Super Simple Auto Refresh ads: what it is and how to remove it

Super Simple Auto Refresh is much more than a page refreshing extension. It acts as a browser hijacker by redirecting users to various affiliated portals and can read/change website data, i.e., can record browsing details.

Facts checked October 7, 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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Super Simple Auto Refresh: virus
Super Simple Auto Refresh as our 2021 report showed it.

Super Simple Auto Refresh ads: summary

DistributionOfficial browser web stores, freeware bundles, deceptive ads, fake Flash Player updates
DamagePrivacy issues, data leakage
nameSuper Simple Auto Refresh
TypeRedirect virus, browser hijacker, PUP
PurposeAdvertise affiliated sites
SymptomsRedirects, slower device performance
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 6 more facts
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
NameSuper Simple Auto Refresh
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
ProgramSuper Simple Auto Refresh
First seen8 March 2021
Facts checked7 October 2026

Is Super Simple Auto Refresh ads dangerous?

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

Super Simple Auto Refresh – a falsely advertised browser extension that causes redirects to affiliated sites

Super Simple Auto Refresh is much more than a page refreshing extension.

It acts as a browser hijacker by redirecting users to various affiliated portals and can read/change website data, i.e., can record browsing details. Please refrain from installing it. If you already did, by reading this article, you'll find out more about such potentially unwanted programs, as well as how to remove them.

Super Simple Auto Refresh browser hijacker, like most PUPs, was available to download from the Google Chrome Web Store and other legit markets. People who installed it didn't see anything wrong with it for a while until it started causing redirects to promotional sites.

Although other browser hijackers change specific browser settings (the default search engine, new tab, homepage) to reroute search traffic through a site of their choice, this PUP functions a bit differently, more subtly. If you need an auto refresher for your browser, we highly recommend looking elsewhere.

Super Simple Auto Refresh virus is one of many browser hijackers floating around on the internet. Other ones, such as GetSearchConverter virus, PDFSearchWeb virus, 4KMovieSearch virus, etc., are slightly different because they change browser settings.

Super Simple Auto Refresh redirect does no such thing. But that doesn't make it any safer to use. When you have such a potentially unwanted program installed, it's up to its developers to where you will be redirected next time, when you're casually browsing the internet. The browser add-on can trigger other changes and alterations in the background freely.

Most PUPs advertise explicit, deceptive, or even malicious websites. That's why you could get in trouble if the PUP developers decide to promote hazardous content, such as gambling, porn, other PUPs, scams, malware, push notification viruses, etc.

Furthermore, browser hijackers collect non-personal data. Advertisers primarily use it to show you customized ads. And lastly, if Super Simple Auto Refresh ads start popping up, redirects to questionable pages would intensify. Therefore, you should take action immediately.

The only way to stop all these shenanigans is to perform Super Simple Auto Refresh removal. The sooner you do it, the better.

Then, use our guides at the bottom of this article to remove Super Simple Auto Refresh extension from your browsers. Afterward, IT experts highly recommend using the tool to delete any tracking cookies and restore any corrupted or altered system files and settings.

Super Simple Auto Refresh: virus
Super Simple Auto Refresh in our 2021 report.
Super Simple Auto Refresh: redirect en
Super Simple Auto Refresh in our 2021 report.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

Withhold from installing software from a bundle or be very attentive while doing that

For a short time, potentially unwanted programs can be downloaded from trustworthy sources, such as the Google Chrome Web Store and others.

But a more common way to distribute such useless or sometimes hazardous apps is through software bundles.

Third-party software vendors get revenue from distributing PUPs with legitimate software. Hence downloading software from such a source would practically guarantee a PUP infection. Some of these apps aren't so dangerous but still shouldn't be played with.

Therefore, get the software you require directly from its developers. Although you still might end up with a PUP. That's why every time you're installing new software, remember to read the EULA. All apps that would be automatically installed on your device from the bundle are listed there.

The key to avoiding PUPs from a pack downloaded from third-parties is to install only the program you initially wanted. Do that by choosing the Custom or Advanced installation modes and removing ticks from possible PUPs preselected for installation.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Super Simple Auto Refresh

  • Eliminate all threats automatically by scanning your device with a reliable anti-malware tool
  • Your devices constantly sustain damage from PUPs and suspicious files.
  • Restore any harm done by performing system diagnostics with the all-in-one system tune-up tool

How to remove Super Simple Auto Refresh ads

How to stop the Super Simple Auto Refresh redirects

Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.

  1. Step 1: Check the browser's extensions

    A browser that keeps landing on unwanted pages by itself usually has an add-on doing it. Open the extension list (chrome://extensions, edge://extensions, or Extensions and themes in the Firefox menu) and remove anything you do not remember installing.

    Coupon, PDF, new tab, search and video downloader add-ons are the usual suspects. Do this in every browser on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue

    When the unwanted pages keep opening after the extensions are cleaned, reset the browser to its defaults. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; Edge: Settings > Reset settings; Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    A reset keeps bookmarks and saved passwords but clears site permissions, the start page and the search engine.

    If every browser still redirects afterwards, the cause is a program in Windows 11 or Windows 10: check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for anything you did not install.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: 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 Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    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

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Protect your privacy - employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.

However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.

Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.

In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since

Remove Super Simple Auto Refresh virus to stop the annoying redirects

Super Simple Auto Refresh extension might seriously impede your browsing experience by causing redirects to associated portals.

Moreover, this browser hijacker could collect your data or even start showing ads. It would be best if you took action immediately.

Do that by launching your trustworthy security tool and performing a full system scan. If it detects anything suspicious, please delete it immediately. Keep your AV tool updated at all times so it could block infections, dubious pages, and PUPs.

Afterward, remove Super Simple Auto Refresh from your browsers. To do that within a few minutes, use our free guides displayed below. And lastly, run system diagnostics to terminate any tracking cookies questionable sites have left on your device and restore your device to the pre-contamination phase.

Questions about Super Simple Auto Refresh ads

Can I safely uninstall Super Simple Auto Refresh?

If you did not install Super Simple Auto Refresh yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows.

Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name. Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps.

Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.

How do I stop programs like Super Simple Auto Refresh from being installed again?

Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.

Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped Super Simple Auto Refresh before it reached the app list.

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.

Did Super Simple Auto Refresh collect my data?

Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:

  • the sites you visit
  • search terms
  • approximate location
  • browser and system details

Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.

If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.

I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?

Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.

Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.

If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.

Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?

Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.

Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.

Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?

No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:

  • running a downloaded file
  • installing an extension
  • giving a stranger remote access

That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.

Do I need to reset my browser after removing Super Simple Auto Refresh?

A reset is a good last step, because it undoes settings that the program changed. A reset restores the home page, new tab page and default search engine, and turns off extensions.

It does not delete your bookmarks or saved passwords in the main browsers. Add back only the extensions you trust, one at a time.

Will Fortect remove Super Simple Auto Refresh?

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 Super Simple Auto Refresh, 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

  1. Howtogeek: PUPs Explained: What is a "Potentially Unwanted Program"? (read October 7, 2026)
  2. Zondervirus: Zondervirus (read October 7, 2026)
  3. Wikipedia: Software (read October 7, 2026)
  4. Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
  5. FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)

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