How To Remove Xtendmedia Virus – Ad.xtendmedia.com Malware (Adware/Hijacker)
What is the Xtendmedia virus (Ad.Xtendmedia)?
The Xtendmedia virus also referred to as the Ad.Xtendmedia virus, Xtend Media virus, Xtendmedia CLK, or ad.xtendmedia.com rediret, is malware, categorized as combo adware and browser hijacker that infects computer systems without consent and displays unwanted banner advertisements, pop-up advertisements, and in-text advertisements. Furthermore Xtendmedia adware may display advertisements over legitimate advertisements or appear on a webpage as if it is part of the webpage. We have previously coined this type of behavior as some sort of camoware (camouflaging adware), where the adware attempts to blend with the website or appear like a legitimate banner, skyscraper, square, and rectangle ad. The Xtendmedia virus may also display text advertisements underneath legitimate advertisements, including Google AdSense advertisements on legitimate websites. Xtendmedia advertisements may even appear on Google.com underneath the search field as if it is supposed to be on the website. Xtendmedia advertisements have been reported to lead to malicious websites or contain malicious payloads.
Xtendmedia has also been reported to change internet browser settings such as home pages default search engines, and browser shortcuts of internet browsers it infects such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. This causes internet browsers to target and startup on xtendmedia.com, ad.xtendmedia.com, other webpages on the same domain, and third-party domain names that attempt to appear as legitimate search engines such as Conduit or Delta Search, as well as redirect to unwanted websites while attempting to search the web using the browser’s address bar.
Xtendmedia advertisements usually contain text on the bottom right of the advert (or somewhere else) that says “Ads not by this site” or “Xtendmedia what is this Report?” Some Xtendmedia advertisements engage in unethical marketing practices such as the one pictured above and below that claims Your PC Performance is Poor, though performance may not be poor. Furthermore the link may lead to an unethical website that promotes non-beneficial and/or malicious software, commonly classified as Scareware or rogue software.
If you notice Xtendmedia advertisements, or suspicious banner-type adverts DO NOT CLICK THE ADVERTISEMENTS, your computer is likely infected with Xtendmedia malware. To remove Xtendmedia malware and third party computer viruses, please read further.
How does the Xtendmedia virus infect a computer?
Xtendmedia adware may infect a computer via third-party software, some considered malware, such as third-party adware, hijackers, spyware, that may be advertised as legitimate add-ons, extensions, plugins, toolbars, freeware, shareware, codecs, or files such as torrents, etc.. It has been reported that removing third-party browser attachments has removed Xtendmedia malware and stopped Xtendmedia ads from appearing.
If you recently downloaded software from websites such as download.com, it is possible that in order to generate an unethical revenue stream, the website may have bundled Remove AdXtendmedia adware with their free products.
- To remove the Ad.Xtendmedia computer virus and third-party malware, please use the free Xtendmedia removal instructions below.
How to remove Xtendmedia malware
How to remove Xtendmedia malware- Automatically remove Xtendmedia malware – Scan for and automatically remove Xtendmedia malware
- Manually remove Xtendmedia malware – Remove/Uninstall Xtendmedia and third-party malware
1. Automatic Xtendmedia removal
Use the instructions below to automatically remove ad.xtendmedia adware and third-party malware, as well as automatically remove unwanted search engines from your home page, default search engine, browser shortcut, and other hijacked settings using free or paid versions of software.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes will remove Xtendmedia adware. They have been notified of this infection through their forums.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, make sure to do so.
3. On the first tab labeled “Scanner” select the Perform full scan option and click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting the computer system.
4. Once the malware scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a notice stating malicious objects were detected including ad.xtendmedia. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected) or click the Delete button to remove quarantined files.
CCleaner
CCleaner can be used to automatically repair internet browser settings startup up settings, and uninstall stubborn Xtendmedia software.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform.
2. Once installed, open the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found.
4. To automatically uninstall Xtendmedia and unwanted programs, navigate to the Uninstall tab and search for Xtendmedia software, etc. in the list of installed programs. Uninstall the programs as selected.
2. Manual Xtendmedia removal
Use the instructions below to manually uninstall Xtendmedia adware using generic removal procedures.
How to uninstall Xtendmedia malware
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.
3. In the list of installed programs, search for Xtendmedia and other potentially unwanted software. Once located, double click the unwanted programs or highlight them in the list and click the Uninstall button.
How to remove the Xtendmedia add-on and extension
Use the instructions to remove Xtendmedia add-ons, extensions, plugins, and toolbars.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Customize icon (wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Search for the Xtendmedia extension and remove it by clicking the trashcan icon next to them.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Type Ctrl+Shift+A.
2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for the Xtendmedia add-on and remove it.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search for the Xtendmedia add-on and remove it if located.
Related Articles
- How to remove Certified Toolbar (hijacker)
- How to remove Text Enhance (adware) – Includes instructions to block and restrict advertisements for Chrome, IE, Firefox, and Safari as well as a list of common extensions associated with adware.
- How to block advertisements and malicious resources using Windows hosts file
- How to stop unwanted redirections
- How to restore Microsoft Windows Operating Systems (XP, Vista, 7)
- How to refresh/reset Microsoft Windows 8 Operating Systems
