Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads: what it is and how to remove it
Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net is adware signifying that your PC is affected by the Akamaihd virus family. This type of PUP is known to target macOS computer systems.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps checked against Apple's current documentation and the security vendors' reports. We have not run the malware on a Mac. 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
Get a free scan and check if your Mac is infected.
Fortect for Mac scans for malware and unwanted programs, and its free scan shows what it finds before you decide anything.
Not sure what sends your browser to rvzr-a.akamaihd.net? An automatic scan looks at the usual sources for you.
Do it yourself · free Remove Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads: summary
| Name | Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware/PUP |
| Family | This suspicious program belongs to the Akamaihd virus category |
| Main target | The adware is more likely to target macOS computer systems, however, it can also show up on Windows computers too. Browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari are also likely to be affected by this PUP |
| Location(s) | If you are running a Mac computer, you might encounter bogus apps under the Applications section. If you are using a Windows machine, you can find suspicious products in directories such as C:\Program Files\ or C:\ProgramData |
| Tasks | The adware is responsible for displaying an excessive amount of pop-ups and pop-unders on web browsers, redirecting the user to odd websites, changing the browser's homepage and new tab URL bar, tracking information that is related to the user's browsing sessions and history |
| Removal | Scan the Mac with security software to find the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect for Mac scans for malware and unwanted programs. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Redirects to an unknown domain |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | rvzr-a.akamaihd.net |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 15 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads dangerous?
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net - an adware virus that infects macOS devices and redirects the user to multiple odd pages
Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net is adware signifying that your PC is affected by the Akamaihd virus family.
This type of PUP is known to target macOS computer systems. Users have been complaining all over the internet that the adware keeps displaying an excessive amount of advertisements and is hard to detect by antimalware software. Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net Mac is also responsible for redirecting people to multiple unknown locations some of which might appear to be potentially malicious.
Even though this program technically is not dangerous malware, it can lead you to malware-laden locations and cause indirect damage to your computer system. If you are running a macOS computer, you are likely to find some bogus apps in the Applications section and if you are a Windows user, the adware might plant suspicious products in locations such as C:\Program Files\ or C:\ProgramData.
Typically, apps such as Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net are spread in a bundle with free software, so people who do not like to monitor the installation of such software can easily fall for the downloading of adware.
As soon as it enters the PC system, it may alter each of web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc. Unexpected changes might be spotted in locations such as the homepage and new tab URL.
If you think that Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net pop-up virus has already added its add-on to each of your web browsers, you are likely to expect a load of misleading pop-up ads. Beware that in some cases they might report about missing updates and offer to download them for free.
Unfortunately but you should never trust such notifications because they have nothing to do with Java, Flash Player, FLV Player and similar programs that are typically offered in Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads.
Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net might also display various surveys and fake reward claims, try to lure you into a scam. If the potentially unwanted program provides anything that requires sensitive information regarding your identity or credential data, you should avoid entering such types of details. If you do not, your personal information can get easily exposed and your money can get swindled by subscribing you to suspicious-looking services.
Continuously, Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net virus might start redirecting the user to affiliate locations where additional offers and deals are added. This way the user might be convinced to download and install some rogue security software or other unreliable services. However, the worst part about these redirects is that you might land on a malware-laden website and get your computer system infected with a dangerous virtual parasite.
In addition, Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net can start collecting information that is related to your browsing history and online experience. For this purpose, the adware plants tracking cookies, pixels, and beacons that record the information. This type of data can refer to commonly visited websites, hyperlinks and ads clicked, saved bookmarks, the user's IP address, geographic location, search query results, offers and deals searched for.
Keep in mind that Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net removal is necessary if you want to avoid all the advertising, redirecting, and data-collecting activities. For this process, you can use reliable automatical software that will help you to get rid of the adware and all its added objects.
However, there also is a possibility to get rid of suspicious products by using the manual guiding steps for browser and operating system cleaning that are attached to the end of this page.
Another reason to remove Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net on time is the possibility that this product might bring other potentially unwanted programs to the system. This can be additional adware, browser hijackers, scareware, etc. However, in some cases, hackers use adware programs to spread malware that can be very dangerous. If you have found any signs of system compromisation on your device, try employing for the fix process.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Adware infiltration to the targeted computer system
Typically, adware programs can be downloaded in a bundle with freeware and shareware as "free additions", so you should double check every freeware before its installation and make sure that it's free of potentially unwanted programs.
If you want to prevent such an appearance on your computer, you should select only Custom or Advanced installation of the freeware. These options will allow you to take full control of all incoming downloads.
After selecting any of these options, make sure you remove all unknown check marks that agree to install unknown components, such as browser add-ons, plugins, toolbars, search engines and other PUPs. Continuously, ad-supported applications can get delivered through fake flash player updates that you might meet while browsing online. Our advice would be not to upgrade any apps before checking the official update releases on the product's original website.
Furthermore, you can also receive an adware program through infectious hyperlinks and advertisements that can appear while browsing on third-party websites. Our point is to avoid accessing any content that you cannot trust.
If you are provided with a bogus notification while surfing the Internet, you should close it instead of risking to catch an adware infection. Also, always use reliable antimalware protection that will alert if something dubious is trying to escape.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net
- If you have approached some system compromisation on your computer, you can try repairing things with software such as
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
rvzr-a.akamaihd.net
How to remove Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads
How to remove Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net from a Mac
Remove the app and what starts it, then check the browsers.
Step 1: Delete apps and downloads you did not intend to install
Open the Applications folder and your Downloads folder. Drag any app you did not install, and any disk image (
.dmg), installer (.pkg) or archive (.zip) that came from Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net or a site you do not trust, to the Bin, then empty the Bin.Also check
~/Library/Application Supportfor a folder with the same name as the app you removed.Step 2: Remove unknown login items and background items
Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Under Open at Login and Allow in the Background, switch off or remove anything you do not recognize, especially items whose developer is shown as an unknown name or that appeared on the day you ran the command.
Then open Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and check
~/Library/LaunchAgents,/Library/LaunchAgentsand /Library/LaunchDaemons for property list (.plist) files you did not add. Drag suspicious ones to the Bin, then restart the Mac.Step 3: Check the browsers for extensions and changed settings
In Safari open Settings > Extensions and General (homepage). In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Firefoxabout:addons.Remove any extension you did not add, and reset the homepage and search engine if they changed. Browsers hold saved passwords and cookies, which is why the password step comes first.
Step 4: Quit what is running that you do not recognize
Open Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities, or search for it with Command + Space).
In the CPU or Network tab, look for a process you did not install or whose name is random, select it, click the stop button (the octagon with an X) and choose Quit or Force Quit.
Note the name first: you will look for the same name in the next steps. Malware that comes back after a restart is handled in the next two steps.
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:
- 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
To remove all questionable-looking products from your Google Chrome web browser, use the following guidelines.
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)
To eliminate suspicious extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons from Mozilla Firefox, apple the following instructions.
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
To eliminate rogue components and reverse all bogus changes on your Safari web browser, complete these guiding steps.
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 unwanted applications from your macOS computer system, use the below-provided instructing 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.
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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Ways to get rid of Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net virus
If you want to remove Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net from your computer, you should get rid of the app and all the additional products that it has brought to the system.
You can employ automatical software to complete this type of process or you can go to the end of the article and check out the manual guiding steps there.
Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net removal should be performed not only from the operating system but also from web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer. The potentially unwanted program might have filled these apps with questionable products such as extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins.
According to security experts from NoVirus.uk, it is recommendable to uninstall adware such as Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net pop-up virus by using automatical products as the PUP might have included suspicious components all over the computer system and if you do not get rid of all of them, you might find yourself struggling with the same adware again.
Questions about Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net ads
How do I stop rvzr-a.akamaihd.net from opening?
Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.
Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.
If rvzr-a.akamaihd.net still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.
Did rvzr-a.akamaihd.net install a virus on my PC?
Very unlikely, unless you downloaded and opened something from the pages it led to. Redirect domains such as rvzr-a.akamaihd.net sell your visit to advertisers; they do not need to install anything to make money.
What can be installed is the thing that causes the redirects in the first place, such as an extension or an ad-supported program that came with free software. That is why the checks in this guide look at extensions, notification permissions and Installed apps.
A full scan with Microsoft Defender afterwards gives you a clear answer about the rest of the PC. If the scan is clean and the redirects stop after removing the cause, you are done.
Why does Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net 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 Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net 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 Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net?
Look for redirects to rvzr-a.akamaihd.net. That is the trace Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net 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.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net?
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.
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.
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.
Will Fortect remove Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net?
Fortect for Mac scans for malware and unwanted programs, and its free scan shows what it finds on your Mac before you decide anything.
For Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net, follow the plan on this page as well: removing a launch item or an app is done in macOS itself, and a scanner cannot undo what was typed or entered on the infected Mac, such as saved passwords that were copied.
Change your passwords from another device first, and if the page tells you to erase the Mac, a scan is not a substitute. The free scan costs nothing and the full-featured product needs a license.
Sources
- Search Security: PUP (potentially unwanted program) (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)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)