Private Video ads: what it is and how to remove it

Private Video Browser Hijacker is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that will modify particular browser preferences. That will allow it to redirect all search inquiries through a search engine of its choice.

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

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A scan of the PC is a quick way to confirm that nothing installed is behind the private-vids.com redirects.

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Private Video: browser hijacker
Private Video as our 2021 report showed it.

Private Video ads: summary

Distributionprivate-vids.com, Google Chrome Web Store, deceptive ads, freeware bundles
DamageBrowser hijackers can collect browsing-related data. Redirects to questionable sites might result in other PUP installations, privacy issues, financial losses
namePrivate Video
TypeBrowser hijacker, redirect virus, PUP
Altered browser settingsDefault search engine, new tab, homepage
SymptomsApart from the modified browser settings, users reported redirects to unknown sites, slower pc performance
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
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
NamePrivate Video
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Domainsprivate-vids.com
Ads shown asRedirects through ad pages
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen1 March 2021
Facts checked6 October 2026

Is Private Video ads dangerous?

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

Private Video Browser Hijacker – a deceitfully advertised software that will impede your browsing experience

Private Video Browser Hijacker is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that will modify particular browser preferences.

That will allow it to redirect all search inquiries through a search engine of its choice. Depending on your geolocation, you will be shown results from Google, Yahoo, Bing, or other legitimate search engines. Those results will most likely have ads in them as suggested searches.

Furthermore, when your PC is infected with Private Video virus, you could experience redirects to dubious sites with explicit, misleading, or even malicious content. These redirects could occur either by clicking on deceptive ads or out of the blue. Either way, they can highly endanger users.

PUPs such as adware, browser hijackers, and others can infect anyone's device. We strive to help our readers by any means necessary. By reading this article, you'll find out how these types of applications are stealthily delivered, what risk they pose to their users, and what are the best and safest ways to remove them.

Private Video extension is advertised as a tool that will automatically delete all browsing history whenever you close the browser. This feature already exists in most browsers, so no additional extension is needed for that. But that's the thing with most PUP - their advertising campaigns might persuade users to install them.

There are various useless tools offered on the internet. Some might promise to boost your pc performance by a few hundred percent, others to improve your internet connection by tenfold. All these claims are pure lies created to trick users into downloading these apps.

These types of programs get revenue from the redirects to affiliated sites. Private Video might cause redirects to questionable portals where you'll be forced to install other PUPs, you might be tricked to provide your personal details, or malware could be automatically installed by drive-by downloading technique.

Moreover, as we've mentioned before, browser hijackers are capable of recording various non-personal information, including geolocations, IP addresses, device/browser details, search inquiries, used apps, etc. This data is used to customize ads specifically for you.

Thus think twice before installing any shady apps. Before getting one, do a quick search about it, read our articles, and see if that app isn't flagged as malicious or potentially unwanted. If you value your privacy and security, we hope you're convinced to remove Private Video.

You'll need a trustworthy security tool for that. Private Video removal with either of these apps shouldn't take longer than a couple of minutes.

PUPs leave traces in the system files and settings that may lead to sluggish performance, crashing, etc.

Private Video: browser hijacker
Private Video in our 2021 report.
Screenshot of Private Video: virus
Private Video in our 2021 report.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

Making precautions to keep your devices virus-free

More and more computer and cell phone infections are created each day.

Big companies are trying their best to make the internet a safer place, but it's hard to keep up with cybercriminals. That's why users should take matters into their own hands and improve their cybersecurity.

We've arranged a set of guidelines that would help improve home users' security and minimize the damage if an infection slips by. Stick to these suggestions, and your privacy and safety will greatly improve:

  • Keep backups of all essential files.
  • Acquire a professional anti-malware tool and use it regularly.
  • Please install the latest updates to your operating system and other install software as soon as they're available (except BETA versions).
  • Run system diagnostics at least once a week to keep system files and settings in order.
Private Video: potentially unwanted program
Private Video in our 2021 report.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Private Video

  • To safely remove any threat from any device, users should entrust it to compatible anti-malware software
  • Modified system files and tons of tracking cookies may lead to BSoD, freezing, and other issues.
  • Use an all-in-one tool to fix any system-related mishaps

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: private-vids.com

How to remove Private Video ads

How to stop the Private Video redirects

Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.

  1. Step 1: Check the browser's extensions

    A browser that keeps landing on private-vids.com by itself usually has an add-on doing it. Open the extension list (chrome://extensions, edge://extensions, or Extensions and themes in the Firefox menu) and remove anything you do not remember installing.

    Coupon, PDF, new tab, search and video downloader add-ons are the usual suspects. Do this in every browser on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue

    When private-vids.com keeps opening after the extensions are cleaned, reset the browser to its defaults. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; Edge: Settings > Reset settings; Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    A reset keeps bookmarks and saved passwords but clears site permissions, the start page and the search engine.

    If every browser still redirects afterwards, the cause is a program in Windows 11 or Windows 10: check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for anything you did not install.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads

    Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.

    In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    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

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

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

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from 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 Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

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

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  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

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

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

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 VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.

Lost your files? Use data recovery software

While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.

Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:

  • power cuts
  • Blue Screen of Death errors
  • hardware failures
  • crypto-malware attack
  • even accidental deletion

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, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

Simple guidelines for Private Video virus removal from infected devices

Having a PUP such as Private Video Browser Hijacker installed on your computer won't do you any good.

In fact, it will only slow down the device, endanger you by redirecting to malicious websites, and show you irritating ads on search engines of its choice.

That's why you should remove Private Video Browser Hijacker from your device immediately. The most effective way of doing that is by entrusting this task to trustworthy anti-malware software. Make sure its virus database is updated frequently so it could prevent such perils in the future.

To restore altered browser settings, you'll have to get your hands dirty and finish Private Video removal manually. You'll find free detailed instructions on how to do that below this article. When all is said and done, run system diagnostics with compatible tools to repair any corrupted files and delete tracking cookies.

Questions about Private Video ads

private-vids.com opens when I click links. What causes it?

When every click leads to private-vids.com first, an extension or a script on the page is rewriting the links. If it happens only on one site, that site uses aggressive ads; close it and use another source. If it happens everywhere, open the browser in a private window, where extensions are normally off, and try again.

No redirect in the private window means one of your extensions is responsible: remove the ones you do not know. A redirect in the private window too means the cause is outside the extensions, such as a notification permission, a changed search setting or a program installed on the PC. The removal steps in this guide cover each of those.

Should I worry about redirects to private-vids.com?

Worry less about private-vids.com 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.

What is Private Video?

Private Video is an ad redirect domain, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.

Private Video does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.

Why does private-vids.com keep showing up?

There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from private-vids.com, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.

If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if private-vids.com never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.

Which browsers does Private Video affect?

In the cases we checked, Private Video showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.

Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.

Are the pop-ups I see really from Private Video?

Compare them with the details in the table above. Private Video produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to private-vids.com. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.

If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.

Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?

No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:

  • running a downloaded file
  • installing an extension
  • giving a stranger remote access

That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.

Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?

Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.

Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.

Did Private Video collect my data?

Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:

  • the sites you visit
  • search terms
  • approximate location
  • browser and system details

Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.

If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.

Will Fortect remove Private Video?

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 Private Video, 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

  1. Wikipedia: Drive-by download (read October 6, 2026)
  2. Usunwirusa: Usunwirusa (read October 6, 2026)
  3. Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
  4. FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
  5. Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)

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