Remove AdsKeeper ads (Improved Guide) - updated Jan 2021
Remove AdsKeeper to get rid of its ads
AdsKeeper is an ad-supported program[1] which generates income with the help of pay-per-click traffic. Technically, it is not a virus or malware. However, third party ads that it causes can easily disrupt your browsing on the web. Please, do NOT click them to avoid redirects to questionable websites.
You can easily install AdsKeeper virus without even knowing that because it has been actively spread together with other software. Once it gets inside, it alters browser’s settings and inserts ads into the “virtual layer.” As a result, this potentially unwanted program (PUP)[2] delivers third-party ads on each website you visit and causes chaos by offering you suspicious products, software or lifestyle tips.
However, we want to point out that AdsKeeper is a LEGITIMATE advertising and monetizing platform which offers this service for reputable companies or websites. The only danger is that some of these trustworthy parties can try to redirect their users to insecure domains or get them involved into online scams.
Since the developers of this application hardly take any responsibility for the advertised content, it is recommended you to remove AdsKeeper from the computer. If you have been suffering from intrusive advertising for a while, it is advisable that you additionally scan the system with ReimageIntego or other malware detection software, just in case.
Is Adskeeper a virus?
No, definitely not. We want to stress out that this app does not have the main characteristics of a virus.[3] You can go to its official website by visiting adskeeper.co.uk. However, having in mind that the most of people, who get into computer-related problems, call them “virus”, there’s no surprise that this PUP has also entitled as virus.
We are sure that this program cannot damage the system or cause other irreparable damage. However, it is related to adware which is used to change the browser and cause different kinds of ads. Popups delivered by this adware program might be dangerous and be a part of various malvertising[4] campaigns.
Thus, even one unintentional link on a malware-laden ad might end up terribly wrong. For this reason, AdsKeeper removal is recommended as soon as first ad shows up on the screen.
Questions about AdsKeeper ads
AdsKeeper ads are not reliable. They might redirect to the dangerous websites and infect your computer with malware.
Displaying intrusive, aggressive and potentially dangerous ads is not the only problem caused by an adware. After the AdsKeeper hijack, all your steps online are observed, collected and analyzed.
Indeed, this PUP uses cookies and other tracking techniques to spy on the users and collect relevant information about them.[5] Luckily, the collected data is non-personally identifiable which means that the virus only targets browsing-related information such as search queries, computer’s IP address, page views, etc.
All this information is useful for delivering interest-based ads. In some cases, this so-called “targeted advertising” can be useful, but there is always a risk of being exposed to some unexpected alert, scam or executable file. To prevent such redirects, we would highly recommend you to refrain from any offers this adware may propose and remove it from your computer immediately.
Main distribution methods
AdsKeeper-related adware has been actively spread with the help of bundling. This infiltration method is nearly possible without user’s participation. Unfortunately, the majority of PC users are rather sloppy when it comes to downloading and installing software. What they are interested in is a quick result, while the security aspect is often forgotten.
Well, such users are doing a real favor to the creators of malware and other PUPs. All they have to do is to add their shady software to some freeware and watch how it infiltrates the system.
So, make sure you stay away from the pre-selected “Recommended” or “Quick” modes when installing freeware from the Internet. You should switch these settings to the “Custom” or “Advanced” ones instead and deselect the check mark which allows installing optional software. Always choose these modes if you do not wish to let AdsKeeper to your computer.
How to remove AdsKeeper
You can remove AdsKeeper from Chrome and other browsers with the help of two different methods: manual and automatic. You can follow manual removal instructions provided below if you don't want to install anything on your computer. However, if you are looking for a quicker solution, you should opt for automatic removal.
The second option is especially recommended if it is your first time eliminating a cyber infection and you are not sure where to begin. Of course, be careful when downloading the recommended remover, updating it and running a full system scan to take care of a full AdsKeeper removal.
Due to the silent infiltration and aggressive ads, this program has been entitled as a virus by the computer users. However, it’s not a right term to describe this PUP. It cannot damage the system; it can only cause annoying ads during your browsing sessions.
You may remove virus damage with a help of ReimageIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove AdsKeeper ads, follow these steps:
Erase AdsKeeper from Windows systems
To delete AdsKeeper adware from Windows computer, follow the instructions below. However, you should also look for other questionable applications that might have been installed on the device without your knowledge.
To remove AdsKeeper ads from Windows 10/8 machines, please follow these steps:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find entries related to AdsKeeper ads (or any other recently installed suspicious program).
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Uninstall AdsKeeper from Mac OS X system
If your macOS is displaying some infection symptoms, proceed with the following guide:
Remove AdsKeeper ads from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for AdsKeeper ads-related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove AdsKeeper ads, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries related to AdsKeeper ads and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the AdsKeeper ads-related entries.
Get rid of AdsKeeper from Internet Explorer (IE)
To remove this adware from IE, you need to reset it. There might be installed unknown add-ons or tracking cookies that must be removed entirely.
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for AdsKeeper ads and other suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete…
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete AdsKeeper ads removal.
Remove AdsKeeper ads from Microsoft Edge
Follow the instructions to reset Microsoft Edge in order to remove ads by AdsKeeper entirely.
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 AdsKeeper ads-related extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Reset MS Edge if that 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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
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 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.
Delete AdsKeeper from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
To fix Mozilla Firefox, check the list of extensions and uninstall all unknown add-ons/plugins. These third-party entries might be responsible for delivering these ads.
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 plugins that are related to AdsKeeper ads and click Remove.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
In case AdsKeeper ads did not get removed after following the instructions above, 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 – this should complete AdsKeeper ads removal.
Eliminate AdsKeeper from Google Chrome
To remove AdsKeeper from Chrome, make sure you eliminate all suspicious extensions, toolbars or applications are not installed on this browser by you. For that, follow the instructions below:
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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to AdsKeeper ads 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.
If the above-methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the AdsKeeper ads-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 to complete AdsKeeper ads removal.
Erase AdsKeeper from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension related to AdsKeeper ads and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of AdsKeeper registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: ReimageIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
Protect your privacy – employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
- ^ Ad-supported software. The Free Dictionary. Free online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia with synonyms, definitions, idioms, abbreviations.
- ^ Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP). Techopedia. Where IT and Business Meet.
- ^ What is a Computer Virus?. Norton. Developer of the security software.
- ^ Eric Brantner. ‘Malvertising’ Increased By 132% In 2016 According To New Report. Scribblrs. The website about blogging.
- ^ Alan Henry. Everyone's Trying to Track What You Do on the Web: Here's How to Stop Them. Lifehacker. Tips, tricks and downloads for getting things done.
Your opinion regarding AdsKeeper ads
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August 29th, 2016 at 2:53 am
As they say another day- another adware? Thanks for keeping us informed
August 29th, 2016 at 2:54 am
I deleted it as soon as I noticed the ads. Havent noticed any problematic activity since…