Ads by ArcadeCookie
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ArcadeCookie?
ArcadeCookie is a rogue application that supposedly allows users to play various addictive Flash games.
This functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, ArcadeCookie is distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Furthermore, it records various data types and displays intrusive online advertisements. For these reasons, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
Following infiltration, ArcadeCookie tracks users' Internet browsing activity by gathering various information that might be personally identifiable. Examples include Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, and search queries.
Developers share collected information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue. This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Another downside of ArcadeCookie is display of intrusive online advertisements.
This application employs a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, banner, and other similar advertisements. These conceal underlying content of visited websites and redirect to malicious websites. Therefore, clicking them is risky and can lead to further computer infections. You are strongly advised to eliminate ArcadeCookie from your computer immediately.
ArcadeCookie is identical to Krazy Joystick Games, LivingPlay, ArcadeLoot, and a number of other PUPs. All of these applications offer identical fuctionality, however, none provide any real value. Adware-type apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than providing the features promised, apps such as ArcadeCookie collect personal data and display intrusive advertisements. These apps are useless for regular users.
How did ArcadeCookie install on my computer?
ArcadeCookie is distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Although this application has an official download website, many users install it inadvertently without their consent. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of third party apps with regular software/apps.
Developers hide PUPs such as ArcadeCookie within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of thedownload/installation processes. Skipping this section often results in inadvertent installation of bogus programs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Installation of potentially unwanted programs can be prevented by taking two simple steps. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software - select the "Custom/Advanced" settings and closely analyze each step. Secondly, cancel all additionally-included (bundled) programs and never accept offers to download/install them. Bundled software is often rogue and, thus, should never be installed.
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Quick menu:
- What is ArcadeCookie?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ArcadeCookie application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ArcadeCookie adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove ArcadeCookie ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by ArcadeCookie' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove ArcadeCookie extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
ArcadeCookie 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 "ArcadeCookie", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes ArcadeCookie ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove ArcadeCookie 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 "ArcadeCookie", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the arcadecookie ads, 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 "ArcadeCookie", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the arcadecookie ads, 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 "ArcadeCookie".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with arcadecookie ads 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 arcadecookie ads, 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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