Madsims.com: what it is and how to remove it
Madsims.com pop-ups won't stop showing up on your desktop? Do not worry, as you are not alone, and there are hundreds of other people experiencing the same unwanted symptoms.
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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Madsims.com: summary
| Distribution | The unwanted notifications start showing up as soon as the "Allow" button is pressed within the notification prompt |
|---|---|
| Name | Madsims.com |
| Type | Push notifications, pop-ups, ads |
| IP address | 192.243.59.12 |
| Symptoms | Intrusive notifications from the site will be shown directly on the desktops |
| Dangers | Clicking on links that are embedded within the notification prompt, exploring the sites these links bring to or downloading files can be particularly dangerous – users can get infected with malware, suffer from financial losses or privacy issues |
| 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 10 more facts
| Deletion | You can stop the intrusive notifications by accessing web browser settings, as explained in the instructions below. If you suspect adware infection, you should use security software to eliminate it quickly |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | madsims.com |
| Ads shown as | Desktop notifications |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Installed on the PC | Nothing; a browser notification permission only |
| First seen | 16 August 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the Madsims.com ads look like
Press "Allow" to watch the video.
Is Madsims.com dangerous?
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Madsims.com tries to trick users with cheap tricks
Madsims.com pop-ups won't stop showing up on your desktop?
Do not worry, as you are not alone, and there are hundreds of other people experiencing the same unwanted symptoms.
Push notifications are a web browser feature that can be used by any website - it allows websites asking for permission to show notifications. Users are free to decline them or agree to receive them. Most commonly, people subscribe to notifications from websites such as YouTube or Facebook, as they can easily gain access to something they are interested in.
However, Madsims.com is not a fair website, and it uses trickery to make users subscribe - there are plenty of fake messages that might convince users to press that "Allow" button. As soon as they oblige, their screens then start showing intrusive pop-ups at random times; these can come rarely or frequently, although the pop-ups disturb the normal work of users constantly.
Inside these notification prompts, users might be shown links to unsafe sites where they could be tricked into providing their personal information, download dangerous software or subscribe to more pop-ups from similar websites.
Cybercriminals were quick to realize that push notifications can be used to trick people and deliver ads. This way, they can monetize on users' clicks and their exposure to commercial content.
Upon you access a website, your IP address can be recognized, and so can be your approximate location. This is why you might be seeing the scam messages in your native language. However, this is not the only trick used by crooks.
There are several versions of the scam you might encounter upon the website entry. For example, you might be told that you need to press allow to prove you are not a robot or that the website content is for those who are +18 only. However, the most frequent type of scam you'd see is a still of a video that is about to be played.
The picture strongly reminds a YouTube video, which just makes users trust it even more. You might also see the following notification:
But of course, there is no video to watch and not content to explore. This is a common social engineering tactic - people tend to trust notifications or emails that use familiar names. This is why malicious actors use USP, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and other familiar names to proliferate scams and spread malware.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
madsims.com
How to remove Madsims.com
How to stop Madsims.com notifications
Do this in every browser you use, and in every profile inside it: each keeps its own list of sites allowed to send notifications.
Nothing has to be uninstalled for the notifications themselves.
Which browser shows the ads?
Step 1: Remove madsims.com from Chrome's notification list
Chrome keeps a list of every site you once allowed to send notifications, and
madsims.comis on it. Pastechrome://settings/content/notificationsinto the address bar, find madsims.com under Allowed to send notifications, open the three-dot menu next to it and pick Remove.Then click Add next to Not allowed to send notifications and type madsims.com, so the site cannot ask a second time. Repeat it in every Chrome profile you use on Windows 11 or Windows 10, since each profile has its own list.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Google Chrome
Google Chrome
- Select Menu > Settings > Advanced.
- Click on Site Settings > Notifications.
- Check the Allow section and find the address of the site.
- Select More Actions and pick Block.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from 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 suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from 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.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Step 1: Remove madsims.com from Edge's notification list
Open Settings and more (the three dots) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Remove
madsims.comfrom the Allowed list, then click Add site next to Not allowed to send notifications and enter it there.Edge is built into both Windows 11 and Windows 10, so check it even if you normally use another browser. If the notifications came with the Edge logo, this is the browser that holds the permission.
Edge on Windows 11: Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Microsoft Edge
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Step 1: Remove madsims.com from Firefox's notification permissions
Open the menu (three lines) > Settings and click Permissions and data in the left list, then Notifications. Select
madsims.com, click Remove Website and confirm with Save Changes.In versions older than Firefox 152 the same list sits under Privacy & Security, behind a Settings button next to Notifications. Firefox shows these notifications only while it is running, on Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Firefox on Windows 11: the Notification Permissions window. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Go to Menu and then select Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security > Notifications > Settings.
- Choose Block after picking this option from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm with Save Changes.
- Go to Menu and pick Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Click on Notifications.
- Find the site URL, and click More actions.
- Pick Block.
- Click on Safari > Preferences...
- Go to Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- 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 extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Our tested steps are for Windows 11 and 10. For Safari (Mac), use the instructions below.
Instructions for Safari (Mac)
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Then, whichever browser you use
Step 2: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
If you only saw the notifications and clicked nothing, you can stop before this step. If a notification led you to download or run something, delete that file, then scan Windows.
In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan, then choose Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and Scan now. The offline scan restarts the PC and takes about 15 minutes on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
More removal instructions
For programs installed on the PC and older browsers. Open the one you need.
How to stop notifications from Madsims.com
Many people believe that their systems are infected as soon as they see the intrusive pop-ups being shown non-stop.
This is because they are tricked into subscribing to these notifications, hence they don't even remember allowing them in the first place. In other cases, users might click the "Allow" button by accident.
This is very common, and one of the main reasons users don't understand how to remove Madsims.com ads. It is also usually related to the fact that disabling these prompts requires users to dive deep into browser settings.
Check your system for adware
While notification prompts have initially nothing to do with a virus infection, there is a chance that there is adware hiding on your system.
Potentially unwanted programs are known to be spread via a technique called software bundling - where several components are compiled into a single installer - hence many users might fail to notice the entry of such apps.
You can remove adware manually if it is not using any obfuscation techniques, and all you have to do is uninstall it as a simple app. Here's the tip if you need help:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
However, the adware can be deceptive, and you might not even know which app is causing the unwanted redirects and ads. Therefore, we strongly recommend performing a full system scan with an anti-malware program such as or . Security software can check for the most stubborn infections and remove them automatically for you.
Adware is not initially considered malicious, although many security experts find it more than just controversial. In fact, many examples of the past show that adware can be particularly dangerous due to users' exposure to unsafe content. For example, those infected are more likely to see fake update prompts for Flash Player or other software or get notifications about the allegedly infected computer (tech support scams).
Previously known examples such as Lenovo's Superfish scandal, as well as the persistent Wajam or Ask Toolbar, are great examples of how widespread and damaging adware might be - it also might come from legitimate and trusted sources. Thus, if you notice that you are being redirected to Madsims.com, Auriga.link, Servicaetod.top, Boffero.com, and similar insecure websites, there is a high chance your system needs cleaning from adware.
In case you find adware on your machine, keep in mind that you should also clean your web browsers. Otherwise, you might continue being tracked, and ads, redirects, and other unwanted activity won't go away. You can employ automatic tools for this job ( , for example), although it can also be done manually.
The manual process might take a long time, however (especially if you are not that IT-savvy). Note: in some extreme cases, you might have to reset your browsers, so we provide the guide for this process as well.
- 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.
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Madsims.com
Why do I get notifications from madsims.com when the browser is closed?
Chrome and Edge can keep a small part running in the background so that sites can deliver notifications, and Windows shows them in its notification area. That is why messages from madsims.com keep arriving with no browser window open.
The permission to send them was granted when someone clicked Allow on a prompt from that site, often disguised as a robot check or a video player. Closing the browser does not remove it; only the notification settings do.
Remove madsims.com from the allowed sites and the background messages stop. You can also stop the browser from running in the background in its system settings, but the permission is the real fix.
Did a notification from madsims.com infect my computer?
A notification cannot infect a PC. It is a short text with a link that the browser displays. Clicking it opens a page, and a page cannot install anything unless you agree to a download and run the file.
So the answer depends on what you did after clicking. Looked and closed: you are fine. Downloaded but did not open: delete the file.
Opened a downloaded file: uninstall what it added and scan the PC. Typed card or login details: contact the bank and change the password. In every case, remove madsims.com from the browser's allowed notifications so the messages stop.
Why does Madsims.com show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. Madsims.com is a push-notification spam site, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of desktop notifications.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Is madsims.com safe to visit?
No. The site madsims.com exists to push visitors towards ads, and the pages it leads to include fake virus warnings, fake updates, prize scams and notification prompts. Visiting it once does not infect an up-to-date PC, but anything you click or download there is a gamble.
Do not enter personal details, do not allow notifications and do not call phone numbers it shows. If it opens by itself, close the tab and check the browser's extensions and notification permissions. Blocking the single domain helps little, because the operators register new names regularly.
Which browser is sending the madsims.com notifications?
Each notification shows the name of the browser and the site in its small print. In the cases we saw, the messages from madsims.com came through Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Permissions are stored per browser and per profile, so removing the site in one browser does not affect another.
If you use several Chrome or Edge profiles, check each one. If you sync the browser with an account, remove the permission while signed in, otherwise another computer may still hold it and keep receiving the same messages.
How do I know the ads come from Madsims.com?
Look for notifications from madsims.com. That is the trace Madsims.com leaves, and it shows up as desktop notifications. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
Did clicking Allow install anything on my PC?
No. Allowing notifications stores a permission in the browser and nothing else. No file is downloaded and no program is added to Windows, which is also why antivirus scans find nothing. The risk comes later, from the notifications themselves: they lead to scam pages, fake updates and phishing forms.
Remove the permission in each browser where you allowed it. If you clicked a notification and downloaded something afterwards, delete that file and run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Will Fortect remove Madsims.com?
No program removes Madsims.com itself, because there is nothing on the PC to remove: the notifications come through a permission saved in the browser, and only the browser's settings take it away, as the steps above show.
What Fortect can do is check the rest of Windows. Its free scan looks for malware, unwanted programs and damaged system files, which is useful if you clicked the ads, downloaded something from the pages they opened, or are not sure what else changed on the PC.
If the scan finds nothing and the notifications stopped after you removed the permission, this problem is solved. Use Microsoft Defender as a second opinion whenever you have downloaded files from pages like these.
Sources
- Wikipedia: IP address (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)