PopBlock+ is a fake ad-blocker that inserts intrusive ads into your web browsing routine

PBlock+, otherwise known as PopBlock+, is advertised as a Google Chrome add-on that is capable of stopping popups and other ads showing up on the web browser. However, instead of providing useful functionality, it fails to deliver what it promised and instead redirects users to potentially dangerous websites that include scan and phishing content. As a result, users might be tricked into paying fake tech support fees or install malicious programs on their computers.
The so-called PopBlock+ virus belongs to the adware (a type of a potentially unwanted program) category. These apps typically spread using deceptive methods and change the settings of the web browser in order to deliver popups, banners, deals, offers, and other commercial content to users. In the background, these apps usually collect data about user online activity to serve targeted ads and benefit financially even more.
| Name | PopBlock+, PBlock+ |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware, potentially unwanted program |
| Alleged functionality | Blocks popups and other ads on all websites |
| Distribution | The extension can be downloaded from its official website or through software bundle packages acquired from third-party sources |
| Symptoms | An extension installed on the web browser; redirects bring to suspicious websites, such as tech support scam or malicious program download sites; intrusive ads show up at any time during web browsing sessions |
| Dangers | Redirects to malicious websites can result in unwanted site notifications, personal information disclosure to unknown parties, financial losses, installation of other potentially unwanted programs or malware |
| Elimination | To get rid of unwanted apps manually, you can follow our removal guide below. If the unwanted ads and other disruptive behavior does not stop, you should scan your computer with security software and delete all threats automatically |
| Further steps | Malware or adware can significantly diminish the performance of your computer or cause serious stability issues due to system file damage. Use FortectIntego to remediate your device and ensure that the virus damage is fixed |
Ad-blocking extensions are extremely valuable to users from many standpoints – they prevent intrusive ads from showing up on all visited websites, improving the web browsing experience in the process. Besides, these browser additions are excellent tools in protecting users from JavaScript malware that could be installed automatically if the browser suffers from software vulnerabilities.[1]
However, not all ad-blockers are trustworthy. Previously, we saw Nano adblocker going rogue due to an unsuccessful sales deal; we also observed Adblocker For YouTube suddenly engaging in unexpected browser redirects to potentially malicious websites. Finally, fake versions of reputable apps such as AdBlock Plus were observed in the wild.[2] Unfortunately, PopBlock+ is yet another software you should never trust.
While PBlock+ has an official website popblockplus[.]com, it does not seem that the extension can be installed through it. Instead, users are presented with the following deceptive message:
popblockplus[.]com says
You are protected. All suspicious Pop-Ups will be blocked.
PopBlock+ successfully activated. You may close this window.
Nonetheless, most users see the app installed on their systems after installing freeware programs downloaded from third-party websites. This happens due to software bundling, a well-known technique used to distribute adware and other PUPs. Since people install the extension unintentionally, they might not even know where the ads are coming from and that the only way to stop them is by performing a PopBlock+ removal.

There are more reasons besides ads and redirects for you to remove PopBlock+ from your browser – it is data tracking. Adware programs typically employ web beacons, JavaScript, cookies, and other tracking technologies to spy on users' online behavior (typically, the collected details include technical device information, IP address, ISP, visited websites, clicked links, etc.).
Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the more likely you are to encounter malicious websites. Luckily, you can uninstall PopBlock+ without too much effort – all you have to do is access the settings section of your web browser. After you delete the extension, experts[3] also recommend performing system scans with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner to ensure that no malware is present and then perform further checks with FortectIntego for best results.
Pick reliable programs for ad-blocking and prevent stealthy installation of adware
As previously mentioned, ad-blockers can be extremely useful for users, although it is important to note that they also have downfalls. For example, by not allowing ads, you deny the ability for website creators to monetize, and that might be the only income of the content creators. Besides, some sites might completely break due to the inability to load certain scripts that these apps stop.
Nonetheless, the security research community advises users to employ ad-blocking applications for security reasons. However, it is important to choose the one that does the job well and does not engage in malicious ads or redirects. There are plenty of good options available, so we recommend reading some user reviews when deciding which extension suits you the best.
It is also advisable to avoid hasty installations of freeware programs, especially when downloaded from less-known websites. Distributors often compile several programs into a single bundle, resulting in unintentional infiltration of PUPs. To avoid them, always choose Advanced/Custom options instead of Recommended/Quick ones to stay in control of the installation process. Also, watch out for misplaced buttons, fine print text, and pre-ticked checkboxes.
Delete PopBlock+ via your browser settings
It should not be too difficult for you to remove PopBlock+ virus – all you have to do is access your web browser settings, just like you do with other extensions. If you are using a different browser such as Mozilla Firefox or MS Edge, you can check the instructions below on how to eliminate add-ons from them below.

As soon as PBlock+ removal is complete, you will no longer see the unwanted ads, redirects, and other disturbances during your browsing sessions. However, if the unwanted activity does not stop, it might indicate that another potentially unwanted application is installed on your system. You can either delete such apps manually or employ powerful anti-virus software that is capable of detecting PUPs. Besides, anti-malware is overall important for your online safety and computer security, so make sure there is one running at all times.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

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

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

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

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.

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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

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.

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.

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.

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