Venturead.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Venturead.com adware redirects to potentially dangerous websites
Venturead.com is a suspicious domain that redirects to various sponsored sites. Redirects are initiated by an adware program that is most likely entered the system with a recently downloaded program. After infiltration of the adware, users might also notice:
- redirects to http://www.venturead.com/a/display.php?stamat=;
- an excessive amount of pop-up ads;
- strange third-party banners on popular websites;
- hyperlinks on random words.
The Venturead.com virus might redirect to various adult-themed, gaming and even tech support scam websites. Redirects might occur out of nowhere, or when you click on various content or start typing necessary URL address. The main problem is that these sites might be dangerous.
This ad-supported application is widely used by webmasters who want to boost traffic to their sites in order to rank higher in Google and other popular search engines. This service is also attractive for people who want aggressively advertise their products or services. However, some of these people are cyber criminals who want to reach their next victims.
Thus, some of the Venturead.com ads might be malicious and clicking on them may lead to infiltration of malware.[1] While some of the ads look suspicious and strange, others might look absolutely normal. For this reason, you might be tricked into clicking on a dangerous content.
Once your browsing sessions are disturbed by such activities, you should run the system scan with Reimage. This anti-malware software will help to remove Venturead.com and other adware-related components that are responsible for diminished browsing experience.
Another reason for Venturead.com removal is data tracking. Ad-supported applications are known for collecting various information about users and installing third-party tracking technologies. Potentially unwanted program (PUP) usually is interested in your:
- IP address;
- browsing history;
- search queries;
- clicked ads;
- language;
- technical information about browser, computer, and operating system;
- other non-personally identifiable details.
This information allows creating user’s profile. Based on this knowledge, developers and advertising networks can provide personalized ads. These advertisements are supposed to be interesting and engaging. Thus, you are more likely to click them; and your clicks are valuable. They generate revenue for authors of the adware.
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
Paying attention to software installation helps to avoid adware and other PUPs
As we have mentioned at the beginning, this ad-supported application may have sneaked inside your computer with recent software. PUPs often spread bundled with freeware and shareware as optional components. For this reason, you should be careful when installing new software.
To avoid Venturead.com hijack and infiltration of other undesired apps, you should:
- install programs under Advanced/Custom instead of Quick/Recommended settings;
- unmark all pre-selected third-party programs;
- unmark agreements to replace your homepage or search provider;
- read the Privacy Policy and EULA.
These tips are universal. Lots of similar applications are affecting computer users daily not only in America, but in China,[2] Lithuania, Germany, and other countries. Keep in mind that paying attention to installation saves more of your time than a removal of potentially dangerous programs.
Terminate Venturead.com virus from the system and web browser
In order to stop redirects, you need to remove Venturead.com PUP from the device first. You should check programs in the Control Panel and uninstall unknown entries. The easiest way to find uninvited guests is to sort the list by installation date.
What is more, you have to check the list of extensions in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet explorer or another browser which you are using. However, it’s not enough to uninstall suspicious add-ons. You should also reset the browser to delete tracking cookies.
The instructions below will guide you through Venturead.com removal. However, if you prefer, you can speed up this procedure with anti-malware/anti-spyware[3] software. All you need to do is to scan device with an updated tool.
You can remove Venturead.com 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 Venturead.com virus, follow these steps:
Remove Venturead.com from Windows systems
Venturead.com adware might be hidden among other programs installed to your PC. Thus, check the list of installed programs and look up for unknown entries.
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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.
-
Uninstall Venturead.com and related programs
Here, look for Venturead.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Get rid of Venturead.com 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.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Venturead.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Venturead.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
Redirect to gaming or adult-themed sites will stop when you remove adware-related components from Internet Explorer.
-
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 Venturead.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
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.
-
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 Venturead.com removal.
Eliminate Venturead.com virus from Microsoft Edge
These guidelines will help you to stop undesired activities on 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.
-
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.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
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.
-
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, Venturead.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase Venturead.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Venturead.com virus may have arrived on the computer in the form of the Firefox browser extension. Thus, check the list of installed extensions, uninstall unknown entries and reset the browser.
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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 Venturead.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
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 Venturead.com removal.
Uninstall Venturead.com from Google Chrome
In order to stop redirects and ads attack, you need to uninstall suspicious add-ons, browser extensions, and other entries, and reset Google Chrome.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Venturead.com 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 Venturead.com removal.
Remove Venturead.com 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 Venturead.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
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 Venturead.com removal process.
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References
- ^ Russell Brandom. Advertising malware rates have tripled in the last year, according to report. The Verge. The website about technology, science, art, and culture.
- ^ Wubingdu. Wubingdu. Chinese website provides information about computer viruses and their removal tutorials.
- ^ Vangie Beal. The Difference Between AntiVirus and AntiSpyware Software. Webopedia. Online Tech Dictionary for IT Professionals.