Simple Ad Blocker extension causes advertisement spam instead of blocking it as promised
Simple Ad Blocker is marketed as a useful tool that blocks advertisements for you; however, it is a rogue browser extension with adware[1] capabilities. This means that it may result in an increase in commercial content such as pop-ups, banners, and redirects. Crooks use such applications to make money.
Scammers use such programs to generate passive income because they frequently fail to deliver the stated benefits. Having useless third-party applications on your PC is never a good idea. The extension may be using rogue advertising networks to place ads that lead to dangerous websites. People may end up on fraudulent pages, sites that try to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[2] or even malware.
| NAME | Simple Ad Blocker |
| TYPE | Adware |
| SYMPTOMS | Annoying pop-ups and other types of advertisements start appearing on the screen |
| DISTRIBUTION | Shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations |
| DANGERS | Links embedded in the ads might lead to dangerous websites |
| ELIMINATION | Eliminate the extension through your browser settings; scanning the machine with anti-malware tools is recommended |
| FURTHER STEPS | Use FortectIntego to get rid of any remaining damage and to optimize the machine |
Distribution methods
Crooks frequently disguise their programs as “useful” tools, so doing your homework is critical. We always recommend using official app stores. Apps that are listed on the official app market must pass a rigorous review process. However, before deciding whether or not to download it, you should read the reviews, consider the ratings, and consider how popular it is.
Scammers may also create “official” promotional websites for their apps. They want to make them look as appealing as possible so that people will download them. It's important to remember that if something appears to be too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
Fake downloader pages are another source of bogus browser extensions. As seen in the image below, a random website requests that people download the plugin in order to update Flash Player and access the website. Never comply with such requests. Legitimate websites should never require you to download software to view them.
Protect your privacy
Cookies[3] are now used to track user activity in almost all web-based applications. In general, this is a good thing because it allows them to personalize the user experience. These small data files can store information such as websites visited, links clicked, and items purchased online.
Crooks, on the other hand, can use cookies to generate revenue. They are marketable to ad networks and other third parties. We recommend using a repair tool such as FortectIntego, which can automatically clear your browsers' cookies and cache, free up space, repair corrupted files, fix system errors, and optimize device performance.
Simple Ad Blocker adware
Simple Ad Blocker adware can be removed by going to the browser settings and looking at the extension list. We recommend removing plugins one by one to see if you notice any changes.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Mozilla Firefox
- 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Safari
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Scan your system with anti-malware tools
If you completed all the previous steps but you still experience unwanted symptoms, you should check your system for other PUPs. They are typically distributed via freeware distribution platforms. That is why paying attention during the installation process is crucial.
Always use the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, and carefully read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The most important step is to go through the file list and untick any unrelated applications. For the next step, we recommend using SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes anti-malware tools, which will scan your machine, remove it, and prevent future infections by warning you before a PUP can make any changes.
Manual removal of potentially unwanted programs can sometimes result in the renewal of the infection as users often fail to eliminate all the related files and entries. Besides, crooks often disguise them as “handy” tools so it can be difficult to identify them. If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have 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.
Was this guide helpful?
Be the first to comment