Pctupd.info ads: what it is and how to remove it
Pctupd.info is a rogue web domain that may keep being reopened randomly on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE, Microsoft Edge, and other browsers. Continuous redirects to this site mean that a potentially unwanted program (PUP) is running in the background of the system.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
If redirects to pctupd.info keep coming back, a free scan can check extensions, programs and browser settings in one pass.
Do it yourself · free Remove Pctupd.info ads yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Pctupd.info ads: summary
| Name | Pctupd.info |
|---|---|
| Type | Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP), adware |
| Related program | Popcorn Time |
| Other | Updater.exe file located in the Popcorn Times folder is likely to be the culprit of the Pctupd.info redirects |
| Symptoms | The web browser keeps rerouting the traffic to the pctupd domain, which either asks to enable push notifications or asks to download some system updates. In addition, you may receive various popups while web browsing. |
| Detection names | No 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 8 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | pctupd.info |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 13 July 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the Pctupd.info ads ads look like
C:\ Program Files (x86)\Popcorn Time\Updater.exe (Windows)
Is Pctupd.info ads dangerous?
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Pctupd.info is a fake domain that may be triggered by a potentially unwanted program like Popcorn Time
Pctupd.info is a rogue web domain that may keep being reopened randomly on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE, Microsoft Edge, and other browsers.
Continuous redirects to this site mean that a potentially unwanted program (PUP) is running in the background of the system. In fact, this domain is often associated with the well-known Popcorn Time app or a clone app known as Time4popcorn. Both movie streaming websites can be accessed on the web, though alternatively, people can download a desktop application.
While it has been rather popular, the site Popcorn Time has been down since 2014 (except for some sister sites). Nevertheless, the app is currently trying to make a comeback . This comeback may be the trigger of the unknown domains reoccurring during web browsing. According to users who have used to use this steaming site or app, they started experiencing intrusive redirects to the related websites, such as :
All these domains are directly related to the Popcorntime website and point to the following location C:\ Program Files (x86)\Popcorn Time\Updater.exe. Therefore, to stop seeing intrusive Ppctupd.info ads during a web browser, you should remove this movie streaming application completely.
In many cases, the Pctupd.info domain is reported by reputable AV tools for being infected with Trojan. At the moment of writing, the domain cannot be accessed manually bu entering the URL into the address bar, so it's clear that the domain is misused by third-parties for various reasons, including the dissemination of spyware or trojans.
If the Pctupd.info virus shows up on the AV scan log as a dangerous domain, it's very likely that it is included in malicious activities and, therefore, deserves the classification. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend scanning the machine with a professional anti-malware program to make sure that the Pctupd.infois not a false positive detection .
An alert about Pctupd.info trojan detection is usually guiding to one of these locations:
However, the trigger may slightly differ depending on the Popcorn Time variant that is installed on the machine. To stop the AV program from detecting suspicious entries and getting rid of Pctupd.info redirects during the web browsing, you should delete the malware from the system without a delay.
You can find a full removal tutorial provided down below. It explains how to delete the malware both manually and automatically from Mac and Windows machines.
Cybersecurity experts from Dieviren.de warn that the Pctupd.info pop-up virus may be used for various purposes. It may try to download the Time4Popcorn or Popcorn Time updates. Alternatively, it may also be involved in malware distribution, so by clicking on the misleading content positioned on this domain you may end up with apps like DNS Unlocker, UpdateAdmin, Playthru Player, Tiny Media Player, and similar.
In the worst-case scenario, this site may be involved in virus distribution. In case hackers are managing it, the site may contain malicious scripts that launch malicious applications once the malicious link or advertisement is opened. That may be the reason why AV program may deliver a warning saying "Website blocked due to Trojan."
Anyway, if you aim to protect your machine from malicious entries and ensure the security of the private information, then we strongly recommend you to remove Pctupd.info related malware.
- Ppctupd.info
- pct-upd.info
- upd-pct.info
- updpct.info
- updpopcorntime.xyz
- popcorntime-update.xy
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Unwanted software can infiltrate PCs after installing freeware recklessly
According to cybersecurity researchers, potentially unwanted programs, such as adware or browser hijackers, are spread bundled with freeware and shareware as "optional downloads."
They can be disclosed in various ways, i.e. explicitly outlining the performance of the application, it's capabilities of track browsing activities, display ads, or hijack browser's settings. However, they can be completely disguised and represented in a vague manner, i.e. without any explanation on what is it going to improve or how does it going to work.
Anyway, the information about additional installers tends to be disguised under Quick or Recommended installation options, thus increasing the number of downloads. Clicking the Next button all the time automatically gives permission to install the entire freeware package, including unwanted adware or hijacker.
Therefore, every time you download an application from third-party sources like Cnet or Softonic, opt for Advanced or Custom installation techniques to unbundled the package. carefully read the provided information on every window and remove the checkmarks next to the pre-selected items.
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Pctupd.info
- The popups and redirects will be disabled as soon as a full malware removal will be initiated.
- It often happens that applications are not properly removed from the system.
- In other words, the main uninstaller is run, which does not delete related files and folders, except the main app.
- For this purpose, related registry entries and files in the Temp folder are left.
- To get rid of such secondary entries, scan the system with
- /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/PT.updd (Mac) C:\ Program Files (x86)\Popcorn Time\Updater.exe (Windows)
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
pctupd.info
How to remove Pctupd.info ads
How to remove the Pctupd.info extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Pctupd.info rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Pctupd.info that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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
In case the AV program on Windows keeps alerting about Pctupd.info trojan, then try to perform these steps to clean your machine.
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Chrome initiates Pctupd.info redirects from time to time? It's a sign of malware infection, which mush have altered web browser's settings. To reset browser's settings, follow this guide:
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.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
The web browser may generate intrusive Pctupd.info popups to trick you into downloading other malware. Thus, do not ignore such content and take your time removing it.
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.
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
People reported that they cannot delete Pctupd.info related malware because the malicious process keeps disrupting the processes. In this case, run the following command via the Terminal: sudo rm /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/PT.updd After that, follow this guide:
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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Delete Pctupd.info virus using the automatic/manual removal guidelines
If you suspect that a potentially unwanted application may be running in the background of your machine because Pctupd.info popup ads keep showing up when browsing, decide which elimination method you prefer and perform the required steps without a delay.
Manual Pctupd.info removal is possible. For that, you have to recognize which application is the culprit (Time4Popcorn or Popcorn Time most probably), disable related processes, and then eliminate the unwanted application from the Applications folder.
Since sometimes these phases are disrupted and it becomes impossible to remove the Pctupd.info virus manually as it is managed by rather aggressive processes, a scan with a reliable anti-malware in the Safe Mode can be the only reliable solution.
After that, follow this guide:
Questions about Pctupd.info ads
Why does my browser keep going to pctupd.info?
Something is sending it there. On one site only, that site's ads are the cause and leaving the site ends it.
On many different sites, the usual causes are an extension you installed with something else, a site you once allowed to send notifications, or an ad-supported program in Windows that changes how the browser behaves. pctupd.info itself is only a stop on the way: it records the visit and forwards you to whatever advertiser pays most.
Check the extensions page, then the list of sites allowed to send notifications, then Installed apps sorted by date. Removing the cause stops the redirects; blocking the domain alone usually does not, because the network moves to a new one.
Should I worry about redirects to pctupd.info?
Worry less about pctupd.info 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.
Why does Pctupd.info show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. Pctupd.info is an adware extension, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of redirects through ad pages.
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.
Do I have to clean every browser?
Yes, if you use more than one. We saw Pctupd.info in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and each browser keeps its own extensions, notification permissions and settings. Chrome and Edge share the same extension format, so one installer can add the same adware to both, while Firefox has its own add-ons.
Check every browser on the PC, including ones you rarely open. If you sync a browser with an account, clean it while signed in, so that the removal reaches your other computers rather than the adware returning from them.
How do I know the ads come from Pctupd.info?
Look for redirects to pctupd.info. That is the trace Pctupd.info leaves, and it shows up as redirects through ad pages. 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.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
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.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Pctupd.info?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
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.
Will Fortect remove Pctupd.info?
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 Pctupd.info, 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
- Digital TV Europe: 'Netflix of piracy' Popcorn Time makes a comeback (read October 6, 2026)
- AV-comparatives: Spotlight on security: The Curse of the False Positive (read October 6, 2026)
- Dieviren: SICHERHEIT- UND SPYWARE-NEUIGKEITEN (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)