How to remove Columbusstream1.xyz pop-ups (Virus removal guide)

What is Columbusstream1.xyz?

Columbusstream1.xyz is a site which misleads users into allowing push notifications from malicious (ad) push servers. Push notifications are originally developed to alert users of recently published news. Cybercriminals abuse ‘browser notification feature’ to avoid antivirus and ad-blocking programs by showing unwanted adverts. These advertisements are displayed in the lower right corner of the screen urges users to play online games, visit dubious web pages, install browser extensions & so on.

The Columbusstream1.xyz web site claims that clicking ‘Allow’ button is necessary to download a file, watch a video, access the content of the website, enable Flash Player, connect to the Internet, and so on. If you click on the ‘Allow’ button, this website starts sending browser notifications on the browser screen. You will see the popup adverts even when you are not using the web browser.

Threat Summary

Name	Columbusstream1.xyz popup
Type	spam push notifications, browser notification spam, pop-up virus
Distribution	PUPs, social engineering attack, malicious popup advertisements, adware
Symptoms	intrusive ads on desktop unwanted changes in your internet browser pop-ups ads are loaded without your request slow Internet browsing speeds
Removal	Columbusstream1.xyz removal guide

Where the Columbusstream1.xyz pop ups comes from

Cyber threat analysts have determined that users are redirected to Columbusstream1.xyz by adware software or from malicious ads. Adware shows unwanted ads on your computer. Some of these advertisements are scams or fake ads designed to trick you. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware can be installed accidentally and without you knowing about it, when you open email attachments, install freeware.

Adware comes to the computer as part of the installer of various free programs. Thus on the process of installation, it will be installed onto your PC system and/or internet browser. In order to avoid adware software, you just need to follow a few simple rules: carefully read the Terms of Use and the license, choose only a Manual, Custom or Advanced setup mode, which enables you to make sure that the program you want to install, thereby protect your computer from adware.

Remove Columbusstream1.xyz notifications from web-browsers

If you’re getting browser notifications from the Columbusstream1.xyz or another annoying web-site, you’ll have previously pressed the ‘Allow’ button. Below we will teach you how to turn them off.

Google Chrome	Android
In the top-right corner of the browser window, expand the Chrome menu. In the menu go to ‘Settings’, scroll down to ‘Advanced’ settings. When the drop-down menu appears, tap ‘Settings’. Scroll down to ‘Advanced’. Go to Notifications settings. Click ‘three dots’ button on the right hand side of Columbusstream1.xyz URL or other suspicious URL and click ‘Remove’.	Tap ‘Settings’. Tap ‘Notifications’. Find and tap the browser which displays Columbusstream1.xyz push notifications advertisements. Find Columbusstream1.xyz, other rogue notifications and set the toggle button to ‘OFF’ on them one-by-one.
Mozilla Firefox	Edge
In the top right hand corner of the Firefox, click the Menu button, represented by three bars. Select ‘Options’ and click on ‘Privacy & Security’ on the left hand side of the screen. Scroll down to ‘Permissions’ and then to ‘Settings’ next to ‘Notifications’. Find Columbusstream1.xyz site, other dubious sites, click the drop-down menu and choose ‘Block’. Save changes.	Click the More button (three dots) in the top right hand corner of the Edge. Click ‘Settings’. Click ‘Advanced’ on the left side of the window. Click ‘Manage permissions’ button, located beneath ‘Website permissions’. Click the switch under the Columbusstream1.xyz URL so that it turns off.
Internet Explorer	Safari
Click the Gear button on the top right hand corner. Select ‘Internet options’. Select the ‘Privacy’ tab and click ‘Settings below ‘Pop-up Blocker’ section. Select the Columbusstream1.xyz domain and other dubious sites below and remove them one by one by clicking the ‘Remove’ button.	Go to ‘Preferences’ in the Safari menu. Select the ‘Websites’ tab and then select ‘Notifications’ section on the left panel. Check for Columbusstream1.xyz domain, other suspicious sites and apply the ‘Deny’ option for each.

How to remove Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

There are a simple manual guidance below that will help you to remove Columbusstream1.xyz ads from your MS Windows personal computer. The most effective solution to delete this adware software is to follow the manual removal tutorial and then run Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM), MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) or Hitman Pro automatic tools (all are free). The manual solution will help to weaken this adware and these malicious software removal utilities will completely get rid of Columbusstream1.xyz advertisements and revert back the Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome settings to default.

To remove Columbusstream1.xyz pop ups, execute the steps below:

1. Remove Columbusstream1.xyz notifications from web-browsers
2. Manual Columbusstream1.xyz pop-ups removal
   • Uninstall unwanted or newly installed software
   • Remove Columbusstream1.xyz popup advertisements from Microsoft Internet Explorer
   • Remove Columbusstream1.xyz ads from Chrome
   • Remove Columbusstream1.xyz from Mozilla Firefox by resetting internet browser settings
3. Automatic Removal of Columbusstream1.xyz popups
4. Stop Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads

Manual Columbusstream1.xyz pop-ups removal

In most cases, it’s possible to manually delete Columbusstream1.xyz advertisements. This way does not involve the use of any tricks or removal utilities. You just need to recover the normal settings of the computer and web-browser. This can be done by following a few simple steps below. If you want to quickly remove Columbusstream1.xyz popups, as well as perform a full scan of your computer, we recommend that you run adware removal tools, which are listed below.

Uninstall unwanted or newly installed software

First, go to Microsoft Windows Control Panel and remove suspicious software, all programs you do not remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to applications you installed just before Columbusstream1.xyz pop-up ads appeared on your web browser. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Web.

Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and remove all questionable and unknown software. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed apps by date. Once you have found anything suspicious that may be the adware responsible for Columbusstream1.xyz pop ups or other potentially unwanted program (PUP), then choose this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious program blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully delete it from your computer.

Remove Columbusstream1.xyz popup advertisements from Microsoft Internet Explorer

The IE reset is great if your browser is hijacked or you have unwanted add-ons or toolbars on your web-browser, which installed by an malicious software.

First, open the IE, click ) button. Next, press “Internet Options” as on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click Reset button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will display the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.

You will now need to reboot your PC for the changes to take effect. It will delete adware that causes Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads, disable malicious and ad-supported internet browser’s extensions and restore the Microsoft Internet Explorer’s settings like newtab page, search engine by default and startpage to default state.

Remove Columbusstream1.xyz ads from Chrome

If you have adware problem or the Chrome is running slow, then reset Google Chrome settings can help you. In the steps below we will show you a method to reset your Chrome settings to original settings without reinstall. This will also help to delete Columbusstream1.xyz ads from your browser.

1. First start the Google Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
3. You’ll see the list of installed plugins. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
5. You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and press the “Reset” button.
7. The Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
8. Next click the “Reset” button.
9. Once this task is done, your browser’s new tab, default search engine and start page will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.

Remove Columbusstream1.xyz from Mozilla Firefox by resetting internet browser settings

Resetting Mozilla Firefox internet browser will reset all the settings to their default state and will remove Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. Keep in mind that resetting your internet browser will not remove your history, bookmarks, passwords, and other saved data.

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 as shown 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 Columbusstream1.xyz adware. Once, it’s finished, press the “Finish” button.

Automatic Removal of Columbusstream1.xyz popups

In order to fully remove Columbusstream1.xyz, you not only need to uninstall adware software from your personal computer, but also remove all its components in your PC system including Windows registry entries. We recommend to download and run free removal tools to automatically free your device of adware which causes popups.

Use Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) to remove Columbusstream1.xyz pop ups

Does Zemana AntiMalware remove adware that causes multiple unwanted pop-ups? The adware is often installed with malware which can force you to install an program such as toolbars you don’t want. Therefore, suggest using the Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM). It’s a utility developed to scan and get rid of adware software and other malicious software from your personal computer for free.

First, please go to the following link, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of Zemana Anti Malware.

Once the download is finished, launch it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Free will try to update itself and when this task is finished, click the “Scan” button for checking your personal computer for the adware software related to the Columbusstream1.xyz popup advertisements.

A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your PC system and the speed of your device. During the scan Zemana Free will detect threats present on your device. Next, you need to press “Next” button.

The Zemana Free will remove adware which causes the annoying Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads and move the selected threats to the program’s quarantine.

Use HitmanPro to get rid of Columbusstream1.xyz pop-up advertisements

HitmanPro is one of the most useful utilities for uninstalling adware software, PUPs and other malware. It can detect hidden adware software in your device and remove all malicious folders and files related to adware software. Hitman Pro will help you to get rid of Columbusstream1.xyz ads from your PC and Mozilla Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. We strongly recommend you to download this tool as the makers are working hard to make it better.

Download HitmanPro from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.

Download and use HitmanPro on your device. Once started, click “Next” button to detect adware that causes the annoying Columbusstream1.xyz pop ups. Depending on your PC system, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malicious software, adware software or potentially unwanted apps are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done..

As the scanning ends, a list of all items found is prepared.

Once you have selected what you wish to delete from your personal computer click Next button.

It will show a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to remove all malicious software found.

How to get rid of Columbusstream1.xyz with MalwareBytes

You can delete Columbusstream1.xyz ads automatically with a help of MalwareBytes. We recommend this free malware removal utility because it can easily get rid of hijackers, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.

Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware on your Microsoft Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

After the downloading process is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes will try to update itself and when this procedure is done, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the adware software which causes pop ups. Depending on your computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) utility is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware. Once you have selected what you want to remove from your computer click “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free program that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malware removal tool, we suggest you to read and follow the steps or the video guide below.

Stop Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads

We suggest to install an adblocker application which can stop Columbusstream1.xyz and other unwanted websites. The ad-blocking tool like AdGuard is a program that basically removes advertising from the World Wide Web and stops access to malicious webpages. Moreover, security experts says that using adblocker software is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Web.

Download AdGuard from the link below.

Once the downloading process is finished, double-click the downloaded file to launch it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as shown on the screen below.

Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick guidance as shown on the image below.

Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop undesired ads, block Columbusstream1.xyz, as well as other harmful or misleading web-sites. 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 may be found on your desktop.

To sum up

Now your personal computer should be free of the adware responsible for Columbusstream1.xyz popup ads. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-up advertisements and unwanted harmful web-sites) and Zemana (to periodically scan your device for new adware softwares and other malware). 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 remove Columbusstream1.xyz popups from the IE, Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, then ask for help here here.