Popup Blocker browser plugin (spam) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

Popup Blocker browser plugin Removal Guide

What is Popup Blocker browser plugin?

Popup Blocker is a browser plugin that starts generating advertisements once added

Popup BlockerPopup Blocker causes ads to appear in the corner of the screen

Popup Blocker is a browser extension that displays unwanted advertisements. It claims to be an adblocker but instead does the opposite. Once it is added to the browser it starts generating pop-ups, banners, and redirects. Links embedded in the ads can lead to dangerous websites where people can get tricked into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[1] and malware.

When a hijacker is affecting a browser, people can get thrown to pages that try to sell software, push fake software updates, and tech support scams. If users are less IT-savvy they can easily get fooled by the social engineering methods used by fraudsters and suffer from monetary losses or identity theft.

Normally, browser extensions are meant to provide some kind of benefit for the user, like block ads, dangerous pages, or automatically apply coupon codes for the biggest discounts while shopping online. However, this plugin is different, instead of being useful, it causes problems. What is more, the developers of such add-ons do not care about user privacy or security, only profit because they generate revenue for every click you make.[2]

NAME Popup Blocker
TYPE Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program
SYMPTOMS The extension starts generating pop-ups and other commercial content in the browser as well as cause redirects
DISTRIBUTION Shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations
DANGERS Ads placed by the plugin can lead to dangerous pages where users can be tricked into providing their personal information or downloading PUPs and malware
ELIMINATION Remove the extension via browser settings
FURTHER STEPS Use a maintenance tool FortectIntego to clear your browsers and fix any remaining damage

Distribution methods

Even though it's rare, browser hijackers can sometimes be downloaded from official web stores. You always have to do your own research, look for reviews, information on external sources. Hijacker developers often promote their products using the names of well-known tech companies like Google or Apple. For example, the description might say that the product is a result of a collaboration with the company.

More often, bogus plugins are distributed using shady websites, like the one you can see in the below picture. They are usually placed on websites that engage in illegal activities because they are unregulated, full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. It is never a good idea to install something from random pages that open unexpectedly.

Another thing you should know is the danger of freeware distribution platforms. They often include additional programs in the installers[3] without disclosing it to the users. Try to get original versions of software as much as you can because official developer websites are always safe and trustworthy.

Popup Blocker browser pluginPopup Blocker is spread using deceptive methods

The removal procedure

The reason these add-ons are distributed is that the creators can make money when you click on promotional clicks. They can also collect your browsing data and sell it to advertising networks. Fraudsters do it with the help of cookies, small data files that are stored in your browser. It is crucial to delete them regularly to stop the tracking. We recommend using a maintenance tool like FortectIntego that can get rid of them automatically.

You can remove extensions by going to your browser settings. Step-by-step instructions for Chrome, MS Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer are available below.

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.Remove extensions from Chrome

MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click on Uninstall at the bottom.Remove extensions from Edge

MS Edge (Chromium)

  • Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  • Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Mozilla Firefox

  • 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 plugin and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Safari

  • Click Safari > Preferences…
  • In the new window, pick Extensions.
  • Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.Remove extensions from Safari

Internet Explorer:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Remove PUPs that perform tasks in the background

If you removed the Popup Blocker extension from your browser but you still experience symptoms like an increased amount of commercial content, banners, pop-ups, redirects, you might have adware hiding in your system. As we mentioned before, often adware and other PUAs are distributed on freeware sites.

To avoid installations of PUPs, you should always choose the “Advanced” or “Custom” installation method, read the privacy policy and terms of use to find out what the program will be able to do in your machine. The most important part is to check the file list and untick the boxes next to any programs that seem unrelated.

Eliminating a PUP manually can be difficult because they are often disguised as handy tools that you would not even suspect. It can have any name and icon so you risk deleting the wrong files. Additionally, even if you identify which program is at fault it might not be enough to just uninstall it. Some of them can leave files behind and cause infections repeatedly.

We recommend using professional security tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes to get rid of any PUAs that could be hiding in your system. Security software can scan your machine and detect suspicious processes working in the background of your PC. What is more, it can prevent the installations of such programs in the future by warning you about it. If you still want to do this yourself, you can follow the guide for Windows and Mac machines below:

Windows 10/8:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till the uninstallation process is complete and click OK.Uninstall from Windows 2

Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are a Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
  3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)Uninstall from Mac 1

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
  3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
  4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.Uninstall from Mac 2
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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

How to prevent from getting browser plugins

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.

 

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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.

About the author
Alice Woods
Alice Woods - Likes to teach users about virus prevention

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References