Video Ads Blocker virus (Tutorial) - Easy Removal Guide
Video Ads Blocker virus Removal Guide
What is Video Ads Blocker virus?
Video Ads Blocker has more disadvantages than advantages, so you should not install it
Video Ads Blocker is a Google Chrome extension that is supposed to block ads on YouTube. The extension, developed by SISTEMA LTD, is available on youtubeadblock.net; however, you should not go there and install it. It’s is classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.[1]
However, this browser extension[2] might also be installed without your knowledge. It has been noticed spreading via bundling method. Thus, YoutubeAdBlock might appear on your browser after the installation of some free program.
Since then, Video Ads Blocker adware starts causing quite the opposite effects than expected. Nevertheless, it may block ads that appear before or in the middle of the YouTube video and promise not to display its own ads; security experts tell different things. After the installation, it might flood your browser with other commercial content, such as:
- pop-ups,
- pop-unders,
- in-text ads,
- banners,
- and other types of online ads.
Typically, Video Ads Blocker virus is created to promote other browser extensions, security software and other suspicious tools that you should never agree to install. Most of the time they are useless and might cause other computer-related programs.
The authors of this free extension generate advertising-based revenue, so you should understand that they want to make as much money as possible. The only way to achieve their goal – to display a tremendous amount of aggressive ads. Keep in mind that only Video Ads Blocker removal will make them go away.
However, intrusive ads are not the only problem. According to the Video Ads Blocker’s Privacy Policy, this application might collect personal and browsing-related information. However, the company does not identify what specific information it tracks. It’s clear that your IP address and some information obtained with the help of cookies are collected and might be shared with “trusted business partners.”
We are almost sure that data tracking and sharing is necessary for advertising purposes. So, you might expect not only your browser crashing or freezing, but seeing suspicious newsletters sent directly to your inbox too. Do you want to avoid that? Then, you know what you have to do – remove Video Ads Blocker right now. The best way to do it – running system scan with FortectIntego.
Video Ads Blockeris Chrome extension that is supposed to block ads on YouTube.
Browser extension might be promoted in software packages
YoutubeAdBlock, or Video Ads Blocker, has an official website (youtubeadblock.net). Therefore, if you are looking for the ad-blocking application, you might encounter it. However, it’s not the only way how it spreads. Developers also apply a questionable software marketing distribution strategy – bundling.
This method allows adding PUP as an “additional download” and hiding under Quick/Recommended settings. Thus, when users install freeware or shareware using this setup, the adware enters the system without informing the user.
To avoid the unexpected appearance of this and other similar programs, you have to install programs under Advanced/Custom settings. They reveal what applications are included in the software package and allows rejecting their installation.
The extension is noticed widely spreading in the United States; however, other English-speaking users in the U.K.[3] or Australia should be aware of its negative features too.
Uninstall Video Ads Blocker virus from Chrome
If you have installed this extension from the official site, you should eliminate it as an ordinary plugin or toolbar. Just access Chrome’s extension and remove Video Ads Blocker. However, if it sneaked in a software bundle, you should take more actions.
In this case, you should check if other suspicious components were not installed without your knowledge. You can do it by following manual Video Ads Blocker removal instructions below or scanning the device with reputable anti-malware.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Video Ads Blocker virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Check Windows OS from Video Ads Blocker, YoutubeAdBlock or similar applications.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- 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.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- 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.
Delete from macOS
If you have found this extension on Google Chrome, you have to make sure that any other apps were not installed to Mac OS X as well.
Remove items from Applications folder:
- 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.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Check the list of extensions and remove Video Ads Blocker, YoutubeAdBlock or other suspicious Chrome extensions that may have been installed without your knowledge. Then reset the browser in order to get rid of tracking cookies.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Video Ads Blocker registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting adware
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 Private Internet Access 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, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.