Secret-video.online ads: what it is and how to remove it
Secret-video.online is one of many domains that abuses a legitimate "Allow notifications" feature in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, Opera, Internet Explorer, and other browsers. As soon as users land on the site, they are prompted to allow notifications to be shown and are usually promised an underlying content after doing so.
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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Secret-video.online ads: summary
| Name | Secret-video.online |
|---|---|
| Type | Push notification virus, adware |
| Infiltration | Desktop notifications are visible as soon as users press the "Allow" button after landing on the site; redirects to this and other sites might implicate adware infection, and PUPs are usually delivered via software bundle packages |
| Symptoms | Suspicious messages with embedded links show up on the screen regularly; increased amount of ads on all visited websites; slowdown of the web browser; redirects leading to various scam and phishing sites, etc. |
| Dangers | Personal/sensitive information disclosure to cybercriminals, monetary loss due to frequently encountered scams, malware infections |
| Termination | There are two different aspects to Secret-video.online – it either means that you subscribed to the notifications by pressing "Allow," or your system might be infected with adware, which is redirecting you to insecure sites. To get rid of pop-up ads, you will have to access settings section of your browser; to uninstall adware, you should scan your machine with anti-malware software or follow the manual removal guide below |
| 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 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 |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | secret-video.online |
| Ads shown as | Desktop notifications |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Installed on the PC | Nothing; a browser notification permission only |
| First seen | 7 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the Secret-video.online ads ads look like
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Is Secret-video.online ads dangerous?
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Secret-video.online is a push notification virus that directs users to phishing sites
Secret-video.online is one of many domains that abuses a legitimate "Allow notifications" feature in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, Opera, Internet Explorer, and other browsers.
As soon as users land on the site, they are prompted to allow notifications to be shown and are usually promised an underlying content after doing so. However, as soon as the "Allow" button is pressed, users are not presented with anything, but instead, they start seeing Secret-video.online pop-ups that are shown directly on their screens regularly.
These Secret-video.online advertisements are usually filled with dangerous content, as, if malicious links are clicked, users are redirected to get-rich-quick, tech support, and other types of scams. In some cases, users might even be exposed to hacked or malicious sites that use background scripts to abuse browser vulnerabilities and install malware automatically.
As a result, victims may lose their money, get infected with malware, or expose their sensitive information to criminals. The good news is that Secret-video.online removal can usually be performed by tweaking web browser settings - we explain how below.
The secret-video.online virus is called so due to its persistence and erratic behavior, as most of the time, users are unaware that they subscribed for these notifications to be shown, and they do not know how to stop the intrusive behavior. The worst part is that some might get tricked by various scam messages and visit promoted sites.
Cybercriminals behind Secret-video.online scam use social engineering in order to make users subscribe to these notifications - even the name of the domain implies that there is some secret video to be looked at. As soon as users land on the malicious page, they are shown a fake short message that urges to allow notifications.
Another Secret-video.online pop-up might accompany the regular notification prompt - it says:
In other words, the sole reason of Secret-video.online existence is to make sure that visitors allow notifications and, while those who fall for the trick are likely not to know how to stop the unwanted ads, it benefits the attackers financially (each click made on links results in ad revenue).
Those who click "Allow" will soon notice that there is no video to be shown, and there is no other underlying content to be uncovered.
Unfortunately, but there also might be another reason why you see Secret-video.online redirects in the first place, and it is adware. These potentially unwanted programs are usually distributed by using deceptive practices (e.g., software bundles or fake updates) and have the purpose of displaying pop-ups, banners, deals, offers, coupons, and redirect users to predetermined domains, such like Secret-video.online.
It is also worth noting that adware that prompts Secret-video.online redirects most certainly collects a variety of information about users, including:
There are several ways to remove Secret-video.online ads and redirects, although it depends on whether your machine is infected with adware. If the latter is true, you will have to terminate the PUP either manually or automatically and reset the installed browsers. For best results, experts also recommend scanning the machine with .
- IP address;
- Internet Service Provider;
- Geolocation;
- Browser used and extensions installed;
- Technical data of the device;
- Sites visited, search terms, links clicked, and other browsing-related data.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Learn to spot online scams and watch out for software bundles
Online scams are very prevalent, and users may encounter them regularly - it depends on sites that they visit.
For example, domains that distribute pirated software or those that offer suspicious licensed TV series/sports streaming services are extremely likely to include background scripts or links that lead to malicious sites.
Luckily, Mozilla Firefox already terminated (Google is soon to follow) the annoying pop-ups that ask to show notifications on all sites, and they can only be visible if clicked on the URL bar. This reduces the chances of inexperienced users falling for the trick and malicious actors abusing the feature to insert advertisements into users' desktops.
Additionally, adware infections might also be the reason why redirects to push notification virus sites occur in the first place. Potentially unwanted programs are usually distributed via freeware acquired on third-party websites, where several apps are compiled into a single installer.
Quite often, these optional components are not adequately present to users, and mostly hidden from sight via pre-ticked boxes, fine print, or the Recommended/Quick settings. Thus, always install software carefully, read the instructions on each step, and opt for Advanced/Custom mode when prompted.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Secret-video.online
- Adware or malware can cause significant damage to the operating systems.
- Thus, if you are experiencing computer slowdowns, crashes, errors, and similar issues, you should apply to fix them
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
secret-video.online
How to remove Secret-video.online ads
How to stop Secret-video.online notifications
Do this in every browser you use, and in every profile inside it: each keeps its own list of sites allowed to send notifications.
Nothing has to be uninstalled for the notifications themselves.
Which browser shows the ads?
Step 1: Remove secret-video.online from Chrome's notification list
Open More (the three dots) > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications, or paste
chrome://settings/content/notificationsinto the address bar.Under Allowed to send notifications, open the menu next to
secret-video.onlineand choose Remove or Block, and do the same for any other address you do not recognise.Next to Not allowed to send notifications, click Add and enter secret-video.online, so the site cannot ask again. The menus are the same in Chrome on Windows 11 and Windows 10, and each Chrome profile keeps its own list.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Google Chrome
Google Chrome
- Click on Menu and select Settings
- Go for Advanced
- Under Privacy and security, pick Site Settings
- Click on Notifications
- You should see Secret-video.online in the Allow section
- Select More Actions and click Block
Remove from Google Chrome
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.
Step 1: Remove secret-video.online from Edge's notification list
Edge stores its own permission list, separate from Chrome's, and it is often the browser behind these pop-ups on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications, or paste
edge://settings/content/notifications. Removesecret-video.onlinefrom Allowed, then add it under Not allowed to send notifications. Notifications that show the Edge logo come from this list.
Edge on Windows 11: Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Microsoft Edge
MS Edge
If you are struggling to do so manually, you can employ anti-malware software to do the job for you, although not all security apps will detect all PUPs.
Once you are sure that your computer is clean, you should also reset the installed browsers to ensure no advertisements come back. Note that resetting browsers would also stop the Secret-video.online push notifications.
- Click More and choose Settings
- Pick View advanced settings > Advanced
- Go to Manage permissions
- Locate Secret-video.online and turn off notifications
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.
Step 1: Remove secret-video.online from Firefox's notification permissions
In Firefox the permission sits in Settings > Permissions and data > Notifications (in older versions Privacy & Security > Notifications > Settings). Select
secret-video.onlinein the list, click Remove Website, and confirm with Save Changes.Firefox only shows these notifications while it is open, so if they stopped after closing Firefox, this is the browser to clean. The steps are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Firefox on Windows 11: the Notification Permissions window. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
- Go to Menu and select Options
- Choose Privacy & Security > Notifications
- Go to Settings and find the Secret-video.online
- Click on the the drop-down menu and select Block
- Pick Save Changes
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Reset Mozilla Firefox in case Secret-video.online ads were accompanied by adware:
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.
Our tested steps are for Windows 11 and 10. For Safari (Mac), use the instructions below.
Instructions for Safari (Mac)
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
macOS users should perform the following actions to terminate PUPs:
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.
Then, whichever browser you use
Step 2: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
More removal instructions
For programs installed on the PC and older browsers. Open the one you need.
Get rid of Secret-video.online virus
As previously mentioned, Secret-video.online removal depends on various factors, including whether you subscribed to unwanted notifications or not.
Furthermore, there might be an adware app be installed on your system you are not aware of or, if you clicked on malicious links and installed something, there might be something more sinister hiding on your computer - Trojan, backdoor, a virus, or other malware.
As a first step to remove Secret-video.online virus, we suggest you try to access web browser settings and stop notifications you subscribed to before. Here's how:
Uninstall from Windows
To get rid of adware on Windows, please follow these instructions:
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.
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.
Questions about Secret-video.online ads
How do I stop notifications from secret-video.online?
Remove its permission in the browser. The bottom line of each notification names the browser, so open that browser's notification settings and look under Allowed. Remove secret-video.online and any other site you do not recognise.
In Chrome and Edge this is under the site settings for notifications; in Firefox it is under Settings, Permissions and data, Notifications. Do this in every browser profile, because each one keeps its own list.
Restart the browser and wait a few minutes. If a message still arrives, read its bottom line again: the sending address can differ from the site you remember, and that is the entry still left in the list.
The secret-video.online notification said my PC is infected. Is it true?
No. Notifications from secret-video.online are adverts written to look like system messages. A website cannot scan your files, so it has no way to know whether your PC is infected; it shows the same warning to everyone who allowed its notifications. Real Windows Security messages name Windows Security in the bottom line, not a browser and a website.
If you want to be sure, open Windows Security from the Start menu and run a quick scan there. Then remove secret-video.online from the browser's notification settings so the fake warnings stop arriving. Do not call any number or buy anything the notification or its page suggests.
What is Secret-video.online?
Secret-video.online is a push-notification spam site, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing desktop notifications, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
Secret-video.online does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Why does secret-video.online keep showing up?
There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from secret-video.online, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.
If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if secret-video.online never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.
Do I have to change settings in every browser?
Only in the browsers that allowed secret-video.online, but checking all of them takes a minute and is worth it. We saw the notifications in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Chrome and Edge keep their notification lists under site settings, and Firefox under Privacy & Security > Permissions.
Remove secret-video.online and any other unfamiliar site from each list, then turn off new notification requests if you do not need them. Remember that every browser profile has its own list, so a second profile can keep the messages coming after you clean the first.
Are the pop-ups I see really from Secret-video.online?
Compare them with the details in the table above. Secret-video.online produces desktop notifications, and the clearest sign of it is notifications from secret-video.online. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
Can I turn off the pop-ups in Windows settings instead?
You can hide them, but that is not the fix. In Windows 11, Settings > System > Notifications lets you switch off notifications for a whole browser, which silences the spam together with every useful notification from that browser.
The site keeps its permission and can still send messages when you switch them back on. It is better to remove the specific site in the browser's own notification settings and block new requests. That stops the messages at the source and leaves the rest of your notifications working.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Is it safe to click Block or Allow on a notification prompt?
Clicking Block is safe; it only tells the browser not to show notifications from that site. Clicking Allow is not dangerous to your files either, but it gives the site a channel to your desktop that spam sites abuse at once.
The prompt itself is part of the browser, so you can trust its buttons. What you cannot trust is the text on the page around it. If a page explains why you must click Allow, choose Block or close the tab.
Will Fortect remove Secret-video.online?
No program removes Secret-video.online itself, because there is nothing on the PC to remove: the notifications come through a permission saved in the browser, and only the browser's settings take it away, as the steps above show.
What Fortect can do is check the rest of Windows. Its free scan looks for malware, unwanted programs and damaged system files, which is useful if you clicked the ads, downloaded something from the pages they opened, or are not sure what else changed on the PC.
If the scan finds nothing and the notifications stopped after you removed the permission, this problem is solved. Use Microsoft Defender as a second opinion whenever you have downloaded files from pages like these.
Sources
- PYMNTS: Instagram Users Targeted In 'Get Rich Quick' Scams (read October 6, 2026)
- Veracode: What is an Application Vulnerability? (read October 6, 2026)
- Lesvirus: Lesvirus (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)