Q. PLEASE help me remove FilterIdea app. I have done everything I know how to do and it keep appearing…
A. You probably downloaded and installed an adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) or potentially unwanted application (PUA) that makes that happen.
What is Adware? Adware is an advertising malicious software. It is designed just that: show various pop up windows and/or unwanted ads using intrusive and at times dangerous methods. Adware software can also include other types of malicious software. It can steal sensitive information from the Apple Mac and pass it on to third parties. Adware has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the Apple Mac.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to remove adware software is its online data-tracking activity. Adware can have spyware and keyloggers built into the program, leading to greater damage to your machine and possible invasion of your data.
Threat Summary
| Name | FilterIdea |
| Type | adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), popups, popup advertisements, pop up virus |
| Symptoms |
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| Removal | FilterIdea removal guide |
Most of unwanted ads and pop-ups come from web browser toolbars and/or extensions and optional software. In most cases, these items claim itself as applications which improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive homepage or a search engine that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted software. Be cautious, start only reputable applications which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and dubious software.
Computer geeks and Myantispyware lab have teamed up to create the instructions that allow users remove FilterIdea adware for free.
How to Remove FilterIdea app (Adware virus removal guide)
There are several steps to deleting the FilterIdea adware software that causes lots of unwanted pop-up ads, because it installs itself so deeply into Windows. You need to delete all suspicious and unknown applications, then remove malicious plugins from the Chrome, Firefox and Safari and other web browsers you’ve installed. Finally, you need to reset your internet browser settings to delete any changes the adware software has made, and then scan your MAC system with MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to ensure the adware is fully removed. It will take a while.
To remove FilterIdea, use the steps below:
- How to delete FilterIdea adware software without any software
- How to remove Filter Idea with free programs
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to delete FilterIdea adware software without any software
This part of the article is a step-by-step guidance that will allow you to delete FilterIdea adware manually. You just need to carefully complete each step. In this case, you do not need to download any additional apps.
Delete adware software through the Finder
First method for manual adware removal is to go into the Finder, then Applications. Take a look at the list of software on your MAC and see if there are any questionable and unknown apps. If you see any, you need to delete them. Of course, before doing so, you can do an World Wide Web search to find details on the program. If it is a potentially unwanted program, adware software or malicious software, you will likely find information that says so.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will display a list of all apps installed on your MAC system. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown programs. Right click to dubious application and select “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove FilterIdea from Chrome
If you are getting FilterIdea ads, then you can try to remove it by resetting Chrome to its default values. It will also clear cookies, content and site data, temporary and cached data. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
- First, launch the Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, click “Advanced” link, that located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Google Chrome will display the reset settings dialog box as shown on the image above.
- Confirm the web browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Get rid of FilterIdea adware from Safari
By resetting Safari internet browser you return your internet browser settings to its default state. This is good initial when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by FilterIdea adware.
Run Safari web-browser. Next, choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
First, click the “Security” tab. Here, choose “Block pop-up windows”. It will block some types of pop ups.
Now, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for suspicious plugins on left panel, select it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to delete all suspicious plugins from Safari.
Once complete, check your home page and search engine settings. Click “General” icon. Make sure that the “Homepage” field contains the website you want or is empty.
Make sure that the “Search engine” setting shows your preferred search engine. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.
Get rid of Filter Idea adware from Firefox
Resetting Firefox web browser will reset all the settings to their original state and will remove FilterIdea ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. When using the reset feature, your personal information like passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
Start the Mozilla Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web-browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will open the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page such as the one below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The Firefox will start a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the FilterIdea. Once, it is finished, press the “Finish” button.
How to remove Filter Idea with free programs
In order to completely delete FilterIdea, you not only need to delete adware from your computer, but also delete all its components in your MAC OS including system folders. We recommend to download and use free removal utilities to automatically clean your machine of FilterIdea adware.
Automatically remove FilterIdea with MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM)
You can remove FilterIdea automatically through the use of MalwareBytes Free. We suggest this free malware removal tool because it may easily remove browser hijacker infection, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
MalwareBytes Anti Malware can be downloaded from the following link.
20850 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
Once the download is complete, close all windows on your Apple Mac. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically run and you can see its main window as shown in the following example.
Next, press the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes application will scan through the whole machine for FilterIdea adware that causes internet browsers to show annoying popups. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malware, adware or potentially unwanted software are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
When that process is done, MalwareBytes will display a list of detected threats. You may delete threats (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will remove FilterIdea and move all security threats to the Quarantine.
How to stay safe online
Run ad-blocking program like AdGuard in order to stop advertisements, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your MAC performance and impact your Apple Mac security. Surf the World Wide Web anonymously and stay safe online!
Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard.
3687 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
After the downloading process is finished, run the downloaded file. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick tutorial. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying ads, block malicious or misleading webpages.
To sum up
Now your MAC OS should be free of FilterIdea adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted popups and unwanted harmful web-pages) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC OS for new adwares and other malware).
If you are still having problems while trying to remove FilterIdea ads from the Firefox, Safari and Chrome, then ask for help here here.
