work in this guide.
2. Locate and double-click the setup file (MBSetup.exe) to install Malwarebytes. The setup file is usually located in the Downloads or Desktop folder. However, in some cases, the file may be executed from the bottom of the browser after it has been downloaded.
3. Once Malwarebytes has installed open the program and go to Settings > Security > Scan options and switch on Scan for rootkits, then click the X in the Settings Menu to close the area. To find Settings, click the tool icon on the top right of the program’s interface. Enabling the Scan for rootkits feature will ensure that Malwarebytes will scan for the largest amount of malware and PUPs possible.
4. Go to the home screen and click the Scan button to start scanning for malware and PUPs.
5. When Malwarebytes is finished scanning it will show a list of results including the detection names of all the malware, adware, spyware, and PUPs it found. Click the Quarantine button to remove all selected threats.
6. Malwarebytes may require a system reboot. If so, restart your computer, log back in, and finish these removal steps.
7. Download HitmanPro using the link below to perform a “second opinion scan” and remove leftover traces of tracking cookies, viruses, Trojans, rootkits, spyware, and other malware. There is a free version, a free trial version, and a premium version, all of which work in this guide. This program does not require to be set up or installed but you may be asked to provide your name and email address before proceeding.
8. Once HitmanPro is activated, click the Next button to start and follow the instructions. You may be asked to perform a one-time scan to check your computer or to create a copy of HitmanPro to regularly use the program. Select which is best for you; however, if we advise you to create a copy of this program to ensure your security.
9. Click the Next button to start scanning your computer.
10. When HitmanPro is finished scanning it will show a list of results including the threat name and type. Click the Next button to remove all selected threats. Then click Next to finish.
11. HitmanPro may require a system reboot. If so, restart your computer, log back in, and finish these removal steps.
12. Download CCleaner using the link below to perform a system checkup and repair corrupted settings. There is a free version, a free trial version, and a premium version, all of which work in this guide.
13. Locate and double-click the setup file (ccsetup.exe) to install CCleaner.
14. Once CCleaner has installed open the program and go to the Health Check screen and click the Next button (or Get Started) to start a checkup.
15. When CCleaner is finished scanning it will show a list of results including tracking files, junk files, modified startup tasks, and more. Click the Make it better button.
16. Go to the Registry screen and click Scan for Issues.
17. When the scan is finished click the Fix selected issues button.
18. Click Yes to back up the registry before making any changes to it and save the .reg file on your computer.
19. Click the Fix All Selected Issues button on the pop-up window then click Close.
20. Go to Tools > Uninstall to locate and uninstall suspicious programs. Click Install Date to list the programs in a row by the date they were installed. This allows you to find programs that were installed around the time of infection. If you locate a suspicious program, click on it, and click the Uninstall button. If you are unaware if you should uninstall a program, record the program’s name and search the program’s name using a search engine. Do most websites consider the program malicious? If so, uninstall it.
21. Go to Tools > Startup to disable programs from running when Windows starts. To disable a program from running, click on it, and click the Disable button. If you are unaware if you should disable a program from running, record the program’s name and search the program’s name using a search engine. Do most websites consider the program malicious? If so, disable it from running when Windows starts.
22. Go to Tools > Browser Plugins to delete unwanted browser add-ons and extensions. To delete a browser plugin, click on it, and click the Delete button. If you are unaware if you should delete a browser extension, record the extension’s name and search the extension’s name using a search engine. Do most websites consider the extension malicious? If so, delete it.
23. Download Norton 360 with LifeLock using the link below for complete protection. There is a free trial version Norton 360 with LifeLock is all-in-one protection for your devices, online privacy, and identity. This advanced feature-rich security program works to block malware and other threats from reaching your computer and devices in real-time. Securely browse the internet using a no-log VPN with bank-grade encryption that helps keep your personal information like your passwords and bank details private.
24. Select the version of the program you would like to use and click the Subscribe Now button (to download a free trial go to the footer menu and select free trials).
25. Once you have subscribed check your email for instructions to download Norton 360 or click the Get Started button on the order confirmation page.
26. On the get started page, go to Install protection on this PC or Mac and click Agree & Download. You may also choose to install this program on another device by clicking the Install on Another Device link.
27. Once Norton 360 has installed open the program and click Sign In to log into your account and unlock additional features.
28. Next, click the down arrow next to the Open button in the Device Security section and select Scan Options.
29. Select Full System Scan and click the Go button to start scanning for viruses, malware, and other threats.
30. When Norton 360 is finished scanning it will show a results summary. Click the Finish button to remove all detected items.
31. Norton 360 with LifeLock Select has many features that we suggest enabling including a Secure VPN to protect you online, cloud backup to secure your files, a password manager to store login information, and more. For more information about Norton 360 with LifeLock Select click the Help icon.
What to Do Next?
Your computer and devices should now be clean and free of malware after following our guide. However, if you run into future problems we strongly advise you to use premium security software such as Norton 360 or Malwarebytes. These programs protect your computer and devices against viruses, malware, adware, hackers, and can even keep you anonymous and out of the eyes of cybercriminals.
We also advise you to change the passwords to your online accounts including the passwords to your email, social media, and bank accounts. Here are some tips to help you create a secure password:
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
- Use case-sensitive letters, numbers, and punctuation marks.
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