Antivirus-stability.com ads (fake) - Free Instructions
Antivirus-stability.com ads Removal Guide
What is Antivirus-stability.com ads?
Antivirus-stability.com can trick users into thinking their computers are infected
Crooks use social engineering to create deceptive websites
Antivirus-stability.com is a website created by crooks to generate revenue. It is designed to look like a security alert from Norton. Users are told that their Norton subscription has ended and that their PC is infected by multiple viruses. Unsurprisingly, Norton has nothing to do with this fraudulent campaign.
Crooks are only using their name and branding to gain trust. The main goal of the site is to redirect users to the official Norton website and earn money through the affiliate program. However, the page can also cause push notification spam. After the encounter, people report seeing pop-ups that say their system is infected.
Unfortunately, fraudsters may also use rogue advertising networks[1] that place ads leading to dangerous websites. Users can end up on scam pages that try to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[2] or even malware.
NAME | Antivirus-stability.com |
TYPE | Push notification spam; adware |
SYMPTOMS | A page appears seemingly out of nowhere warning users about virus infections; users may start seeing pop-ups that look like security alerts; |
DISTRIBUTION | Shady websites; deceptive ads; bundled software |
DANGERS | People may be tricked into providing personal information, downloading potentially unwanted programs, or even malware |
ELIMINATION | Disable push notifications in the browser settings; run a system scan with professional security tools |
FURTHER STEPS | Use FortectIntego to fix any remaining damage and optimize the machine |
Distribution methods
Pages, like Antivirus-stability.com, rarely appear in the search results. For users to find them, usually they have to be browsing through shady sites that are unregulated. For example, illegal streaming websites[3] are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. They can also display fake “Download” and “Play” buttons that open new tabs.
That is why it is so important to only visit websites that you know and trust. Do not click on random links and ads even if they seem to be promoting legitimate products or services. Use legitimate streaming platforms, like Netflix or Hulu – they require only a small monthly subscription fee.
Stay away from shady sites to avoid encounters with scammers
Adware infections
Another reason why you may be seeing the deceptive page is that you are infected with adware. It is advertising-supported software that can cause an increased amount of commercial content, like pop-ups, banners, and redirects. It operates in the background without the users' knowledge.
Usually, get infected with it through freeware distribution platforms. They include bundled software in the installers and do not disclose it clearly. We suggest you pay attention during the installation process:
- Always choose the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods
- Read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
- Check the file list and untick the boxes next to any unrelated applications
How to disable fake alerts?
To stop annoying virus alerts from Antivirus-stability.com, you have to block the site permissions that allow it to show you push notifications. You can do that by following our step-by-step guide:
Google Chrome (desktop):
- Open Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
- Scroll down and click on Advanced.
- Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
- Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
- Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.
Google Chrome (Android):
- Open Google Chrome and tap on Settings (three vertical dots).
- Select Notifications.
- Scroll down to Sites section.
- Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off setting).
Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
- Click on Privacy & Security section.
- Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click Settings button next to it.
- In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
- Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.
Safari:
- Click on Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
MS Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
- Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
- Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
- Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.
MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Go to Notifications on the right.
- Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
- Click on More actions and select Block.
Clear the browser from cookies
Cookies are small text files that can track your browsing activity and store information, like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase. This data is normally used to personalize the user experience but crooks use it to make a profit. They can be sold to advertising networks and other third parties.
They can even be hijacked, and used for malicious purposes, which is why security experts recommend clearing them regularly. This process can be made easy with a maintenance tool like FortectIntego. Besides, this powerful software can fix various system errors, corrupted files, and registry issues which is especially helpful after a virus infection.
Scan your machine with anti-malware tools
If you disabled push notifications but still experience unwanted symptoms like unexpected redirects and an increased amount of commercial content, like pop-ups, and banners you should scan your system for adware. We suggest using trusted professional security tools SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes for PUP removal. It should detect most suspicious apps and remove them successfully.
Of course, you can also remove a PUP manually, but it is unknown which particular app could be causing annoying behavior, as crooks disguise them as “handy” tools. Manual uninstallation can also leave some traces of the program behind which could result in the renewal of the infection.
However, if you still do not want to use security tools and know which program is at fault, use the instructions below to help you uninstall it:
Windows 10/8:
- 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 the entry of the 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.
Windows 7/XP:
- 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.
Mac:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, 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 and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
How to prevent from getting adware
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ Zeljka Zorz. How does a rogue ad network function?. Helpnetsecurity. Information Security Blog.
- ^ Wendy Zamora. What is a PUP? – How to avoid potentially unwanted programs. Malwarebytes. Tips, Tricks, and How-Tos.
- ^ Brittni Devlin. Why Should You Avoid Illegal Streaming Sites?. Makeuseof. Security Blog.