Remove PBlock+ adware

Simple process to delete PBlock+

PBlock+ is advertised as a tool that is capable of stopping pop-ups and other ads displayed by websites. This type of virus belongs to adware category (a type of potentially unwanted program. Instead of providing successful functionality, it fails to deliver what it promised and instead redirect users to dangerous websites that contain phishing content. Moreover, this adware has data tracking abilities which are used to spy on user’s browsing abilities.

Furthermore, PBlock+ apps typically spread into the system using different methods and instantly change the settings of the web browser in order to deliver pop-ups, banners, surveys, offers and other commercial content. Once the ads are clicked on, they redirect users to sales-oriented, deceptive and malicious sites. Despite this, those ads can be triggered to execute scripts if clicked and are designed to download and install software without user’s approval.

Another type of PUAs are called browser hijacker. This software can hijack all installed browser (Google chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari, IE, Edge and others) and make changes into its settings and prohibit users to access them in order to promote fake search engines. Due to this, while opening new browsing tab very time users are redirected to this domain. What’s more, PUAs like PBlock+ have data tracking abilities.

They can record their browsing activity and collect various information including IP addresses, entered search queries, viewed websites and other browsing related information. In order to generate revenue, developers behind this share all collected data with third parties who might be cyber criminals or scammers. Therefore, presence of unwanted software on computer might leads users to various problems such as data losses, browsing safety, system infections and even other consequences.

Intrusion techniques of PBlock+:

PUPs generally come with other software especially freeware and shareware programs downloaded by the users from third party websites. Unfortunately, not all software immediately revealed about additional apps attached to them and are installed altogether. Information about such attached apps is hidden behind custom or advanced options as well as other similar settings of the installation setups by the developers.

This happen due to software bundling, a well known method used to distribute adware and other PUAs. During installation of any apps, users do not given enough attention and skip most of the available download/installation procedures. This might often leads into the installation of unwanted programs along with wanted software. PUAs also spread through aforementioned intrusive adverts.

How to prevent installation of unwanted programs?

To avoid intrusion of unwanted programs and other dubious threats, it is strongly advised to the users to research about the software prior to downloading/installing it. To install any program, use only official and verified sources. Other untrustworthy software download sources should not be used as those tools commonly offer bundled or harmful content.

Moreover, avoid clicking on adverts that appear on dubious sites as they often redirect users to questionable pages (adult-dating, gambling, pornography and so on) or even cause unwanted downloads or installations. If you notice this type of ads or redirects into system, then immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions from them.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove PBlock+:

Remove the related items of PBlock+ using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing PBlock+ issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (PBlock+) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to PBlock+ removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to PBlock+ still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove PBlock+ plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in PBlock+ removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete PBlock+ (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.