How to remove Fqfgps.com ads

Fqfgps.com can cause pop-up spam which can lead to more dangerous websites

Fqfgps.com is a deceptive site that tries to trick users into subscribing to push notifications. It displays a fake message and image to make people click the “Allow” button. Supposedly, the site has a video to play but cannot until a person gives it access.

This is obviously false. There is no other content to explore on the page besides the message and image of a paused media player. Crooks use social engineering^[1] to be able to monetize user activity. The website starts sending annoying pop-up ads that can appear even when the browser is closed.

Rogue advertising networks may be used that place ads leading to dangerous websites. This can lead users to pages that try to lure out personal information, trick them into downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),^[2] and even malware.

Distribution methods

There are thousands of push notification spam pages floating around the Internet. We previously wrote about sites, like Whoisablet.com, Go0s.biz, and Colloredtheme.top. Usually, they are not found through the search results. Most of the time, they hide in other shady pages.

This includes sites that engage in illegal activities, like illegal streaming platforms. They are unregulated, so they are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. Fake “Download” and “Play” buttons can redirect users to pages, like Fqfgps.com and fool users into thinking that if they press “Allow” they will be able to watch the movie or TV show they selected.

It is best to use legitimate streaming services, like Netflix or Hulu because they are safe. Also, avoid clicking on random links and visiting unknown websites. Another possibility is, that the page appeared without any user input, so you should scan your system with professional security tools to check for adware.^[3]

Stop the intrusive pop-ups

Below you will find a manual guide on how to take care of your browser. Because push notifications are subscription-based, you will have to disable them yourself:

Google Chrome (desktop):

1. Open Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
4. Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
5. Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.

Google Chrome (Android):

1. Open Google Chrome and tap on Settings (three vertical dots).
2. Select Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Sites section.
4. Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off setting).

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
2. Click on Privacy & Security section.
3. Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click Settings button next to it.
4. In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
5. Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.

Safari:

1. Click on Safari > Preferences…
2. Go to Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
3. Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.

MS Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
2. Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
3. Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
4. Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.

MS Edge (Chromium):

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
2. Select Site permissions.
3. Go to Notifications on the right.
4. Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
5. Click on More actions and select Block.

Cookies and cache

If blocking ads via browser settings worked for you, now you should take care of your browser by clearing cookies and cache. They are used by almost every website to track your activity. They can store data like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, and things you purchase online.

Because you probably were browsing through shady sites, this step is essential. We also have an automatic solution for this if you want to avoid a lengthy manual process – FortectIntego.

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.

Remove adware from your system

If you notice an increased amount of commercial content like pop-ups, banners, surveys, and others, or you often get redirected to strange websites, you may have adware installed in your system. PUPs are most commonly spread on freeware^[4] distribution platforms.

Because the owners of these pages provide programs for free, they need to make money in other ways, so they include additional programs in the installers that monetize user activity.  People do not notice that other files were installed because they normally rush through the process.

If you want to avoid PUAs, you have to pay attention. Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods and go through all the steps. The most important part is checking the file list and seeing if there is anything that you do not need. If you see them, just untick the boxes next to the names.

Because it is unclear which app could be causing the problems, we suggest using SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes anti-malware tools that can automatically scan your machine and eliminate it completely. If you know what you are doing and want to do it yourself, here are the directions for Windows and macOS:

Windows 10/8:

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.

Windows 7/XP:

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.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To entirely remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any suspicious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.