The Ads by SurfDefense are advertisements which can be loaded into your browser with the help of ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware). The adware may modify the settings of internet browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and MS Edge or install a malicious browser extension, which created to generate a huge number of annoying advertisements. It’ll lead to the fact that when you run the web-browser or surfing the Internet, it’ll always be forced to display Ads by SurfDefense, even when your internet browser is configured to stop popup ads or your PC has a program that blocks popup ads. On current date, the adware continues to increase the number of machines that have been infected.
Most often, the ad-supported software affects the most common internet browsers such as the Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox and MS Edge. But such the malicious software as well may infect another web-browsers by changing its shortcuts (adding an argument like ‘http://site.address’ into Target field of internet browser shortcut). So every time you run the web-browser, it will redirect to the unwanted ad webpage. Even if you setup a new home page, an annoying page will be the first thing you see when you launch the Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge.
The adware is the part of the software that is used as an online promotional tool. It is created with the sole purpose to show dozens of popup ads, and thus to promote the goods and services in an open web-browser window. So, the SurfDefense is just one of the many software of the so-called ‘ad-support’ type. It is designed to fill the browser’s constant stream of ads, or redirect the browser to not expected and intrusive advertising web sites. Moreover, the ‘ad-supported’ software can substitute the legitimate advertisements on misleading or even banners that can offer to visit dangerous web-pages. The reason is simple, many advertisers agree on any ways to attract users to their web sites, so the creators of ad-supported software, often forcing users to click on an advertising link. For each click on a link, the authors of the ad-supported software receive income. It’s the so-called ‘Pay-Per-Click’ method.
We suggest you to remove ‘ad-supported’ software and clean your computer from Ads by SurfDefense pop-up ads as soon as possible, until the presence of the adware has not led to even worse consequences. You need to follow the step-by-step instructions below that will allow you to completely remove the SurfDefense unwanted ads, using only the built-in Windows features and a few of specialized free tools.
How does Ads by SurfDefense advertisements get installed onto computer
Just as the beginning of this post, if you have ever seen the Ads by SurfDefense appear in your web-browser, it means your machine has been infected with the ad supported software. Most often ad-supported software is bundled with free programs. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free programs? Because most users, in the Setup Wizard, simply click the Next button and do not read any information like ‘Terms of use’ and ‘Software license’. This leads to the fact that the computer is infected, the web-browser’s configured to open a huge number of the SurfDefense unwanted ads. Even removing the free applications that contains this ‘ad-supported’ software, the unwanted advertisements does not disappear. Therefore, you must follow the guide below to clean your machine from the ‘ad-supported’ software and thereby remove Ads by SurfDefense.
How to manually remove Ads by SurfDefense
The simple answer is right here on this page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will allow you easily to clean your computer of ad-supported software. Moreover, you can choose manual or automatic removal method. If you are familiar with the system then use manual removal, otherwise use the free anti-malware tool designed specifically to get rid of ad supported software that causes unwanted “Ads by SurfDefense”. Of course, you can combine both methods. Read this manual carefully, bookmark or print it, because you may need to close your browser or reboot your personal computer.
- Remove suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel
- Remove Ads by SurfDefense advertisements from Chrome
- Remove SurfDefense pop-up ads from Mozilla Firefox
- Remove SurfDefense pop-up ads from IE
- Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Remove suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel
We recommend that you start the computer cleaning process by checking the list of installed software and remove all unknown or suspicious applications. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the malicious programs such as ad-supported software and browser hijackers may be bundled with free applications. Delete the unwanted software may remove the unwanted advertisements or web browser redirect to unknown or annoying web pages.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
, then click Search 
. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
Next, click “Uninstall a program” 
It’ll show a list of all programs. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown applications. To quickly find the latest installed programs, we recommend sort applications by date of installation in the Control panel.
Remove Ads by SurfDefense advertisements from Chrome
Like other modern internet browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby get rid of the redirect to Ads by SurfDefense annoying ads that is caused by the ad supported software.
At first, start the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will appear the main menu. Click on the option named “Settings”. Another way to open the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter.
The internet 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 in the figure below and click the “Reset settings” button.
The Chrome will display the confirmation dialog box. You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The program will launch the task of cleaning. When it’s finished, the internet browser settings including the ‘block pop-ups’ option back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your system.
Remove SurfDefense pop-up ads from Mozilla Firefox
First, start the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, press the “Help” button (
).
In the Help menu, press the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click “Refresh Firefox” button.
Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.
Remove SurfDefense pop-up ads from IE
First, start the IE, then press the button in the form of gear (
). It will open the Tools drop-down menu like below. Next, click the “Internet Options”.
In the Internet Options window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The IE will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown in the figure below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
You will now need to reboot your machine for the changes to take effect.
Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks
If the unwanted Ads by SurfDefense opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and remove all the tasks that have been created by malicios program.
Press Windows and R keys on the keyboard simultaneously. This displays a dialog box that titled with 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.
Task scheduler
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be open just below automatically. Next, press the Actions tab. Pay attention to that it launches on your machine. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address”, then you need remove it. If you are not sure that executes the task, check it through a search engine. If it’s a component of the ‘ad-supported’ program, 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 below.
Delete a task
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by adware. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.
How to delete Ads by SurfDefense with free malware remover
Delete Ads by SurfDefense manually is difficult and often the ad-supported software is not completely removed. Therefore, we recommend you to use the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your PC. Moreover, the free program will help you to remove malware, web browser hijacker and toolbars that your computer may be infected too.
- Download Malwarebytes using the link below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326460 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- Close all programs and windows on your computer. Open the file location. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup.
- This will start the install of Malwarebytes. Next, click Next button and follow the prompts.
- Once install is complete, press on the “Scan Now” button . This will begin scanning the whole computer to find out ad supported software which redirects your internet browser to the SurfDefense unwanted adse. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
- Once the system scan is done, make sure all entries have “checkmark” and click “Quarantine Selected”. When the disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to restart your computer.
These steps above are shown in detail in the following video guide.
Stop Ads by SurfDefense pop-ups and other annoying web pages
To increase your security and protect your system against new annoying ads and malicious pages, you need to use program that blocks access to dangerous advertisements and web-sites. Moreover, the program can block the display of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web-pages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
Download AdGuard program from the following link.
26656 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once the download is finished, run the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the following image.
Follow the prompts. When the setup is complete, you will see a window as shown below.
You can click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will allow 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 system, AdGuard will start automatically and block pop-ups, Ads by SurfDefense, as well as other malicious or misleading pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, 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 Ads by SurfDefense advertisements is still remained
If MalwareBytes cannot remove Ads by SurfDefense, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, toolbars.
- Download AdwCleaner from the link below.
AdwCleaner download
225298 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once the utility is launched the main screen will appear as shown on the image above.
- Now, click the “Scan” button for scanning your personal computer for the adware that generates Ads by SurfDefense advertisements.
- Once the scan is finished, AdwCleaner will open a scan report. Review the report and then press “Clean” button. It will display a dialog box, click “OK” button.
The following video explains the step-by-step guide above on how to remove adware with AdwCleaner.
Finish words
After completing the step-by-step instructions shown above, your computer should be free from malware and adware. The Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge will no longer display Ads by SurfDefense or redirect you to unwanted web-pages. Unfortunately, if the instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new type of adware, and then the best way – ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
