Auto Ad Skipper browser extension (Tutorial) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Auto Ad Skipper browser extension?

Auto Ad Skipper is a potentially unwanted application that shows unwanted ads

Auto Ad Skipper is a potentially unwanted application that inserts ads into your searches

Auto Ad Skipper tries very hard to portray itself as a useful app. It is presented as a browser extension for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or MS Edge which is capable of automatically pressing the “Skip” button when an ad on a video comes up (on streaming websites such as YouTube), which generally sounds very useful. In a way, it prevents users who are away from the keyboard or are viewing another browser window, having to click the button manually.

However, there are several negative aspects of this app that aren't so great but the developers are not mentioning it in their official website or the application description area. While Auto Ad Skipper does not change the default homepage or new tab web address, it does affect the way you browse the web – it adds its own search results at the top, which are essentially ads.

Thus, if you have not seen ads before within your search results, now you might see more of them. Likewise, the extension also uses alternative providers in some cases, including Bing, Yahoo, Yandex, or others. Thus, you might find that the search results look nothing like they used to after installing the application on your browser.

Other issues include data gathering in the background, as well as the ability to access your search queries and other information when you use popular web tools such as google.com. Additionally, the app might also be distributed on third-party websites where it could be downloaded unintentionally with freeware.^[1]

The function of the app: is it worth it?

Ads are generally annoying to most users – they don like accessing websites where content keeps changing places due to large-scale pop-ups or windows that hinder the background as well. Not only can it diminish the web browsing experience but, in cases where less secure websites are being visited, it also puts computer safety at risk. For example, ad space might be rented to cybercriminals, where they could insert malicious scripts and cause redirects to malware-laden sites.

Likewise, most people don't really mind ads that are not intrusive and do not prevent them from enjoying the content of the website they are visiting. Ads can also be a great monetization method for content creators without them having to lock it behind paywalls or crypto-mining scrips.^[2]

It is not a secret that YouTube and similar video streaming platforms employ ads for monetization purposes. While some of the revenue goes to the creator, the rest of it belongs to the platform. Hence, the advertisements became more and more intrusive over the years, and people don't like them.

While the “Skip ad” button usually exists after a few seconds into the ad, it is not always reachable to users. For example, they might be away while listening to music or might be tabbed out and doing something else, so it becomes a nuisance. This is where Auto Ad Skipper comes, as it is meant to click the button automatically for you.

While it seems like a good addition to your video-watching experience, there are plenty of downsides to it. As mentioned above, the app tracks certain user data and sends your search queries through its own servers, as explained within the Privacy Policy document:^[3]

We do not monitor the web pages you visit. When you perform a search, your search may be sent through our servers in order to optimize the search result.

This might result in more ads during your searches – ads that otherwise wouldn't be there. Considering the negative aspects of the app, its functionality becomes questionable. That being said, there are browser extensions that can prevent advertisements from being shown to you in the first place, making Auto Ad Skipper obsolete.

Browser hijackers commonly track user data for targeted advertisement purposes

Note that some ad-blocking extensions act exactly the same way, so you should always check the privacy policy and terms of use before installing it. Additionally, checking user comments about the app can also be very beneficial – this applies to any app that you are about to install (especially if it comes from third-party distributors).

Auto Ad Skipper removal steps

The app is generally not dangerous – it won't collect your personal information and won't install other applications without permission. That being said, it is still considered a potentially unwanted program due to its deceptive nature and the mere fact that it is meant to reduce the number of ads you see, not increase it.

Thus, we recommend you remove Auto Ad Skipper and rely on more trustworthy apps, especially if you did not install it intentionally. Below you will find all the steps needed for this process to be successful.

1. Remove the browser extension

First of all, you should take care of the extension installed on your browser. You can do it by accessing the settings section of your browser.

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 the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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 plugin and click Remove.

MS Edge

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

2. Clean browser caches

As we previously mentioned, browser hijackers commonly collect information about users – they use cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies for this matter. Cookies are stored on your browser and can be used for years before they expire automatically. Likewise, they can be stolen by cybercriminals under certain circumstances, which would allow them to hijack your browsing sessions, even stealing your passwords.

Thus, it is generally recommended to clean your web browser caches from time to time. You can refer to the instructions below to do that manually, or you could use FortectIntego for a quick fix – it can clean your browsers, remove junk, and repair damage done by a virus with one click of a button.

Google 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.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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.

MS Edge

• 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.

Safari

• Click Safari > Clear History…
• From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
• Confirm with Clear History.

3. Scan your system with security software

Finally, you should use security software to check your system properly – this is very important if you found the app on your system unintentionally. This often happens when downloading free apps from third-party websites; the distributors often compile several components into a standalone installer and deliberately hide them from users' sight.

Additionally, if you frequent websites that distribute illegal software, your device might also be infected with malware. Thus, use powerful security applications, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, and perform a full system scan – these apps can remove PUPs and malware from your computer automatically.