Ad Avenger: what it is and how to remove it
Ad Avenger is presented as an app that is capable of not only stopping all the ads but also improving browsing speed and stopping all the trackers, allegedly improving privacy. However, this app is very deceptive - instead of blocking the ads, it inserts its own everywhere users go.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Ad Avenger: summary
| Distribution | Fake advertisements, software bundles, official sources |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs/malware, personal data disclosure to unknown parties, monetary loss |
| Name | Ad Avenger |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted application |
| Symptoms | An extension or application is installed on the system; various websites display intrusive pop-ups, banners, and other types of ads |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 4 more facts
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Program | Ad Avenger |
| First seen | 24 November 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Ad Avenger dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Ad Avenger is a fake ad-blocker that shouldn't be trusted
Ad Avenger is presented as an app that is capable of not only stopping all the ads but also improving browsing speed and stopping all the trackers, allegedly improving privacy.
However, this app is very deceptive - instead of blocking the ads, it inserts its own everywhere users go. Hence, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program and a browser hijacker.
While the app can be downloaded from the official Chrome Store and the official website, it is now how most users acquire this extension. In this case, the extension ad tries to imitate a Blue Screen of Death error interface.
This misleading technique is very common and is used by malware authors to spread their creations around. Misleading information, attributes, and messages are commonly shown to users in various social engineering attacks. This is one of the red flags when dealing with unknown programs, browser extensions, or applications - never trust those that are spread using malicious methods, such as fake updates or misleading ads.
Once installed on the system, Ad Avenger does not make any visual browser changes, unlike many other browser hijackers (they typically change homepage/new tab URL and append an alternative search provider). However, the suspicious activity can be felt relatively soon after the application is installed - an increased number of ads is the main one.
However, with the help of the permissions that the app requires upon installation, it can read and change all the data on all websites. While it is not unusual for such extensions to require these permissions, it allows them to collect data about users for marketing purposes.
In any case, if you have installed the app and it did not match your expectations (or you can't recall installing it in the first place), you can easily get rid of it. We explain everything you need to know below.
While some websites are relatively respectful to users and show discreet ads that do not negatively impact their experience, plenty of sites use full-page, intrusive ads that change the place of page components and make it difficult to access the contents. Unfortunately, this keeps happening even on the most prominent websites that specialize in news or entertainment.
While it is easy to avoid sites like that (people simply look for alternatives for a better experience), some ads simply can't be avoided. That is where ad-blockers shine - they can be useful in many ways. Millions of users download them to prevent intrusive advertisements from ruining their browsing experience.
Stopping annoying ads is just one part of the ad-blockers operation, as it can also prevent malicious JavaScript from being executed from malicious websites, essentially preventing automatic malware infections and computer compromise.
Unfortunately, there are downfalls as well. First of all, some websites might require users to disable them in order o access the site's contents. Likewise, some websites simply break due to their functionality, as they block components necessary for the site's operation. Finally, it prevents content creators from monetizing their content, so it would be thoughtful if users would turn it for creators they care about.
Overall, an ad-blocker is a great tool that improves browsing quality and prevents dangerous scripts from being executed. However, not all ad-blockers are useful or even safe.
We have shown plenty of deceptive ad-blockers that insert their own ads, sell user data, or even redirect to malicious websites. Good examples are Adblocker for YouTube, Nano Adblocker & Nano Defender, Supreme Adblocker, and many others. Ad Avenger joins this extensive list.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Ad Avenger
- After you eliminate all PUPs from your system, make sure you clean your web browsers and repair system files.
- You can do that automatically with or refer to our manual guide
How Ad Avenger got into your browser
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
While many potentially unwanted programs can be downloaded from their own websites or even official stores (for example, Ad Avenger can be downloaded from the Chrome store), it is not the main distribution method used by the authors. In most cases, people get tricked into installing Ad Avenger n their systems by the following:
Fake ads can be encountered everywhere on the internet, but places like torrents on illegal video streaming sites are common ground for malicious content. In this case, it was spotted that the app was distributed via a fake Blue Screen of Death advertisements.
Software bundling is also a very common PUP delivery method - it remains one of the most popular ones due to its success rate. Users typically rush the installation of free programs they download from third-party websites, and this aspect is used to trick people into installing additional components.
For example, if they pick Recommended settings, it gives permission for the installer to implement components that were otherwise hidden. To uncover them, users need to select the Advanced installation method, which would allow declining all the optional installs. You should also pay attention to things like fine print, pre-ticked boxes, and similar tricks.
If you never installed the app yourself and you spotted that your browser is redirecting you to ad-filled, scam, and similar unwanted websites, and shows you ads everywhere you go, you should uninstall Ad Avenger from your system, as it might be the cause of this unwanted activity. In order to be successful at this, follow the detailed instructions in the section below.
- Fake advertisements
- Software bundles
How to remove Ad Avenger
How to remove Ad Avenger and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete entries you did not add.
In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If the wrong engine is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall Ad Avenger
Ad Avenger is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select Ad Avenger, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Ad Avenger that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Removal of browser hijacker
Unusually, browser hijackers are not difficult to eliminate, especially those that come as browser extensions (with a few exceptions).
Their main operation surface is the browser, as the hijacker uses it to deliver advertisements. Therefore, if you want to remove the unwanted ads, you should start with eliminating the extension first.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Step 1. Get rid of the extension
Browser extensions are easy to remove.
If you have never done this before, we provide the guide below.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- 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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the window's top-right).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted plugin and click Remove.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Step 2. Scan your system with security software
Security software should be installed on all devices, be it a desktop computer or a phone.
Malware is just way too profitable for cybercriminals and they constantly come up with new ideas on how to make it more prevalent. The unfortunate thing is that malware is usually very sneaky and very hard to notice for regular users.
Thus, to protect yourself from dangers and remove malicious software from a machine, you should perform a full system scan with or anti-malware. This would ensure that not only other potentially unwanted programs but also malware is terminated appropriately at once.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Step 3. Clean your browsers
Browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs are known to gather various information about the web browsing practices of those who have them installed.
Typically, the collected data includes the IP address, device ID, approximate location, technical machine information, browser type and language, search queries, visited websites, and much more. The information is used for various purposes and is often shared with third parties.
For the data collection to be successful, tracking technologies like cookies are used, and they remain on the device for a very long time. Thus, it is recommended to clean the browsers from time to time, especially after the removal of potentially unwanted applications.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- 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.
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content, and press Clear.
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
- Click Safari > Clear History...
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Questions about Ad Avenger
Can I safely uninstall Ad Avenger?
If you did not install Ad Avenger yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows. Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name.
Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
How do I stop programs like Ad Avenger from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped Ad Avenger before it reached the app list.
What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?
Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.
Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
What is Ad Avenger?
Ad Avenger is presented as an app that is capable of not only stopping all the ads but also improving browsing speed and stopping all the trackers, allegedly improving privacy. However, this app is very deceptive - instead of blocking the ads, it inserts its own everywhere users go.
Damage: Installation of other potentially unwanted programs/malware, personal data disclosure to unknown parties, monetary loss. The summary table at the top of this guide lists the type, the detection names, the symptoms and the damage of Ad Avenger.
How did Ad Avenger get on my computer?
Our report lists the distribution as fake advertisements, software bundles, official sources. Software of this kind often comes bundled with free programs, fake updates or downloads from unofficial sites.
It can also arrive through a browser extension or a notification you allowed on a spam page. Think back to what you installed or allowed just before the first ad or redirect appeared.
Will my antivirus detect Ad Avenger?
Not always, because our check found no Microsoft Defender detection name for it. Our check found no Microsoft Defender detection name for it, so a scan may not name it. Update the security program first, then run a full scan instead of a quick one.
Also scan with a second on-demand scanner, because one program can miss what another finds. A clean scan does not prove the signs are gone, so check the browser extensions and installed programs by hand too.
Will Fortect remove Ad Avenger?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Ad Avenger, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- How-to Geek: PUPs Explained: What is a "Potentially Unwanted Program"? (read October 7, 2026)
- Forcepoint: What is Malware? (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)