Loptelink.pro ads: what it is and how to remove it

Loptelink.pro is a link shortening service that also offers to earn money by using it. While its functionality is not uncommon (there are multiple established link shortening link services like bit.ly or adf.ly), there are multiple issues that can lead to download and installation of malware on users' computers.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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A scan of the PC is a quick way to confirm that nothing installed is behind the loptelink.pro redirects.

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Loptelink.pro: loptelink pro link shortening service adware
Loptelink.pro as our 2020 report showed it.

Loptelink.pro ads: summary

DamageBy using the link shortening service, malicious actors may disguise malicious websites and spread them all over the internet via various methods, making users download and install malware (in some cases, the process might get triggered automatically)
NameLoptelink.pro
TypeBrowser redirect, adware, link shortening service
SymptomsMalware that can be proliferated via the service can vary, so the symptoms depend on the infection type. However, if you are constantly being redirected to suspicious websites, ads appear on all sites that you visited, web browser settings are altered without permission, then you are likely infected with adware
TerminationIf you downloaded suspicious files on your computer by using the Loptelink.pro service, you should immediately scan your machine with anti-malware software. If you are suffering from typical adware symptoms, you can usually uninstall the PUP manually as per provided instructions below
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 7 more facts
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Domainsloptelink.pro
Ads shown asRedirects through ad pages
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen9 January 2020
Facts checked6 October 2026

Is Loptelink.pro ads dangerous?

From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since

Stay away from malicious links and pay attention when installing free software from third-party sites

Shortening link service might be an excellent choice when the URL is simply too long to fit within certain windows or the websites.

Unfortunately, clicking on these links that come from unreliable or unknown sources can be extremely dangerous, as malware developers use such services in order to make users download malicious software. In some cases, the installation process might be triggered automatically by exploiting software vulnerabilities on the system, and no user interaction is needed for that.

Such an outcome can be completely negated by making sure that web browsers, the operating system, and all the installed programs are patched with the latest updates. Nevertheless, be aware that there are zero-day exploits that are still to be discovered by security researchers.

Additionally, it is also important to avoid potentially unwanted programs, as they often enter machines without asking for direct permission form users, even though PUPs do not spread automatically.

The trickery lies within a freeware/shareware distribution method called software bundling, where multiple apps are packaged into a single installer, and the optional ones are often purposely hidden from users' sight. The fact that users do not pay attention to the installation process of programs from third-party sites does not help either.

Therefore, if you want to avoid PUPs such as adware, you should always analyze each of the installation steps carefully, never click "Next" several times without looking, and removing all the optional content via the Advanced/Custom installation mode. On the other hand, choosing Recommended/Quick settings will likely result in adware infection.

Loptelink.pro: loptelink pro links direct to malware downloads
Loptelink.pro in our 2020 report.

From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Loptelink.pro

  • Malware and adware may, in some cases, affect your operating systems in many ways, and the anti-virus might not be able to fix damaged system files.
  • As a result, you might have to reinstall Windows OS.

From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since

Loptelink.pro is a site that offers its link shortening services, but also involves online risks

Loptelink.pro is a link shortening service that also offers to earn money by using it.

While its functionality is not uncommon (there are multiple established link shortening link services like bit.ly or adf.ly), there are multiple issues that can lead to download and installation of malware on users' computers.

Created for Vietnamese users, Loptelink.pro can easily be used by anyone, including malicious actors. Opening a website that hides malicious code inside of it is relatively easy, although making users visit it is not. In some cases, potentially unwanted programs like adware are used, as well as malicious ads embedded inside legitimate websites.

Once Loptelink.pro link is clicked, users might get redirected to dangerous pages that offer to download "Hack PUBG Mobile PC 26/8/2019." As a result, a dangerous malicious program might be downloaded on the computer while users might be thinking they downloaded something else. For the best results, we also recommend scanning the machine with .

In some cases, users might notice frequent redirects to suspicious sites and see Loptelink.pro ads on all the sites that they visit. Additionally, their web browser settings might be changed, and sponsored links appear at the top of search results.

If that is the case for you, it is likely that your machine is infected with adware - a potentially unwanted program that specializes in generating revenue by showing pop-ups, coupons, deals, offers and other commercial content on users' browsers.

These potentially unwanted programs are usually spread with the help of software bundles, so users rarely notice the point of entry. Nevertheless, some might also install a PUP without knowing its true purpose, and keep wondering where all those Loptelink.pro ads are coming from. Besides, adware often tracks information about the infected users, such as:

All in all, Loptelink.pro removal should be performed as soon as possible, as it might bring more serious infections to your machine, including such threats like ransomware, trojans, data-stealing malware, rootkits, worms, etc.

  • IP address
  • Geolocation
  • All the provided personal information
  • Technical device details
  • Links clicked
  • Websites visited
  • Bookmarks added, etc.
Loptelink.pro: loptelink pro link shortening service adware
Loptelink.pro in our 2020 report.
Loptelink.pro: loptelink pro link virus malware
Loptelink.pro in our 2020 report.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: loptelink.pro

How to remove Loptelink.pro ads

How to stop the Loptelink.pro redirects

Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.

  1. Step 1: Check the browser's extensions

    A browser that keeps landing on loptelink.pro by itself usually has an add-on doing it. Open the extension list (chrome://extensions, edge://extensions, or Extensions and themes in the Firefox menu) and remove anything you do not remember installing.

    Coupon, PDF, new tab, search and video downloader add-ons are the usual suspects. Do this in every browser on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue

    When loptelink.pro keeps opening after the extensions are cleaned, reset the browser to its defaults. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; Edge: Settings > Reset settings; Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    A reset keeps bookmarks and saved passwords but clears site permissions, the start page and the search engine.

    If every browser still redirects afterwards, the cause is a program in Windows 11 or Windows 10: check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for anything you did not install.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads

    Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.

    In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

To get rid of Loptelink.pro ads and other unwanted activity on your browser, you need to find and terminate a potentially unwanted program on your PC:

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

You should reset Mozilla Firefox so that settings changed by adware would be set to default:

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

macOS users should perform the following steps when dealing with potentially unwanted programs:

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool

Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.

One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.

However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.

Lost your files? Use data recovery software

While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.

Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:

  • power cuts
  • Blue Screen of Death errors
  • hardware failures
  • crypto-malware attack
  • even accidental deletion

To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.

From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since

Get rid of Loptelink.pro-related malware and adware

Depending on your personal situation, Loptelink.pro removal methods may vary.

As a general rule, if you do not experience any strange browser behavior but got tricked into downloading links from the service, you might be infected with malware, which shows no symptoms at all.

In such a case, the malicious software will sit on your system and perform malicious actions behind your back until it is terminated. Therefore, just to be sure, you should scan your machine with powerful anti-malware software and see if your system was infected by the Loptelink.pro virus.

You can remove Loptelink.pro ads by terminating adware from your computer. If correct security software is used, however, it would also get rid of potentially unwanted programs installed on your device. Finally, you might also want to reset your browsers if you find PUPs on your computer to avoid the recurrence of unwanted ads and browser redirects.

Questions about Loptelink.pro ads

How do I stop loptelink.pro from opening?

Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.

Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.

If loptelink.pro still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.

Should I worry about redirects to loptelink.pro?

Worry less about loptelink.pro itself and more about what keeps sending you there. A single redirect from a free streaming or download site is normal and harmless once the tab is closed.

Repeated redirects on sites that used to work fine mean something in the browser or in Windows changed, often an extension or program installed alongside other software. It may also collect the pages you visit. Remove the cause with the steps in this guide, and do not act on anything the redirected pages ask:

  • no Allow clicks
  • no downloads
  • no calls

If you already did one of those, the matching section of this guide explains what to do next.

What is Loptelink.pro?

Loptelink.pro is an ad redirect domain, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.

Loptelink.pro does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.

Why does loptelink.pro keep showing up?

There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from loptelink.pro, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.

If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if loptelink.pro never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.

Which browsers does Loptelink.pro affect?

In the cases we checked, Loptelink.pro showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.

Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.

Are the pop-ups I see really from Loptelink.pro?

Compare them with the details in the table above. Loptelink.pro produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to loptelink.pro. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.

If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.

Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?

No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:

  • running a downloaded file
  • installing an extension
  • giving a stranger remote access

That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.

My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?

Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.

Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.

Did Loptelink.pro collect my data?

Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:

  • the sites you visit
  • search terms
  • approximate location
  • browser and system details

Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.

If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.

Will Fortect remove Loptelink.pro?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For Loptelink.pro, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

  1. 2-spyware: What is adware? In depth analysis and removal guides (read October 6, 2026)
  2. Wikipedia: Rootkit (read October 6, 2026)
  3. Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
  4. FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
  5. Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)

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