Clean Browser ads: what it is and how to remove it
Clean Browser, developed by Intriguing apps, is another promising browser plug-in that boasts being able to "recognize malicious websites, minimizing your risk of downloading harmful viruses and malware." It is compatible with all major web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or MS Edge, and may smoothly work on each of them.
Facts checked October 6, 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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Clean Browser ads: summary
| Distribution | The main PUP delivery techniques are "software bundling", injection into third-party ads and hyperlinks, etc. |
|---|---|
| Name | Clean Browser |
| Category | Adware/PUP |
| Main process | SoftwareDetector.exe might be found running in the background |
| Activities | The adware program can relate in intense advertising activities, redirects, collection of browsing-related information, modification of the browser's default homepage/new tab search URL |
| 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 7 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Type | Ad-supported program |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Clean Browser |
| First seen | 12 December 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Clean Browser ads dangerous?
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Clean Browser - adware that launches via the SoftwareDetector.exe command
Clean Browser, developed by Intriguing apps, is another promising browser plug-in that boasts being able to "recognize malicious websites, minimizing your risk of downloading harmful viruses and malware."
It is compatible with all major web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or MS Edge, and may smoothly work on each of them.
However, we do not recommend installing this app since it may spy on your browsing activities, initiate various system modifications, deliver commercial advertisements on each website you visit, cause system slowdowns, redirects, and similar issues. Also, when the adware places itself on your computer system, you might be able to recognize it from its main process that is named SoftwareDetector.exe.
Seeing "Ads by Clean Browser" during browsing is one of the main signs that you have been infected with this adware. The PUP might start delivering unwanted pop-ups and pop-unders whenever you are trying to browse the Internet sphere. Continuously, there is a big chance that you will find additional components such as extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed right into your browser settings.
It might also initiate some changes in major browsers' settings and interfere with your browser's homepage and new tab URL sections. It is also set to promote affiliate websites and increase their ranking and sales in any way possible. However, no one guarantees that they are safe and does not take any responsibility if you will be exposed to corrupted websites.
Here we come to another problem - redirecting. Redirects can take you to affiliate sources that are filled with various deals and offers.
However, some of these pages might also end up infected with malware and the same parasite might try to sneak into your computer system and perform some damage. As you can see, having a PUP such as adware on your machine makes it indirectly vulnerable to other cyber threat attacks.
Adware might show you ads that promote various offers and deals. Some of these adverts might try to trick you into installing unreliable security utilities. Others might come in the forms of surveys and fake reward claims that might ask you to enter some personally-identifiable information or provide your credentials. You should not do that as your data or money might easily get stolen by malicious actors.
By the way, you should be careful not only with Clean Browser ads but also with its cookies. Once inside, this adware installs HTTP cookies and may track your online activities and browsing history, habits, experience all the time. Even though its targeted information is not considered as personal, such activity implemented behind your back may be associated with privacy violation.
Different data might be targeted for collection - it may include:
Mostly, developers capture this type of information and use it in targeted advertising campaigns. They provide users with beneficially-looking advertisements and look forward to earning income from a marketing scheme known as pay-per-click.
To avoid all of these unwanted activities or to prevent them from continuing, you have to remove the PUP from your affected machine and web browsers. The process can be fully completed by employing reliable antimalware software or by using the step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this article. Also, you can use a tool such as for repairing compromised system objects if there are some.
PUP removal is a necessary task to complete if you want to free your computer and browsers from the adware-related effects. For proper elimination, you have to clean both the OS and web browser apps, otherwise, the adware might easily return. Besides, your web browsers should stop struggling and freezing after freeing them from all the intense advertising and redirecting that has been caused by the PUP.
- recently visited websites
- hyperlinks and advertisements accessed
- bookmarks saved
- technical device details
- commonly searched offers
- IP address, etc.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Adware uses deceptive techniques to appear on computers
Some adware programs have their official website and can be installed right there.
However, people seldom run into such websites accidentally and install the PUP willingly. You might be wondering how did the adware reach your computer system if you did not apply for its installation process. The answer is simple – it spreads bundled with freeware and infiltrates the system unless users opt-out of it.
Such a distribution method is called "bundling" and is closely related to various freeware and shareware. It is a big mistake to think that it is enough to click on the "next" button all the time in order not to install a freeware.
However, if you want to deselect such programs and keep your computer safe, you have to select Advanced or Custom installation and monitor the entire process as carefully as possible.
Continuously, adware apps can get delivered via third-party sources that come filled with numerous hyperlinks and pop-up ads. This type of content might be placed there intentionally to get clicked on by random users. You should avoid visiting websites that drop a concerning look to you and especially prevent proceeding to networks that have been marked as unsafe to enter by your own web browser app or antimalware program.
In some other cases, adware programs can come camouflaged as fake Flash Player updates. If you receive any offer to upgrade your programs while browsing on the Internet, you should resist such suggestions and close the page immediately. Also, if you are not sure about some type of update, you can always go and visit the developer's official website where all recently-released updates should be provided.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Clean Browser
- If the adware has resulted in the comptonization of some system components, you can try recovering them with the help of
How to remove Clean Browser ads
How to remove Clean Browser
Uninstall first, then remove what stays behind, so the ads do not come back after a restart.
Step 1: Uninstall Clean Browser
Clean Browser 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 Clean Browser, 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 2: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after Clean Browser, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86)too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
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 Clean Browser 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
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To clean your Windows operating system from suspicious applications, you should perform the following guiding steps
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
To fully clean and reverse Google Chrome, use these instructing guidelines
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.
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.
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)
To delete suspicious components from Firefox, apply the following steps
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.
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.
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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Clean Browser adware
Even if this app does not possess the biggest risk of harm possible, it can make your computer vulnerable to other infections, modify your browsers, add processes to your computer system, and modify the Registry section.
You can remove Clean Browser by employing reliable antimalware software or by using the step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this article. We suggest opting for the automatic technique as this method is known to be more effective and reliable.
According to experts from LosVirus.es, adware might leave browsers filled with unwanted objects too. So, if you are looking forward to eliminating the adware permanently, you should not forget to clean your web browser applications and not only just the computer system.
Questions about Clean Browser ads
Can I safely uninstall Clean Browser?
If you did not install Clean Browser 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.
Clean Browser will not uninstall. What can I do?
First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove Clean Browser from Installed apps there.
If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.
Clean Browser has no uninstaller. What now?
Some adware does not register itself properly, or its uninstaller only opens a web page. First try Settings > Apps > Installed apps and the older Control Panel > Programs and Features; one may list it when the other does not.
If neither works, disable its entry in Task Manager > Startup apps, restart, and run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan, which remove known adware files. Then, if anything is left, delete the folder it ran from, which you can find by right-clicking the process in Task Manager and choosing Open file location.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Clean Browser?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing ad-supported program and clearing cookies is usually enough.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Will Fortect remove Clean Browser?
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 Clean Browser, 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
- Wikipedia: HTTP cookie (read October 6, 2026)
- LosVirus: LosVirus.es (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)