ProductEvent ads: what it is and how to remove it
ProductEvent is software that users might discover on their Mac computers seemingly out of nowhere, as it is often bundled with freeware or is installed via fake updates. It specializes in displaying various in-text links, pop-ups, auto-plays, pop-unders, banners, and other advertisements on Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers.
Facts checked October 7, 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.
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ProductEvent ads: summary
| Damage | Adware might bring users to insecure sites that promote potentially malicious apps or ask to disclose personal information, such as credit card details. This might result in malware infections, money loss, or personal information usage in fraud campaigns |
|---|---|
| Name | ProductEvent |
| Type | Adware, Mac virus |
| Systems affected | macOS, Mac OS X |
| Symptoms | Users who get infected with adware are usually unaware why they see the following symptoms: Ads on all sites that users visit – sometimes marked by "ProductEvent ads" or similar identification Changed web browser settings – homepage, new tab address and the search engine altered to Bing, Yahoo or something else Slow operation of web browsers |
| Installation | Users usually install ProductEvent involuntarily either via software bundles or by getting tricked by fake updates (Flash, Java, etc.) |
| 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 6 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | ProductEvent |
| First seen | 6 November 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is ProductEvent ads dangerous?
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
ProductEvent is adware application for macOS that gets installed along free software from third-party sites or via fake updates
ProductEvent is software that users might discover on their Mac computers seemingly out of nowhere, as it is often bundled with freeware or is installed via fake updates.
It specializes in displaying various in-text links, pop-ups, auto-plays, pop-unders, banners, and other advertisements on Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers. Nevertheless, the developers promote the app as a useful tool that can assist users with their web browsing activities.
ProductEvent is nothing more but an adware program and should not be kept on any Mac system, as it might result in unsatisfactory web browsing experience, money loss, installation of other potentially unwanted programs - or even malware.
Because ProductEvent is a potentially unwanted application that is ad-supported, it is highly likely to gather information about users' web browsing habits. In some cases, the data might be personally-identifiable and, if leaked to inappropriate parties, might be used for malicious purposes, such as fraud.
ProductEvent ads appearance often comes as a surprise to users, as it uses deception to get installed on Mac systems. In most of the cases, users let it in during the installation of freeware/shareware from third-parties, as they are required to enter their passwords during the process.
Alternatively, the ProductEvent virus might be installed after users get tricked by fake Flash Player update prompts - they might be encountered on a multitude of malicious sites on the internet.
The developers of ProductEvent adware seek to gain monetary benefit from clicks that users make and predetermined websites that they visit. Without a doubt, these practices do not bring any benefits to users, as they have to deal with coupons, deals, offers, and other promotional content regularly - it might even hinder the underlying content of the site. However, intrusive ads are not the only reason to remove ProductEvent.
Just as many other adware programs, ProductEvent might collect a variety of information about users, for example:
Cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies are used to collect the data. Because ProductEvent is published by an unknown developer, there are no legal documents bounding the app to protect this information in any way. Thus, it might be sold for marketing purposes or end up in the hands of cybercriminals.
ProductEvent is one of the apps that belong to series of adware developed for Mac operating systems that use the same icon and operates practically identically - it is highly likely that the distributor of these apps is the same (other examples include IdeaShared, SystemJump, LookupShare, Coordinator Plus, etc.).
It is a very common practice when it comes to PUPs - the same applications are re-skinned and distributed as new ones. This is done in order to avoid a bad reputation, as well as the detection of anti-malware software on the host computer.
ProductEvent removal usually should not be difficult, although some users said that they struggled with the process. If you want to get rid of the unwanted app properly, scan your machine with anti-malware and then reset all the installed browsers, as explained below. For best results, we advise using as well.
- IP address;
- Geolocation;
- Technical information about the device;
- ISP;
- Links clicked;
- Sites visited;
- Bookmarks added, etc.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on ProductEvent
- To ensure fast recovery from adware infection and high-performance of your Mac, scan it with
How ProductEvent ads got into your browser
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
There are several applications that can be downloaded from the third-party official websites and be entirely safe (for example, anti-malware apps).
Due to the functionality of anti-virus software, these applications cannot be placed on the official Apple stores, as they require special permissions to ensure system security. However, this is merely one of a few exceptions, and most of the third-party sites should not be used to download new applications.
App Store currently offers 1,8 million applications for users to download. While recent events showed that some malicious apps might be inserted into official sources as well, chances of that happening are extremely low.
Thus, considering such a large number of applications available, there is no need to use third-party sites in the first place. In most of the cases, users infect their Macs when installing software from websites that host pirated content (torrents, warez) or various other app hosting sites.
To avoid that, stick to official sources when looking for new apps. If you absolutely have to download something from a third-party, make sure you pay close attention to the installation process to avoid the installation of optional components.
For example, freeware developers often use fine print texts, misleading offers, misplaced buttons, pre-ticked boxes, and similar deceptive methods. Thus, when prompted, opt for Advanced/Custom settings and get rid of all the unwanted apps.
How to remove ProductEvent ads
How to remove the ProductEvent 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 ProductEvent
ProductEvent is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select ProductEvent, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
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 ProductEvent 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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Adware affects settings of the installed web browsers. Make sure you rest Google Chrome as soon as PUP is terminated:
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 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
To get rid of ProductEvent virus from your macOS, please perform the following steps:
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.
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 Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Get rid of ProductEvent adware from your macOS
Manual ProductEvent removal might be a little difficult sometimes, as adware commonly uses various techniques to increase the persistence on the computer.
For example, multiple components are dropped into different sections on the operating system, and finding them might be problematic, especially for a novice user. Therefore, it is best to trust reputable anti-malware that could locate these entries automatically and get rid of them in just a few moments.
Nevertheless, if you decide to remove ProductEvent by yourself, you should remember that moving the app to trash is hardly going to be enough. Before doing so, you should check your Activity Monitor for suspicious processes and shut them down. After that, examine the following locations on your Mac, and delete suspicious entries:
After termination of ProductEvent adware, make sure you reset each of the installed browsers, as explained below.
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents
- ~/Library/Application Support
- ~/Library/LaunchDaemons
Questions about ProductEvent ads
What is ProductEvent and why is it on my PC?
ProductEvent is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.
Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need ProductEvent, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.
How do I stop programs like ProductEvent from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped ProductEvent before it reached the app list.
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 ProductEvent?
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.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
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.
Is ProductEvent a virus?
Not in the strict sense: ProductEvent is unwanted software, classed here as an adware extension, not a self-copying virus. Our report lists this damage: Adware might bring users to insecure sites that promote potentially malicious apps or ask to disclose personal information, such as credit card details.
This might result in malware infections, money loss, or personal information usage in fraud campaigns. Security programs often label such software as adware, a potentially unwanted program or a browser hijacker. It still needs removal, because it changes browser settings, shows ads and can lead you to unsafe pages.
Will Fortect remove ProductEvent?
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 ProductEvent, 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
- CNBC: Here's everything a cyber criminal can do if they steal your credit card (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Web beacon (read October 7, 2026)
- Statista: Number of apps available in leading app stores 2019 (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)