DonutArcade Ads

What is DonutArcade?

DonutArcade is deceptive application identical to ArcadeRoyal, FiziPop, ArcadeCake, and a number of other rogue applications. DonutArcade claims to allow users to play various arcade games and, therefore, users often believe that this app is legitimate.

In fact, DonutArcade often infiltrates systems without permission. In addition, DonutArcade records information regarding users' web browsing activity and continually delivers intrusive online advertisements. For these reasons, it is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

To deliver pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar advertisements, DonutArcade employs a 'virtual layer' - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. None of these ads originate from visited websites, often concealing underlying content.

This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Furthermore, they might redirect to malicious websites and, thus, even accidental clicks will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. Furthermore, DonutArcade continually monitors web browsing activity by collecting various information that might be personally identifiable.

Examples include IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data. This collected information is shared with third parties, who often misuse it to generate revenue.

Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall DonutArcade adware immediately.

Research shows that adware-type applications are commonly very similar. All falsely claim to enhance the web browsing experience by providing a number of 'valuable functions'. Nonetheless, these fake promises are given only to trick users to install. In fact, adware is designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than providing users with any value, DonutArcade, and other adware-type programs, collect personal data (which is later sold to third party companies), generate intrusive online advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model) and cause unwanted browser redirects (thereby generating traffic for certain websites).

How did DonutArcade install on my computer?

This PUP has an official download website, however, many users install it inadvertently, since they do not pay enough attention during the download and installation processes. Developers conceal bogus programs within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings of the download/installation processes.

Rushing and skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of bogus programs. In doing so, users expose their systems to risk of further infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two main steps you should take to prevent this situation. First, never rush when downloading and installing software - closely analyze each step within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings section. Second, never accept offers to download or install additional programs - these apps are often dubious and should never be installed.

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Quick menu:

• What is DonutArcade?
• STEP 1. Uninstall DonutArcade application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove DonutArcade adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove DonutArcade ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by DonutArcade' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove DonutArcade ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

DonutArcade adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for "DonutArcade", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes DonutArcade ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove DonutArcade adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "DonutArcade", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the donutarcade adware, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "DonutArcade", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the donutarcade adware, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "DonutArcade".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with donutarcade adware removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the donutarcade adware, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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