What is actually going on
This is different from the full-screen scam warning that tells you to call a phone number. What we are talking about here is quieter and more annoying: ads that pop up while you are just trying to read a webpage, a search bar that now goes through a site you have never heard of, or a new-tab page that changed on its own and will not change back.
Almost always, this comes from a program or browser extension that got installed alongside something else, often a free program, a toolbar offered during another install, or an extension added months ago and forgotten. It sits quietly in the browser, redirecting traffic and showing ads to make money for whoever put it there.
How we clean it out
Removing adware properly means finding every place it hid, not just the one obvious toolbar. We check installed programs, browser extensions on every browser you use, and the browser settings themselves, since redirects often reset your search engine or home page as part of the infection.
- Every browser on the computer checked, not just the one you noticed the problem in
- Unwanted extensions and toolbars removed, along with the program that installed them
- Your default search engine and new-tab page put back to what you actually want
- A full scan afterward to confirm nothing else was left behind
Keeping it from coming back
Most browser adware sneaks in during the install of something else, tucked into a checkbox you did not notice you agreed to. Once your browser is clean, we show you how to spot that step during future installs and which download sources tend to be safe, so you are not fighting the same pop-ups again in a few months.
- Slowing down during installs to look for extra offers, not just clicking "next"
- A short list of trustworthy places to download programs from
- Reviewing your installed extensions every so often and removing ones you do not use
Get it fixed
Call (615) 852-5565 Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Most of this can be cleaned up remotely in one sitting, and we are glad to come to your home if you would rather sit down together while we work.
Need patient, local help?
These Deskside services are the closest match for this guide.