Pushnow.net ads (scam) - Tutorial

What is Pushnow.net ads?

Pushnow.net shows intrusive pop-ups that can link you to malicious websites

Pushnow.net is a fake website that asks users to enable push notifications

Pushnow.net ads might start showing up on your screen unexpectedly one day, and you are not alone who have encountered this problem recently. Many users complained that the pop-ups show up regardless of which website they are currently visiting or whether they are actively using the browser at all. The activity would disappear as soon as the browser is turned off fully, however.

This happens because Pushnow.net pop-ups are caused by requests of this site and since users allowed notifications from it, they can be delivered at any time and include any type of information. In most cases, they include all sorts of misleading or malicious messages that lead to dangerous websites, hence clicking them is not recommended. Instead, please follow the instructions below to learn how to eliminate the annoying notifications even when the browser is on.

Are push notifications and pop-up ads the same?

There is a fundamental difference between pop-up ads encountered on random websites and push notifications, even if they might look almost identical. The push notification feature is an API that is embedded in every modern web browser and allows any website to use it. It allows that particular website to deliver notifications in a specific area on the system level if employed. There are two conditions for this activity to materialize, which include:

• Users should accept the request to show notifications by clicking the “Allow” button within the prompt.
• The browser must be running (it does not matter if it is actively used or is simply idling in the background.

Evidently, authors of fake and malicious websites tend to abuse this feature and begin sending malicious ads – this usually happens due to insecure advertising networks used by scammers.

Pop-up ads, on the contrary, are triggered when users enter the website that hosts them, so they wouldn't see them outside of that environment. Alternatively, a very aggressive form of adware might be the cause of intrusive pop-up ads.

Scam messages used

There are thousands of push notification scams around in the wild, and they are all hosted on specially crafted websites, which are entirely fake, and their only purpose is to make sure that users accept the request to show push notifications.

For that, scammers employ various social engineering techniques that some users might not be familiar with. For example, this is one of the most common messages that various scam sites employ:

Click Allow if you are not a robot

This is usually accompanied by a picture of a human and a robot, which people might misinterpret as a valid verification method that so many websites use to defend themselves from dangerous DDoS attacks. In other cases, users might be told that the browser is not allowing video playback or that the “18+” verification is required to proceed.

Pushnow.net shows a fake video that can allegedly only be played after the "Allow" button is pressed in a notification prompt

Once the “Allow” button is pressed, users never get what they are promised, and instead, they are redirected to other malicious websites, including Thefreeadv.com, Up-date.safecorp.org, Goodcaptcha.top, and many others, where they could be asked to do the exact same thing.

Why is it important to check your system for adware

Adware is a type of software that is distributed along with freeware or spread via fake updates or other misleading ads. Once installed, it might start showing deals, offers, banners, coupons, and other commercial content when users browse the web. In some cases, it also comes with the changes made to browser settings.

Adware could also be one of the main reasons your encounter fake requests to enable push notifications or see other phishing content online. Authors of potentially unwanted software rarely check the quality of advertising networks that they use, which often results in users being exposed to misleading or even malicious ads.

Therefore, you should check your system for adware and other infections. The most effective way of doing so is by scanning your system with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another powerful anti-malware software. This would guarantee that all the malicious components are eliminated at once. After that, we also recommend using FortectIntego to clean web browsers and also fix damaged system components automatically.

Remove push notifications from malicious websites easily

Since Pushnow.net ads are shown on the system level, many users automatically assume that their systems have been infected with a virus. However, security software would not be able to stop the activity, as it is not technically an infection. Instead, the affected users should access the settings of their browsers and block access to the Pushnow.net address.

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.