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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jul 2017

How to remove Video Ads Blocker virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Olivia Morelli · Ransomware analyst

Video Ads Blocker has more disadvantages than advantages, so you should not install it

Screenshot of Video Ads Blocker

Video Ads Blocker is a Google Chrome extension that is supposed to block ads on YouTube. The extension, developed by SISTEMA LTD, is available on youtubeadblock.net; however, you should not go there and install it. It’s is classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.[1]

However, this browser extension[2] might also be installed without your knowledge. It has been noticed spreading via bundling method. Thus, YoutubeAdBlock might appear on your browser after the installation of some free program.

Since then, Video Ads Blocker adware starts causing quite the opposite effects than expected. Nevertheless, it may block ads that appear before or in the middle of the YouTube video and promise not to display its own ads; security experts tell different things. After the installation, it might flood your browser with other commercial content, such as:

  • pop-ups,
  • pop-unders,
  • in-text ads,
  • banners,
  • and other types of online ads.

Typically, Video Ads Blocker virus is created to promote other browser extensions, security software and other suspicious tools that you should never agree to install. Most of the time they are useless and might cause other computer-related programs.

The authors of this free extension generate advertising-based revenue, so you should understand that they want to make as much money as possible. The only way to achieve their goal – to display a tremendous amount of aggressive ads. Keep in mind that only Video Ads Blocker removal will make them go away.

However, intrusive ads are not the only problem. According to the Video Ads Blocker’s Privacy Policy, this application might collect personal and browsing-related information. However, the company does not identify what specific information it tracks. It’s clear that your IP address and some information obtained with the help of cookies are collected and might be shared with “trusted business partners.”

We are almost sure that data tracking and sharing is necessary for advertising purposes. So, you might expect not only your browser crashing or freezing, but seeing suspicious newsletters sent directly to your inbox too. Do you want to avoid that? Then, you know what you have to do – remove Video Ads Blocker right now. The best way to do it – running system scan with FortectIntego.

The image of Video Ads Blocker virus

Browser extension might be promoted in software packages

YoutubeAdBlock, or Video Ads Blocker, has an official website (youtubeadblock.net). Therefore, if you are looking for the ad-blocking application, you might encounter it. However, it’s not the only way how it spreads. Developers also apply a questionable software marketing distribution strategy – bundling.

This method allows adding PUP as an “additional download” and hiding under Quick/Recommended settings. Thus, when users install freeware or shareware using this setup, the adware enters the system without informing the user.

To avoid the unexpected appearance of this and other similar programs, you have to install programs under Advanced/Custom settings. They reveal what applications are included in the software package and allows rejecting their installation.

The extension is noticed widely spreading in the United States; however, other English-speaking users in the U.K.[3] or Australia should be aware of its negative features too.

Uninstall Video Ads Blocker virus from Chrome

If you have installed this extension from the official site, you should eliminate it as an ordinary plugin or toolbar. Just access Chrome’s extension and remove Video Ads Blocker. However, if it sneaked in a software bundle, you should take more actions.

In this case, you should check if other suspicious components were not installed without your knowledge. You can do it by following manual Video Ads Blocker removal instructions below or scanning the device with reputable anti-malware.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

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

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

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

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

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

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

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

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Reset the homepage:

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

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

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

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

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

Reset Safari:

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

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