Link2captcha.top ads (spam) - Free Guide

What is Link2captcha.top ads?

Link2captcha.top is a deceptive site created to trick people into clicking “Allow”

Pop-up ads and banners can start appearing even when the browser is closed

Link2captcha.top is a fraudulent website set up by crooks to generate revenue from user activity. It employs social engineering^[1] techniques to persuade users to subscribe to push notifications. To view a video, the site requests that you click the “Allow” button. Apart from the deceptive message and image, there is no other content to explore on the page.

Instead, users are bombarded with obnoxious pop-up ads, which can appear even when the browser is closed. Crooks profit from pay-per-click advertising when people click on links embedded in the ads. Regrettably, they may employ rogue advertising networks.

People may end up on shady pages that attempt to obtain personal information or trick them into downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs)^[2] or malware. Users may begin to see advertisements for bogus antivirus software, software deals, giveaways, and surveys.

How to stay spam-free?

Pages like Link2captcha.top are rarely found in search results. They usually hide on other shady sites. That is why it is critical to practice safe browsing habits. We recommend that you only visit pages that you are familiar with and trust. Do not click on random links and advertisements, even if they appear to promote legitimate products and services.

Pages that engage in illegal activities should be avoided because they are unregulated. Illegal streaming sites, for example, are riddled with deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. They may also display bogus “Download” and “Play” buttons^[3] that open new tabs with rogue ad network websites.

Stay on the websites that you know and trust to avoid adware infections

Adware explained

Another reason you may be seeing Link2captcha.top is that you have adware on your computer. Advertising-supported software, such as pop-ups, banners, and redirects, can result in an increase in commercial content. It usually operates in the background and without the users' knowledge.

Adware is typically spread through freeware distribution platforms. They include extra programs in the installers without making it clear. During the installation, you should pay close attention:

• 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

Disable browser pop-ups

If you allowed the website to show you push notifications, all you have to do is go to your browser settings and block Link2captcha.top permissions:

Google Chrome (desktop):

1. Open 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):

1. Open Google Chrome and tap on Settings (three vertical dots).
2. Select Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Sites section.
4. Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off setting).

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 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 Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
3. Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.

MS Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
2. Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
3. Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
4. Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.

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.

Clear your browsers

Security experts advise clearing cookies and cache on a regular basis, especially after visiting shady websites. Cookies are small data files that can store information like the websites you visit, the links you click on, and the items you buy online. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because most websites use this information to personalize the user experience.

Crooks, on the other hand, can profit from selling cookies to advertising networks or other third parties. You can easily solve this problem with a maintenance tool like FortectIntego. It has the ability to automatically clear your browsers. Furthermore, this software can repair most system errors, corrupted files, and registry issues.

Scan your system with professional security tools

Manual removal of PUPs can be quite tricky. Crooks often disguise PUPs as “handy” tools to avoid causing suspicion. We recommended using an anti-malware tool like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes to eliminate the infection together with all the related files and entries.

There are endless possibilities of what the program could be called. Manual removal can also sometimes result in the renewal of the infection as users fail to remove everything. You can follow the instructions below for guidance:

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 the uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

macOS

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.