How to remove Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser extension

Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser hijacker can be intrusive and damaging due to the third-party content it delivers

Adblocker & Privacy Protector is the program affecting the speed of the machine when the browser extension is installed and starts controlling the online behavior. The promotional content and developers' page, web store posts claim that the adblocker should help with unwanted ads and browser performance. It has no positive value and should be considered a PUP, so make sure to get rid of the program and any additional installs to save the machine.^[1]

If the infection manages to run on the computer for a longer period of time, it is possible that speed issues become not the only problem. These browser-based infections, annoying stealthy intruders can ensure that these apps like Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser extension are launched from the start and reboot of the machine.

The hijacker is freely downloaded from the web, and people might fall for the promotional tricks and add the browser piece themselves, but the more concerning issue is the stealthy installation that happens due to the software bundling^[2] technique borrowed from advertisers.

Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser plugin can be related to various third-party advertisers and ad-supported services, pages. The sooner you clear the machine, the better because these problems can lead to security issues and damage on the machine. 

Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser extension displays various content on the machine and those banners, pop-ups, redirects can be related to sponsored material that is required to visit and is difficult to avoid. In most cases, these redirects and additional browser windows are not easily avoidable or exited, so try not to click on ads or links as much as possible.

How to get rid of the PUP fully?

Browser hijackers like this and other potentially unwanted apps can manipulate various settings on the browser and change the homepage, new tab, default search engine preferences to its own site or third-party applications, services. This is intrusive and needs to be changed back to default.

However, it is not that easy sometimes because the program controlling the behavior of Adblocker & Privacy Protector runs all the things from the system. Those settings can get changed back to what you wanted, but the hijacker needs to be removed properly.

Experts^[3] note that anti-malware tools are needed even when you are dealing with browser-based applications and intruders that mainly affect the performance of certain apps, not the main performance of the computer. However, people think it is difficult to remove Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser extension either way.

First, try to run the application like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes and scan the machine fully. This way your machine is checked thoroughly, and all suspicious programs get indicated as possibly malicious or damaging. You can find all programs affecting your machine. Files can be removed, and the intruder terminated.

Do not forget about issues caused on the browser by the intruder. This guide is for Chrome, but you can find instructions for other less common browsers below and clear all the Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser extension changes.

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

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.

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.

Saving the machine from cyber infections

Adblocker & Privacy Protector claims to offer ad-blocking functions, so promotional ads or the post on web store can encourage people to install the browser plugin on purpose. However, there are no valuable features because this is the program that causes advertisements itself.

Once it gets installed on the machine, it triggers new tabs with ads, redirects to scammy pages, or even uses social engineering methods and leads to technical support scam pages like “Windows 10 May Be In Danger”. The push notifications, fake errors, and pop-ups promoting other intruders can create major issues with the system.

However, there is a big problem with the PUP that is responsible for Adblocker & Privacy Protector browser extension behavior. It is capable of changing registry settings, adding or removing files there, in other system folders. This way, PUP is persistent and difficult to remove if you have no knowledge of cyber threats and unwanted applications.

You might want to find this or different related apps manually. Advertisements might stop, but the behavior of the web browser can still annoy you if the program itself is running on the device. This is why you should stop browser pop-ups, clear unwanted tensions, and also eliminate threats from the OS.

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.