How to remove Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip ads

Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip shows misleading messages to make users subscribe to push notifications

Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip operates as a browser-based scam website that could be encountered by accident when browsing the web. Its main goal is to convince users to subscribe to push notifications so that later various advertisements and misleading statements could be displayed on users' desktops.

In most cases, users enter Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip after clicking a link somewhere else – usually, on a website of poor security level, for example, torrents, software cracks, illegal video streaming, gambling, etc. Nonetheless, adware installed on the system could also result in unexpected browser redirects to phishing, scam, and other material online. With the help of various phishing^[1] techniques, they are tricked into allowing push notifications to be displayed.

The contents of Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip push notifications can vary, although due to the use of insecure advertising networks, people are often shown fake messages about computer security, are exposed to get-rich-quick schemes, and are told that they have received an expensive gift. All these alerts are fake, and the websites that promote such materials are insecure, so we recommend not interacting with them in any capacity.

Stop the intrusive pop-up ads

Once they see the intrusive push notifications, many users are not quite sure what they are encountering, as they are usually tricked into accepting them. For example, they might be told that they need to press the “Allow” button within the notification prompt to confirm that they are not robots. Since many people had previously seen verification methods such as captcha, they wouldn't think twice before doing as they are told.

In other cases, users might be presented with a fave video gif (that might resemble YouTube or other media players for a more credible look) and told that their browser is not allowing playback – they need to allow it by pressing the button at the top. All these techniques are very common methods used in social engineering,^[2] as familiar elements make users trust the messages more.

The loophole here is that it is not what push notification prompt is for – its only purpose is to allow the Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip website to deliver any type of information directly to users' desktops. This scam scheme is very prevalent and has been used for many years now. Similar push notification scam sites we recently talked about – News-dovode.cc, Banibajury.website, or Funksolutions.org – use exact same tricks.

Luckily, it is not difficult to revert this process and deny the website access to the push notification feature. All you have to do is access your browser settings as follows:

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
4. Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
5. Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
2. Click on Privacy & Security section.
3. Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
4. In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
5. Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.

Safari:

1. Click on Safari > Preferences…
2. Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
3. Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.

MS Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
2. Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
3. Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
4. Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.

MS Edge (Chromium):

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
2. Select Site permissions.
3. Go to Notifications on the right.
4. Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
5. Click on More actions and select Block.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer, and click on the Gear icon at the top-right of the window.
2. Select Internet options and go to the Privacy tab.
3. In the Pop-up Blocker section, click on Settings.
4. Locate web address in question under Allowed sites and pick Remove.

How to avoid scams

The most effective way of not having to deal with annoying notifications, ads, and other problems caused by scam websites you should learn how to recognize and avoid them. Redirects to Playgreatlystrongthefile.vip and similar websites could either be caused by your actions (i.e., clicking on misleading links) or by adware secretly installed on your system.

In order to check whether or not that is the case, we recommend scanning the system with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes security software and then also checking the browser for unwanted extensions and the list of installed programs. Afterward, employing FortectIntego PC repair and maintenance utility is useful to clean browser caches and get rid of other leftover files. The app can also fix any issues with the system files if such damage occurs due to malware infections or other unrelated problems.

The first piece of advice would be to avoid websites of dubious content, for example, torrents, gambling, illegal video streaming, and similar. They can result in unexpected redirects to malicious websites and might be the cause of the installation of ransomware or other dangerous malware.

In order to avoid adware and other malicious software which could cause unwanted redirects, we recommend being careful when installing freeware and shareware.^[3] Always pick Advanced instead of Recommended settings, and never rush through steps by clicking “Next” without looking.

Finally, make sure that a powerful anti-malware is running on your system at all times, and its warnings are never ignored, especially if websites of dubious content are visited or files are downloaded from untrustworthy sources.