How to remove Codec Acceleration adware

What is Codec Acceleration?

Codec Acceleration is quite an untrustworthy application that you should not install. This dubious application is promoted as a valuable extension for web browser (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox) that promises to enhance people’s video viewing options. This program offers such features as faster HD video streaming, faster video loading time, etc. However, we are not so sure that you will get what is promised by its developers. Please, keep in mind before installing Codec Acceleration on your computer that this program is categorized as an adware and a potentially unwanted program. This means that Codec Acceleration may start causing various pop-up ads during your browsing that are very annoying and are used to promote predetermined parties. Besides, you may not only see Codec Acceleration ads every couple of seconds. Beware that this program may enter your computer very silently and without any permission asked. Once it does that, it modifies the system and start causing Codec Acceleration redirects to unknown websites. Unexpected appearance of this program explains why there are so many PC users who are assuming that Codec Acceleration is a malicious program, a virus or a cyber infection. Don’t worry, this ad-supported extension can barely pose any harm on your computer, so if you don’t think that it is malicious, you can keep it. However, if you have been clicking on each of its ads, there is no surprise why you are suffering from slow downs, system crashes and similar issues. While there is no guarantee that you won’t be redirected to a suspicious site, we think that you should stay away from Codec Acceleration adware. In order to remove it from the system, you should visit a guide below or run a full system scan with Fortect Intego.

How can Codec Acceleration hijack my computer?

Codec Acceleration virus relies on a couple of unfair distribution techniques. First of all, as we have mentioned above, this useless application is promoted as a helpful tool. That is why many internet users download Codec Acceleration voluntarily. As you can imagine, we strongly recommend not to do that. Secondly, this dubious extension may use a distribution method that is called bundling. In other words, you may see Codec Acceleration ads and experience various redirects right after installing a doubtful freeware from an unknown source. In fact, remember that safety of your computer and the precious data that is stored within is entirely in your hands. Therefore, it is better to be more cautious than to experience harmful consequences. If you do not want to get Codec Acceleration virus, you should carefully check all programs that you are going to install. If you fail to spot this unwanted attachment, you may be extremely annoyed.

How to remove Codec Acceleration adware from my computer?

Don’t worry if this useless application has infiltrated your computer. As long as you avoid clicking Codec Acceleration ads, you should be safe. Nonetheless, check your recently installed programs and remove this application. These guidelines will help you.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:

In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:

Select Go > Go to Folder.
Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:

Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
Then find On startup section.
Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
Select Details tab.
Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:

Click on Menu and go to Settings.
Select Privacy, search and services.
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Under Time range, pick All time.
Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
On the left side, pick Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values.
Confirm with Reset.
This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
Select Add-ons.
In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:

Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
Choose Settings.
Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

Click Menu and pick Settings.
Go to Privacy & Security section.
Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
Click on Clear Data...
Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

Click on Menu and pick Settings.
Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

Click menu and choose Settings.
Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:

Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:

Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.