Page-ups.com virus (Free Instructions) - updated May 2019
Page-ups.com virus Removal Guide
What is Page-ups.com virus?
Page-ups.com is a browser hijacker that alters homepage, new tab address and the search engine of the browser without permission
Page-ups.com is a browser hijacker that usually enters computers without user permission and alters web browser setting.
Page-ups.com is a fake search engine that is established as soon as a potentially unwanted program is installed on your computer. This usually happens if you skip necessary steps during the installation of free programs you download from the third-party websites.
Page-ups.com hijack[1] begins with setting modification of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, or another installed browser. Because the PUP sneaks in without you noticing, you might be surprised that your homepage, new tab and search engine are now changed.
From that point of time, you will be browsing the web via a hijacked browser, and such disturbances like pop-ups, banners, deals, offers, in-text links, and other sponsored content will become a frequent occurrence. Also, the Page-ups.com virus' altered search results might lead you to less popular or even untrustworthy sites, in addition to influencing your browsing destinations.
Name | Page-ups.com |
Type | Browser hijacker/PUP |
Distribution | Software bundles, ads, third-party websites |
Symptoms | Altered web browser settings, slow browser, redirects, ads, etc. |
Risk factors | Redirects to questionable sites, information exposure to unknown parties, malware infection |
Termination | To get rid of the hijacker, delete it via Control Panel/Applications folder or use security software for manual removal |
Optimization | For best results, scan your machine with FortectIntego after PUP termination |
The Page-ups.com page itself copies the design of Windows 8 and can create an impression of a trustworthy and professional search engine. However, we can assure you that it has nothing to do with Microsoft, and is a potentially unwanted program developed by unknown authors (and it is not the only information that is lacking, as Privacy Policy and ToS documents are not provided either).
Once installed, Page-ups.com virus will drop batch files[2] on the system and modifies your browser shortcuts to address those files. The batch file contains a command that opens Page-ups.com/all domain, which then redirects the user to one of the following search engines:
Be aware that these are well-known search tools that are usually promoted via potentially unwanted programs. Therefore, if you noticed one of them appearing in your browser, remove Page-ups.com redirect virus immediately.
Page-ups.com is PUP that hijacks browser's shortcuts and causes repetitious redirects to infamous and ad-supported search sites every time the victim opens a web browser.
Search results delivered by these search engines are selected in a way to address your browsing habits and not your search query. Therefore, you might see some annoying ads in the results’ pages.
However, clicking on them is even more dangerous as this can trigger a redirect to an untrustworthy external site. If you do not want to end up visiting highly suspicious domains, stop using this search engine. NoVirus.uk[3] team suggests deleting the hijacker with a help of an IT expert if you are interested in the manual removal option.
It can be hard to find the batch files and delete them as well as reverse changes made to browser shortcuts, so we also provide an alternative Page-ups.com removal method. You can just run an anti-spyware software like FortectIntego or SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and clean your system automatically.
Ways you can infect your computer with a similar hijacker
Browser hijackers are incredibly annoying because they usually sneak into the computer system without user’s notice. They are often found in software bundles that can be downloaded from various file sharing sites. Nevertheless, you should also be aware that even most reputable bands bundle software (that's you you can see anti-virus software promotions in uTorrent installation wizards). Thus, use caution at all times, even if you trust the distributor.
If you want to keep your computer PUP-free, remember that you need to choose Custom or Advanced option in software installers. This will provide you with access to optional programs bundled with your downloaded software. All that is left is to deselect the unwanted components and proceed with the installation then.
At first glance, Page-ups.com might look like Windows 8.1 UI, although it has nothing to do with Microsoft.
Remove Page-ups.com redirect virus and fix your browsers
It can be hard to remove Page-ups.com virus because it spreads its components all over the system. Unlike other browser hijackers, it doesn’t simply add a browser extension to control browser’s homepage and search settings.
For a successful Page-ups.com removal, use a tutorial provided below or a trustworthy security program. You can use one of the programs we list below – they were tested by our expert team and proved to be efficient spyware/malware removal tools.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Page-ups.com virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Go to %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Browsers\ and delete suspicious BAT files from there. However, that can be a complicated task so we recommend using anti-malware software instead.
In addition, clean your browser shortcuts using the guide provided below. You will need to place a particular value in the Target field depending on the browser you are trying to fix. You might need to write Program Files (x86) instead of Program Files if you are using 64-bit OS.
- “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe”
- “C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe”
- “C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe”
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- 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.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- 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)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- 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.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
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.
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Page-ups.com registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting browser hijacker
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 Private Internet Access 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, or 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, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
- ^ What is Browser Hijacking?. McAfee Blogs. Securing Tomorrow. Today.
- ^ Using Batch Files. Microsoft Technet. Library.
- ^ NoVirus. NoVirus. Malware and Spyware News.