How to remove B-cdn.net ads

B-cdn.net shows fake messages in order to make users download unwanted software and subscribe to push notifications

The growth of internet websites was tremendous once the potential of the technology was acknowledged. It was also very clear that it can be utilized by malicious parties for cybercrime; the goals of crooks can be accomplished using various ways on the world wide web. Phishing and scams are among the most common methods of online fraud – B-cdn.net is just one example of how cybercriminals can monetize the actions of users that were fooled by cheap tricks.

It goes without saying that users do not deliberately compromise their web browsing experience by accessing malicious websites. Instead, they are rather tricked into doing so or venture to high-risk places that are not considered to be safe for personal benefits despite knowing about the risks. Torrents, software cracks, illegal video streaming, gambling, and similar websites are some of the main reasons why users get redirected to the B-cdn.net scam page.

Fake security software expiration messages

Once there, users are commonly taken by surprise as they see something that looks like a warning from a reputable security vendor – McAfee. It claims that the software subscription period has expired and needs to be renewed. It is also said that the machine is exposed to viruses and malware without it. Here's the full message:

Your subscription of McAfee Total Protection has expired on [date]

After the expiry date has passed your computer will become susceptible to many different virus threats.
Your PC is unprotected, it is exposed to viruses and other malware…
Available (-50%) Renewal Discount

While it is true that security software protects people from malware attacks, the message is completely fabricated. The authors forget that users might be protected by another security software and not use this particular vendor in the first place. Hence, if the subscription was not there in the first place, it is hard to claim that it has expired. Nonetheless, those who do use this application might get confused and proceed with was is asked of them.

Those who do get tricked by the scam might be asked to enter their personal information or purchase alleged security software. The purchased app may or may not be legitimate; hence it is strongly advised not to install anything from scam websites such as B-cdn.net.

When dealing with these fake messages, keep in mind that no website can diagnose your PC by simply entering it – only software installed on your system can do that. Another suggestion is always to check the URL the message is displayed on, and it can become clear that it has nothing to do with the official company or a vendor it tries to impersonate.

Check your device for adware and malware

Many users who encounter websites that use scare tactics and claim virus infections get scared about potential dangers and consequences. While some might actually believe what is said on the fake B-cdn.net page, most users wonder whether or another the website itself has caused damage or infections on the device.

The truth is, it is unlikely to get your system infected just by accessing a scam website (the only way it would be possible is if you already had malware installed on your system or software that is vulnerable,^[1] i.e., not patched). However, the situation can be quite a bit different if you have clicked on links or especially if you installed software downloaded from there.

Another reason to check your system for infection is adware which could be installed on your device behind your back. Those who are infected by this unwanted software are more likely to encounter various fake and malicious websites while browsing the web.

There are several things you should check on your system in order to ensure there are no potentially unwanted programs and malware on your device. First of all, scanning it with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, or another reputable security software is the most important step, as it can find and remove the most aggressive adware and malware from your system.

It is also recommended to check for PUPs manually as well. Let's start from apps that could be installed on the system level, which you could find in the Control Panel or Applications section:

Windows

• 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.

Mac

While moving apps into Trash is how you delete most normal applications, adware tends to create additional files for persistence. Thus, you should look for .plist and other files that could be related to the virus. If you are not sure, skip this step entirely.

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. 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:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.

Next, you should check whether you have unwanted extensions installed on your browser. Usually, they can be reached via the “Extensions” section that can be found on the right side of the URL bar. Alternatively, you can access the installed add-ons in the settings via the menu as explained below:

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.

Once you have removed unwanted browser extensions, programs, and malware from your device, you should also clean your web browsers carefully. Cookies^[2] are often used to track users' online behavior so that ads could be more targeted. This and other data is commonly shared or sold to other parties, which can't guarantee its security. Thus, after PUP removal, you should delete web data and other leftover files from your browsers. This job can be done much easier with software like FortectIntego.

How to deal with push notifications

Depending on the browser you use, the push notification prompt might not be so straightforward. Some websites use various social engineering^[3] tricks in order to make people subscribe without them understanding what they have done – it is another way of monetizing users' inability to detect fake content online.

Quite often, fake websites are created with the sole purpose of tricking users into subscribing to notifications so that the advertisements could be delivered directly to scenes at any time when the browser is operational (or is idling in the background). People might be told that there is a video to be watched or that a robot checked must be passed.

As evident, push notifications can be used to deliver unwanted or even dangerous content to users' screens. If you have subscribed to receive B-cdn.net push notifications, you should never click on any links and instead, use the instructions below to remove them at once.