R.eablink ads: what it is and how to remove it
R.eablink is redirect virus that many users complained about on Reddit and other online forums. The event is usually encountered on Google Chrome, although it does not exempt other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox or MS Edge, from being affected either.
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.
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R.eablink ads: summary
| Damage | Users should never interact with content presented by R.eablink, as it might result in the installation of other potentially unwanted programs or malware, money loss, personal data disclosure to unknown parties |
|---|---|
| Name | R.eablink |
| Type | Adware |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Recognized as | URL:Phishing (r.eablink.com) |
| Related | R.eaburl.com |
| 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 12 more facts
| Installation | Users install potentially unwanted programs during the installation of freeware/shareware obtained from third-party sites or after being tricked by an attractive ad or a fake update |
|---|---|
| Mostly affected browser | Google Chrome |
| Symptoms | R.eablink triggers multiple alerts from the installed security software, which prevents users from entering legitimate websites. Additionally, they experience an increased amount of intrusive ads and redirects |
| Termination | Get rid of adware using robust security software or by following our manual removal guide below |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | r.eablink.com |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 6 November 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is R.eablink ads dangerous?
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
R.eablink.com is a malicious website that users might encounter when being infected with adware
R.eablink is redirect virus that many users complained about on Reddit and other online forums.
The event is usually encountered on Google Chrome, although it does not exempt other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox or MS Edge, from being affected either.
The reason for R.eablink.com to show up is due to an adware-type application or extension secretly installed on the web browser or Windows/Mac operating systems. In most of the cases, the deceptive infiltration happens when users are installing third-party software that uses package installers, i.e., there are are more than one application bundled under a single offer. AV vendors often mark the suspicious behavior of R.eablink.com as URL:Phishing.
Anti-malware software-induced pop-ups that keep blocking sites due to R.eablink.com adware is not the only problem the affected users may encounter. Ad-supported software also displays deals, offers, and targets users with promotional campaigns that are intrusive and disturb web browsing activities. Consequently, users may be directed to scam or phishing websites, where their personal details might get stolen.
If computer systems are not adequately protected (lack of anti-virus software, outdated applications), there is also a chance victims might end up on a compromised site where malicious JavaScript is hosted. These can automatically download and install malware without user interaction whatsoever. Luckily, anti-malware software is designed to stop such attacks, so make sure you have it equipped to prevent R.eablink.com outbreaks.
The main goal of R.eablink.com virus is to load various background processes regardless of which sites you visit - this explains the strange behavior when anti-malware software is blocking legitimate websites. By doing so, adware manages to earn revenue by inserting sponsored content in the background. Needless to say, such behavior is more relative to malware rather than adware, so R.eablink removal should never be delayed for your own safety.
To remove R.eablink redirects and ads, you will have to determine which application is causing them in the first place. However, this might be a more difficult task than one might think, as adware might be disguised under legitimate names or prevent its termination by altering computer processes.
In most of the cases, however, you should be able to get rid of the unwanted behavior by scanning your machine with anti-malware software and resetting the installed browsers. Nonetheless, you should also perform a scan with to restore your system and prevent it from crashing.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Bundled software packages might include optional components - watch out for them
Software bundling is a well-established distribution technique that is often deceptive but is extremely beneficial for its users.
Unfortunately, many freeware and shareware are distributed in packages that include potentially unwanted programs, such as adware or even malware. Therefore, it is vital to make sure that the installation process of new apps is never rushed and the instructions are carefully read. Novirus.uk experts provide the following security tips:
- If possible, download the desired program from official sources (Google Play, App Store, Microsoft Store, Amazon, etc.) instead of choosing third-party sites;
- Avoid torrent and warez sites that host pirated applications or cracks/keygens;
- Even reputable third-party sites like Cnet or FileHippo bundle software - do not put your guard down when relying on these websites;
- During the installation, make sure you pick Advanced/Custom settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones;
- Beware of software bundling tricks: watch out for pre-ticked boxes, misleading offers, misplaced buttons, fine print text, etc.
- Employ anti-malware software that includes a feature which detects PUPs - it can prevent the infiltration of unwanted apps altogether.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on R.eablink
- In most cases, they encounter a problem with their anti-virus software (Norton or AVG/Avast) flagging most of the legitimate sites due to phishing or similar reasons while mentioning R.eablink prescience on them.
- Keep in mind that adware and malware can cause damage to your operating system, later resulting in errors or crashes.
- To fix this virus damage, use
- Nevertheless, if you already have Norton or AVG installed, and R.eablink.com warning is being spammed to you, you should immediately reset each of the installed browsers - this should resolve the issue promptly.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
r.eablink.com
How to remove R.eablink ads
How to remove the R.eablink 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 programs you did not mean to install
R.eablink rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
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 R.eablink 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.
Uninstall from Windows
In case R.eablink is related to an installed application on your Windows machine, access Control Panel and uninstall it:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
In some cases, unwanted behavior might be related to an extension that is attached to Google Chrome. To get rid of it, reset the browser as follows:
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 Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
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
If your macOS is showing adware infection signs, perform the following actions to get rid of it:
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.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Get rid of R.eablink.com ads in two different ways
Nevertheless, in some cases, the unwanted app might be masqueraded as something else, or be lost within a large number of installed programs.
Additionally, the R.eablink virus might prevent its termination due to background activities on your machine.
If that is the case, we highly advise you to remove R.eablink.com with the help of powerful security software. Simply download a trusted application and perform a full system scan - it should only take a few minutes. Anti-malware is capable of finding all the unwanted components of adware and eliminating them automatically.
For that, check our guidelines bellow.
Questions about R.eablink ads
Why does my browser keep going to r.eablink.com?
Something is sending it there. On one site only, that site's ads are the cause and leaving the site ends it.
On many different sites, the usual causes are an extension you installed with something else, a site you once allowed to send notifications, or an ad-supported program in Windows that changes how the browser behaves. r.eablink.com itself is only a stop on the way: it records the visit and forwards you to whatever advertiser pays most.
Check the extensions page, then the list of sites allowed to send notifications, then Installed apps sorted by date. Removing the cause stops the redirects; blocking the domain alone usually does not, because the network moves to a new one.
Is it safe that my browser was redirected to r.eablink.com?
Landing on r.eablink.com does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:
- some ask you to allow notifications
- some show fake virus warnings
- some offer downloads
- ask for card details
If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.
If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.
Why does R.eablink show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. R.eablink is an adware extension, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of redirects through ad pages.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Do I have to clean every browser?
Yes, if you use more than one. We saw R.eablink in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and each browser keeps its own extensions, notification permissions and settings. Chrome and Edge share the same extension format, so one installer can add the same adware to both, while Firefox has its own add-ons.
Check every browser on the PC, including ones you rarely open. If you sync a browser with an account, clean it while signed in, so that the removal reaches your other computers rather than the adware returning from them.
How do I know the ads come from R.eablink?
Look for redirects to r.eablink.com. That is the trace R.eablink leaves, and it shows up as redirects through ad pages. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
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.
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.
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 R.eablink?
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.
Will Fortect remove R.eablink?
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 R.eablink, 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
- Reddit: r.eablink warning almost everytime I open up google. (read October 6, 2026)
- AVG: R.eablink.com (read October 6, 2026)
- CSS-Tricks: Anatomy of a malicious script: how a website can take over your browser (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)