Remove Pingclock.net (Removal Guide) – Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

Pingclock.net is a redirect virus that engages in malicious behavior on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or other browsers

Pingclock.net

Pingclock.net is a malicious domain that already has been flagged by multiple anti-malware vendors as malware.^[1] Typically, the redirects to the site indicate that your computer is infected with Js/Adware.Revizer.E, or possibly other malicious programs. Adware^[2] is a computer infection that might range from mild to quite severe, and Pingclock.net is involved in the latter category, as it is trying to execute malicious JavaScript.^[3]

Nevertheless, the main goal of adware is usually to display an excessive amount of pop-ups, flashing windows, banners, offers, deals, coupons, and other commercial content on the infected users' browsers. The worst part is that the Pingclock.net virus usually sneaks in without notifying victims or is hiding behind certain (unsafe) browser extensions or other programs. Besides generating a significant amount of ads, adware is also known to track users' web browsing activities that may sometimes include personal information. Please be aware that, without Pingclock.net removal, your online safety is at risk, as you might be directed to phishing, scam, or malware-laden sites.

Name	Pingclock.net
Type	Adware, malware
Associated threat	Js/Adware.Revizer.E, Flash Player browser extension(malicious)
IP address	172.241.69.20
Infection means	Users manage to infect their computers with adware when they install software from third-party sites and deal with bundles – software packages that contain optional components deceptively hidden within the installer
Symptoms	Pop-ups and other type of ads appear on all sites users visit, sponsored links appear at the top of the search results on all web browsers, operation of the browser becomes sluggish
Risks	Installation of other potentially unwanted software or malware, money loss, sensitive information disclosure to unknown parties or cybercriminals, etc.
Removal	You should scan your machine with anti-malware software like Fortect Intego to ensure its security; afterward it is equally as important to reset each of the installed browsers

In most of the cases, users may encounter Pingclock.net ads and redirects after installing a suspicious browser add-on or free software from third-party sites. In most of the cases, websites that host freeware/shareware bundle programs, and, because users are keen on rushing the installation procedures, the infiltration of the potentially unwanted program remains unnoticed.

Pingclock.net might be encountered or blocked by security software even at the time when browsers are not used, or only used to visit trusted websites. This is because, by default, each of the installed browsers is configured to have JavaScript enabled, and, upon visiting a malicious site, its code's scripts are immediately executed, including the URL requests. This prompts the browser to download images, cookies, and other components hosted on the site.

In other words, to remediate the situation, you should immediately perform a system scan using anti-malware software like Fortect Intego – it would delete all the malicious components related to the infection. However, this might not be enough to remove Pingclock.net virus completely, as various browser components might keep directing you to malicious sites.

For that reason, after the system scan, you should also make sure that you reset all the installed browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, Vivaldi, or others. Note that, because the site is programmed to run JavaScript, you might also be infected with other malicious programs that are programmed to do much more nefarious tasks than spamming your browsers with ads – you keystrokes might be recorded and credit card information harvested.

Therefore, do not ignore Pingclock.net redirects and other browser behavior related to this domain. As a general rule, you will most likely see redirects to other malicious sites, such as Loompasplace.com, Add-extension.xyz, Apple.com-guard-device.live, and many others. Do not interact with these domains in any way, as it may result in the installation of other PUPs/malware, money loss, and sensitive data leak.

Pingclock.net redirect virus

Adware may be just as dangerous as malware in some cases: prevent its initial infection

Initially, adware was considered to be spyware – a type of malware that is installed on users' computers without permission, which then performs surveillance activities. Over the years, ad-supported software started following certain procedures and is now much less dangerous and less deceptive. In most of the cases, that is. If you believe that all adware is nothing but a program that occasionally displays ads – you are wrong.

Adware is capable of launching campaigns such as OSX/Shlayer or can sometimes render users' machines vulnerable to cyberattacks, as Lenovo's Superfish scandal showed. In some cases, however, adware is extremely deceptive and may initiate actions that are web or JavaScript-based. For that reason, AV software might not detect it straight away.

All in all, you should try to avoid adware for your own good and only opt for applications that do not put your privacy and security at risk. To prevent adware infection, check out these tips from industry experts:^[4]

If possible, always download an application from an official source instead of third-party;
Before installing the app, check out reviews online – they often serve as a good indicator if it engages in any unwanted behavior post-installation;
During the installation, watch out for misleading wording, fine print text, pre-ticked boxes and other tricks that freeware authors employ;
Never rush the installation process, as you might skip important steps;
Opt for Advanced/Custom settings during the installation;
Make sure the application presents the required documents, such as Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get rid of Pingclock.net redirects and other unwanted activities on your browser

Pingclock.net removal is necessary for your own security, as its redirects and HTTP connections may induce much more serious ramifications. Therefore, take action immediately – scan your machine with security software that can detect and recognize malicious components of the Pingclock.net virus. Additionally, we suggest you check the installed program list on your Windows or Mac computers to make sure that no suspicious applications are installed.

Pingclock.net detection

Once you remove Pingclock.net, you should also reset each of the installed web browsers, as adware leaves multiple traces, such as browser cookies or other objects that might initiate the unwanted behavior again. Below you will find instructions on how to reset Google Chrome and other most popular browsers.

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.

How to remove Pingclock.net

Pingclock.net is a redirect virus that engages in malicious behavior on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or other browsers

Adware may be just as dangerous as malware in some cases: prevent its initial infection