Imagine a situation where you are browsing the web on your computer as usual, and a pop-up ad suddenly asks you to install an extension. Of course, you rejected the extension installation, but a few minutes later, your browser’s default search engine and start page changed.
Chances are, your computer is infected with adware that won’t stop until you get rid of it. These pesky bits of code will try to install other harmful adware and unwanted extensions and can even alter your browser’s settings. At worst, your computer will be infected with malware and virus attacks.
Signs of Adware on Google Chrome
If your Google Chrome browser is affected by Adware, you will face some problems. Here are some of the first signs of adware on a web browser.
- Pop-up ads that appear out of nowhere.
- Ads will appear on the new tabs page.
- Your homepage is changed without your consent.
- Unwanted extensions on the Chrome Extension Manager.
- The browser redirects you to different spam-filled web pages.
- Alerts about a virus or an infected device.
Your first step should be to remove adware from Google Chrome. This will ensure that your computer is free of the security issues that come with it.
The best way of knowing whether you have a rogue extension is to search for it in your extensions list. First, go through your Chrome extension settings, then uninstall any unfamiliar extension.
1. Identify and Remove Chrome Extension
1. Open your Google Chrome browser and click on the three vertical dots.
2. A drop-down menu should appear. Scroll to the bottom and click on More Tools > Extensions.
3. This will open the Google Chrome Extension Manager. You need to go through the list to find suspicious extensions.
If you’re unfamiliar with a particular extension, then the chances are that its adware is masquerading as a natural extension.
4. To remove a particular Chrome extension, you need to tap on the Remove button.
2. Reset Your Google Chrome Settings
Google has taken action against adware by alerting you when there’s a possible intrusion. However, this is not always effective, as sometimes adware slips past the browser’s defenses and changes the settings without your knowledge.
The fix could prove to be very simple. However, it’s an out-of-the-box solution- reset your Google Chrome settings so the defenses will be active again.
1. Open the Google Chrome web browser and click on the three dots.
2. From the list of options, click on Settings.
3. On the Settings page, expand on the Advanced option as shown below.
4. On the expanded menu, click the Reset and Clean up option.
5. On the right, click the Restore settings to their original defaults option.
6. On the confirmation prompt, click the Reset Settings button.
3. Using ADWCleaner
Well, ADWCleaner from Malwarebytes is a lightweight yet powerful adware removal tool you can use today. The great thing about ADWcleaner is that it can remove adware hidden on your computer and browser.
If your browser homepage has recently been changed without your permission, the mini tool can fix it for you. Here’s how you can use ADWclenaer to clean adware from Google Chrome Browser.
1. First, visit ADWcleaner’s homepage and then get the download file. You can also get the download file from here.
2. Next, open the app and then click on Install. The tool requires a few seconds to install on your Windows.
3. Once installed, open AdwCleaner, and you will see an interface like below.
4. You need to click on the Scan button, and the tool will scan for hidden malware and adware.
5. Wait until the tool scans for hidden adware. It will also list possible adware during the scan process.
6. Once done, the tool will automatically remove the hidden malware and get a notification.
4. Use Adware Removal Tool
Just like AdwCleaner, other adware removal tools exist for PCs. You can use any of them to remove hidden adware from your system.
On Techviral, we have already shared an article discussing the best Free Adware Removal Tools For Windows. You need to go through the post to discover all available options. It’s recommended to periodically scan the system with adware removal tools for an adware-free experience.
5. Reinstall the Chrome Browser
If you still can’t get rid of ads on the Google Chrome browser, reinstallation is the only hope. Reinstallation is likely to remove all user settings, extensions, and potential adware.
However, before reinstalling Google Chrome, scan your PC with an antimalware tool like Malwarebytes. This will remove programs that silently install adware on Chrome as an extension.
So, open the Control Panel and uninstall the Google Chrome browser. Once uninstalled, run a full antimalware scan with Malwarebytes and install the Chrome browser again.
How to Avoid Adware/Malware in the Future
You can do a few things to avoid malware infection in the future. Below, we have shared some of them.
- Don’t click on any banner or links that look too good to be true.
- Pay attention to the banners that claim to gift you rewards or win a contest.
- Don’t install extensions with low ratings & less number of reviews.
- Don’t download files from untrusted websites.
- Enable the Enhanced Protection feature in the Google Chrome browser.
- Always use a reliable & powerful Antimalware tool on your PC.
These methods allow you to quickly identify and remove adware from your Chrome browser. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts, let us know in the comment box below.