How to remove popads.net pop-up ads [Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge]

The popads.net annoying pop-up ads should not be underestimated, because the reason for their appearance within your web-browser can be penetration an adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software) into your PC. It can bring a security risk to your machine. So, do not ignore it! Of course, the popads.net is just a web-page, but the ‘ad supported’ software uses it to open intrusive and unwanted advertisements, even without your permission and desire to see it. The annoying ads can be just the beginning, because your computer is hijacked by harmful software, so the amount of popup ads in the future may increase. Its appearance will prevent you normally browse the web-pages, and more, can lead to crash the browser.

The adware can change the settings of the Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, FF and MS Edge, but often that a dangerous software like this can also infect all types of web browsers by changing their desktop shortcuts. Thus forcing the user each time start the web-browser to see popads.net annoying ads.

The ad supported software is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, alters browser settings and blocks them from changing. Also the adware can install additional web browser extensions, addons and modules that will inject ads within the Google Chrome, IE, Firefox and Microsoft Edge’s screen. Moreover, the adware may install web-browser hijacker that once started, will alter the browser’s start page and search engine. And finally, the ad-supported software can collect a wide variety of personal information such as what web sites you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This information, in the future, may be transferred to third parties.

We suggest you to remove adware and clean your computer from popads.net pop-up ads as quickly as possible, until the presence of the adware has not led to even worse consequences. You need to follow the instructions below that will allow you to completely get rid of the redirect to popads.net unwanted web-site, using only the built-in Windows features and a few of specialized free tools.

How did you get infected with popads.net

The ‘ad supported’ software usually spreads bundled with various free programs. Most commonly, it may be bundled within the install packages from Softonic, Cnet, Soft32, Brothersoft or other similar web-pages. So, you should run any files downloaded from the Net with great caution, read the User agreement, Software license and Terms of use. In the process of installing a new program, you should select a Manual, Advanced or Custom setup mode to control what components and additional programs to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your personal computer with an adware like this that opens lots of the popads.net ads within the Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and MS Edge.

How to manually remove popads.net pop-ups

If you perform exactly the guide below you should be able to remove the popads.net . Read it once, after doing so, please print this page as you may need to close your web browser or restart your PC.

1. Remove suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel
2. Delete popads.net pop-up ads from Google Chrome
3. Remove popads.net pop-ups from Firefox
4. Remove popads.net from IE
5. Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to remove popads.net redirect
6. Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks

Remove suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel

We recommend that you begin the personal computer cleaning process by checking the list of installed applications and uninstall all unknown or suspicious software. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the malicious software such as ad-supported software and browser hijackers may be bundled with freeware. Uninstall the unwanted applications may remove the unwanted advertisements or browser redirect to unknown or annoying pages.

It’ll show the Windows Control Panel like below.

Next, click “Uninstall a program”
It will show a list of all programs. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown software. To quickly find the latest installed software, we recommend sort software by date of installation in the Control panel.

Delete popads.net pop-up ads from Google Chrome

Like other modern web browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby get rid of the redirect to popads.net annoying advertisements that is caused by the ad-supported software.

At first, run the Google Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will appear the main menu. Click on the option named “Settings”. Another way to show the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter.

The web-browser will open the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as shown on the screen below and click the “Reset settings” button.

The Google Chrome will show the confirmation dialog box. You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The application will start the procedure of cleaning. When it is finished, the browser settings including the ‘block pop-ups’ option back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your PC system.

Remove popads.net pop-ups from Firefox

If the Firefox settings have been changed by the ad supported software, then resetting it to the default state can help you to get rid of the reroute onto popads.net page.

First, launch the FF and click button. It will display the drop-down menu on the right-part of the internet browser. Next, press the Help button () as shown below.

In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the browser address bar and press Enter. It will open the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown in the figure below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will display the confirmation prompt, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Mozilla Firefox will begin a task to fix your problems that caused by the ad-supported software. When it is finished, click the “Finish” button

Remove popads.net from IE

To delete the popads.net you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the Windows was installed on your computer.

First, start the IE, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will display the drop-down menu on the right part of the browser, then press the “Internet Options” as on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” screen, you need to select the “Advanced” tab and click the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt as shown below. Next, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. After that, click the “Reset” button.

Once the task is complete, click “Close” button. Close the IE and reboot your computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your internet browser’s settings to default state and disable ‘ad-supported’ extensions.

Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to remove popads.net redirect

Once the ad-supported software is started, it can also change the internet browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument such as “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you run the internet browser, it will be redirected to an annoying ads.

To clear the web-browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text that starts with “http://” which has been added here. You need to remove it.

When the argument is removed, press the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your internet browsers, as they may be infected too.

Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks

If the annoying popads.net web-page opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and delete all the tasks that have been created by malicious program.

Press Windows and R keys on the keyboard together. This displays a prompt that titled as Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and click OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click “Task Scheduler Library”, as on the image below.

In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be show just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Pay attention to that it launches on your PC system. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete it. If you are not sure that executes the task, check it through a search engine. If it is a component of the adware, then this task also should be removed.

Having defined the task that you want to delete, then click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as shown on the image below.

Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by unwanted programs. Once is done, close the Task Scheduler window.

How to remove popads.net pop-up ads automatically

Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely get rid of popads.net ads from the infected machine. This is because the adware can hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and delete completely. This may lead to the fact that after some time, the adware again infect your PC system and it will begin to show unwanted popads.net pop-up ads. Moreover, I want to note that it is not always safe to remove adware manually, if you do not have much experience in setting up and configuring the computer.

I suggest using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your computer. It is an advanced malware removal program developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you remove browser hijackers, malware, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your personal computer for free.

Now, press the link below to download Malwarebytes Free on your machine. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.

Once downloading is complete, close all programs on your system. Next, start the setup file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as on the image below, press the Yes button.

It will open the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Malwarebytes on your computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.

Once installation is complete successfully, click Finish button. Then Malwarebytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the image below.

Now click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your machine for the adware which cause a redirect to popads.net. When the ‘ad supported’ software or malware is found, the number of the detected objects will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done. Please be patient.

Once the checking is complete, you can check all threats detected on your PC system. Make sure all entries have “checkmark” and press “Quarantine Selected” button. The Malwarebytes will begin removing malware and adware that cause popads.net ads. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your PC system.

I suggest you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the Malwarebytes program to remove adware and other malware.

Block popads.net and other unwanted sites

To increase your security and protect your PC against new unwanted ads and malicious pages, you need to use application that stops access to malicious ads and pages. Moreover, the program can stop the open of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Download AdGuard program from the following link.

After downloading is finished, start the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the screen below.

Follow the prompts. When the installation is finished, you will see a window as shown on the screen below.

You can press “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop pop-up ads, web sites such as popads.net, as well as other malicious or misleading web-pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your Windows desktop.

If the problem with popads.net pop-up ads is still remained

If MalwareBytes cannot get rid of popads.net ads, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, toolbars.

1. Download AdwCleaner from the link below.
   
   

   AdwCleaner download
   225610 downloads
   Version: 8.4.1
   Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: October 5, 2024
   
2. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once the tool is launched the main screen will appear as shown on the image above.
3. Now, press the “Scan” button to begin scanning your PC system for the adware that generates popads.net ads.
4. When the system scan is finished, AdwCleaner will open a scan report. Review the report and then click “Clean” button. It will show a prompt, press “OK” button.

The following video explains the step-by-step instructions above on how to get rid of adware with AdwCleaner.

Finish words

Now your machine should be free of the popads.net advertisements. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and annoying malicious web pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malware and ‘ad supported’ software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.

If you are still having problems while trying to delete popads.net pop-up ads from your computer, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.