“System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
“System Alert! Add Extension” alerts are more than an annoyance
“System Alert! Add Extension” virus triggers fake alerts urging netizens to install shady extensions. Most likely, you may encounter them while getting redirected by a movie streaming site. The messages ask to install a browser extension in order to assure browsing safety. Enabling the installation this suspicious extension may lead to hijacked web browser, installation of an ad-supported application or even malicious program.
“System Alert! Add Extension” might prevent from closing the misleading website. But you should not agree to install the offered extension, click “Cancel” button or mark “Prevent this page from creating additional dialogs” option. It’s a trick. You will be still forced to install the extension.
In some cases, this notification is followed by a voice message that says: “Click Add button to install the extension.” No matter how convincing or threatening robot’s voice is, you should not do what you are asked.
Once you end up on such website, close the browser’s tab. If you cannot do it, you should force-quit and then scan the computer with anti-malware/anti-spyware. The security program, such as Reimage, will help to remove “System Alert! Add Extension” and forget about other negative features of the adware.
As we have mentioned, redirects to this malicious site are usually initiated by an ad-supported program. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) spread in software bundles and enters the system silently. Once it gets inside, it might alter few settings in Windows and web browsers.
Apart from promoting unknown extension, this program might also:
- apply a virtual layer to display third-party commercial content;
- redirect to promotional websites;
- turn text into hyperlinks;
- deliver fake security alters;
- deliver fake software updates;
- track information about users;
- modify browser’s homepage or/and search engine.
“System Alert! Add Extension” removal is also recommended because adware might deliver third-party ads that lead to infected, phishing or tech support scam websites. Thus, you can easily suffer from cyber criminals, reveal your personal information or let malware[1] to your PC.
Currently, the majority of users who have dealt with this cyber parasite the most are the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.[2] However, it might spread further to other parts of the world too.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
The reason behind fake system messages is adware program
When you’re browsing through adult-themed websites or watch movies on illegal video streaming sites, you might receive “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up any minute. Obviously, you should not use such sites in order to protect yourself from similar cyber infections.
However, redirects to the misleading site are most of the time caused by an adware program. If you have recently installed freeware or shareware, this undesired app may have sneak inside too. It may have happened if you have installed a program under Quick/Recommended setup.
The problem is that these settings do not openly disclose about third-party apps that may have been included in the software package. Thus, relying on this method, you always risk to let PUPs to get inside your device.
To avoid “System Alert! Add Extension” hijack and similar problems, you should always install new software using Advanced/Custom settings. The most important task is to reject installation of “additional downloads” by unmarking pre-selected entries.
Eliminate “System Alert! Add Extension” threat
If you are tired of forced redirects to suspicious websites and want to get rid of fake system alerts for good, you should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware program and perform automatic “System Alert! Add Extension” removal.
However, if you have plenty of time or do not want to use additional software, you can opt for the manual elimination method. Thus, you need to investigate the system, look up for unknown programs and browser extensions that may have been recently installed.
The instructions below will help you to remove “System Alert! Add Extension” manually. Though, you have to be careful and follow each of the steps carefully.
You can remove “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes Malwarebytes, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareNorton Internet Security. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up virus, follow these steps:
Get rid of “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up from Windows systems
Follow the steps below to find and delete adware program that is responsible for delivering “System Alert! Add Extension.” Make sure that any adware-related entries haven't been left on the system. Then check the list of Chrome's extensions and make sure that any unknown add-ons haven't been installed.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
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Uninstall “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up and related programs
Here, look for “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Eliminate “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up removal.
Delete “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up removal.
Uninstall “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up from Google Chrome
Open Chrome's extensions. Carefully look through the list. If you find some unknown extensions that you do not remember installing, remove them immediately. There's no doubt that they are related to “System Alert! Add Extension” adware. Finally, reset the browser in order to get rid of tracking cookies and other virus-related components.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up removal.
Get rid of “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up from Safari
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete “System Alert! Add Extension” pop-up removal process.
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References
- ^ Jeremy Kirk. Malicious, malware-peddling ad campaigns are becoming trickier to detect. PCWorld. News, tips and reviews on PCs, Windows and more.
- ^ Novirus. NoVirus. The website about computer viruses and malware removal.