Pushycaptcha.live ads (fake) - Free Instructions
Pushycaptcha.live ads Removal Guide
What is Pushycaptcha.live ads?
Pushycaptcha.live generates revenue for crooks through pay-per-click advertising
Pop-up ads from pages created by crooks may lead to scams
Pushycaptcha.live is a fake website created by fraudsters to generate revenue from pay-per-click advertising. They use social engineering[1] methods to trick people into subscribing to push notifications. Users are asked to press the “Allow” button to confirm that they are not robots and proceed to the site.
In reality, there is no other content to explore on this site besides the deceptive message. Additionally, crooks may use rogue advertising networks[2] that place ads leading to dangerous websites. People may end up on scam sites that try to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[3] and even malware.
NAME | Pushycaptcha.live |
TYPE | Push notification spam; adware |
SYMPTOMS | Pop-up ads start appearing in the corner of the screen after the “Allow” button is pressed |
DISTRIBUTION | Shady websites, deceptive ads, redirects, freeware installations |
DANGERS | Links embedded in the push notifications can lead to dangerous websites where users can be tricked into providing their personal information and suffer from monetary losses |
ELIMINATION | Users can block push notifications via browser settings |
FURTHER STEPS | It is recommended to use a repair tool like FortectIntego after the removal to fix any remaining damage |
Safe browsing tips
Pages, like Pushycaptcha.live are usually found on other shady sites. To avoid them, you should only visit websites that you know and trust. Do not use illegal streaming websites as they are unregulated. They are filled with deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. Some of them may even display fake “Download” and “Play” buttons.[4]
Use legitimate streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu. They only require a small monthly subscription fee and people are able to consume as much content as they want. This way you will prevent yourself from encountering scams and will keep your data as well as your system safe.
Follow security experts' advice to keep yourself safe online
Block notifications from Pushycaptcha.live
Because push notifications are subscription-based, they can be turned on and off only manually. We have a detailed guide for the most popular browsers below:
Google Chrome (desktop):
- Open Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
- Scroll down and click on Advanced.
- Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
- Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
- Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.
Google Chrome (Android):
- Open Google Chrome and tap on Settings (three vertical dots).
- Select Notifications.
- Scroll down to Sites section.
- Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off setting).
Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
- Click on Privacy & Security section.
- Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click Settings button next to it.
- In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
- Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.
Safari:
- Click on Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
MS Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
- Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
- Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
- Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.
MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Go to Notifications on the right.
- Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
- Click on More actions and select Block.
Clear your browsers
It is highly suggested that you clear your web browsers after an encounter with a push notification page. Websites may utilize a variety of tracking methods, like cookies. They can store data such as IP addresses, geolocation, website visits, links clicked on, and online purchases.
While cookies have some positives – like allowing websites to generate personalized content for users – often times they are embedded in order to sell user information to advertising networks and other third parties. You should use a maintenance tool, like FortectIntego. With the click of a button, this software can not only stop cookies from tracking but also delete any existing data that was already collected.
Scan your system for adware
Unwanted browser activity can also be caused by PUPs. Pages like Pushycaptcha.live occasionally appear without any user interaction. Adware is a computer program that creates commercial content on the machine automatically. Many of them are masqueraded as ” handy” utilities, making them more difficult to detect for average users.
Proper security tools are essential for any PC – think of them as a door to your home. Anti-malware solutions can scan your machine and detect suspicious processes running in the background, which could alert you to dangerous files trying to enter your system. Use professional security tools SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes to scan your system if you still experience unwanted symptoms.
However, if you still want to do this yourself, you can follow our step-by-step instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
Windows 10/8:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Mac:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
How to prevent from getting adware
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 Private Internet Access 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 Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ Cynthia Gonzalez. Top 8 Social Engineering Techniques and How to Prevent Them [2022]. Exabeam. Information Security.
- ^ Zeljka Zorz. How does a rogue ad network function?. Helpnetsecurity. Information Security Blog.
- ^ Chris Hoffman. PUPs Explained: What is a “Potentially Unwanted Program”?. Howtogeek. Technology Magazine.
- ^ Andy Maxwell. Google Targets Fake ‘Download’ and ‘Play’ Buttons. Torrentfreak. Filesharing News.