Headcaptcha.live ads (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Free Guide

What is Headcaptcha.live ads?

Headcaptcha.live shows you intrusive ads after convincing you to allow notifications

Headcaptcha.live is a malicious website that shows scam messages

Headcaptcha.live is a suspicious website that wasn't created for legitimate purposes and is largely operated by scammers. The main goal of crooks is to make people subscribe to push notifications, which would immediately give them permission to send any kind of information via the browser API,^[1] which largely consists of various insecure advertisements, including fake virus alerts, fake giveaways, get-rich-quick scams,^[2] and other phishing material.

While the activity is not caused by any computer infection directly, Headcaptcha.live redirects and similar websites, or an increased number of ads you encounter while browsing the internet daily, might be a sign of adware infection. Therefore, in this article, we'll provide instructions on taking care of annoying push notifications and getting rid of adware and all its traces from the system.

How the scam operates

Users typically are presented with a scam message unexpectedly, which only adds to the success of the Headcaptcha.live scam. Many legitimate websites generally use push notifications – that's what they have been created for. Users who like those particular sites can subscribe to push notifications and then receive relevant information periodically.

However, scammers soon realized that they could use the feature for something entirely different – to push scams and promote various commercial content. Since crooks are often associated with rogue ad networks,^[3] the quality of ads is often very poor and can include malicious links.

These are just a set of example messages that could be encountered after accessing the Headcaptcha.live site:

• Press “Allow” to verify, that you are not a robot
• Click “Allow” to win the prize and get it in our shop!
• Please tap Allow to continue
• If you are 18+, click Allow
• Click “Allow” to start downloading.

Messages are deliberately misleading and are made to look like they are designed for some type of verification, similar to a captcha. In other cases, people are simply promised some type of underlying content as long as users click the “Allow” button. Those who oblige would be allowing the site to deliver notifications to their screens.

How people end up on malicious websites and how to avoid them

It is crucial to discuss the methods by which false and harmful material spreads, as this is where many people start the unfortunate chain of events. When safety precautions are followed, online fraud, albeit common, is relatively difficult to access because genuine websites, browsers, search engines, and other parts of the web infrastructure deploy a variety of security safeguards to stop phishing content from running rampant.

Headcaptcha.live asks whether users aren't robots - one of the most commonly used tricks in push notification scam schemes

Users are less likely to come across malware, phishing, unwanted software, or anything else deemed hazardous thanks to Google, for instance, which uses efficient scanning tools that automatically identify and eliminate dangerous websites from search results. Sadly, this automated system is not safe-proof, and crooks occasionally manage to get past it. Even trustworthy websites may get compromised, exposing users to harmful links.

However, the most suspicious activity usually occurs on websites that aren't safe to visit in the first place, for example, peer-to-peer networks, gambling sites, and adult websites. These sites are rarely protected with adequate security measures, leaving users open to attacks from malicious ads, links, or files accessible to download. Whenever users visit such dangerous places online, they run the risk of being redirected to Headcaptcha.live or similar sites or infecting their system with malware, so it's best to avoid them altogether if possible.

Checking your system for adware and removing push notifications

Before you get rid of pesky notifications, try running some basic system checks. Although push notification messages cannot harm you if you don't respond to them, system infections can be quite harmful and result in continuous personal data theft, money loss, or even identity theft.

Checking your system is vital because users with adware or other malicious software infections present on their systems are more prone to encounter phishing messages and excessive advertisements. In addition, some malware may be completely invisible to regular users and continue to operate in the background undetected.

The simplest way to accomplish this is to run a complete system scan using dynamic anti-malware software like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. All harmful files and programs are found, quarantined, and eliminated from the system by security software. We also advise using FortectIntego to clean your web browsers, which can assist you in preventing adware's data trackers from operating.

When it comes to Headcaptcha.live ads removal, all you have to do is access browser settings and block the website's URL. Choose the browser you use and follow the steps below:

Google Chrome

1. Open the Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
4. Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
5. 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 the Sites section.
• Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off position).

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
2. Click on Privacy & Security section.
3. Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
4. In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
5. Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.

Safari

1. Click on Safari > Preferences…
2. Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
3. Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.

MS Edge (Chromium)

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
2. Select Site permissions.
3. Go to Notifications on the right.
4. Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
5. Click on More actions and select Block.

Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer, and click on the Gear icon at the top-right of the window.
2. Select Internet options and go to the Privacy tab.
3. In the Pop-up Blocker section, click on Settings.
4. Locate the web address in question under Allowed sites and pick Remove.