RealTimeLeads Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is RealTimeLeads?
RealTimeLeads is a dubious application claiming to provide users with various inspiring business ideas. On initial inspection, this program may seem legitimate and useful, however, RealTimeLeads often infiltrates systems without users’ permission. In addition, it records various user/system information and delivers intrusive online advertisements.
For these reasons, RealTimeLeads is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
Following infiltration, RealTimeLeads records website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered into search engines, IP addresses, and other similar browsing related data. This data may seem insignificant, however, research shows that it often contains private details that developers of RealTimeLeads share with third parties.
These people misuse personally identifiable information to generate revenue. Therefore, tracking of private data can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. In addition, RealTimeLeads employs a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, coupon, and other similar advertisements.
Since none originate from users' visited websites, they often conceal underlying web content and significantly diminish the browsing experience. In addition, most lead to suspicious websites often containing infectious content - clicking them can lead to further high-risk adware or malware infections. We strongly advise you to uninstall RealTimeLeads adware immediately.
Adware-type applications are usually very similar. Other examples include Photo Zoom For Twitter, Related Program, and Mass Sea. Most have identical behavior to RealTimeLeads. Adware is designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than providing any of the functions promised, RealTimeLeads, and other similar applications, collect personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third parties) and generate intrusive online advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model). These programs are useless for regular users.
How did RealTimeLeads install on my computer?
RealTimeLeads has an official download website. It is also distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of PUPs with regular (mostly legitimate) software.
Potentially unwanted programs are commonly concealed within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings of the download/installation processes. Many users skip this section, often leading to inadvertent installation of third party software such as RealTimeLeads.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent system infiltration by apps such as RealTimeLeads, be very cautious during the download/installation processes. Analyze each step within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings section and decline all offers to download/install third party applications.
Deceptive free software installer promoting RealTimeLeads adware:
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Quick menu:
- What is RealTimeLeads?
- STEP 1. Uninstall RealTimeLeads application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove RealTimeLeads adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove RealTimeLeads ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by RealTimeLeads' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove RealTimeLeads ads from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
RealTimeLeads 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 "RealTimeLeads", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes RealTimeLeads ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove RealTimeLeads adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, RealTimeLeads did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your 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 any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the boomerang 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the boomerang 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with boomerang 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 boomerang 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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