Ads by undefined
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Ads by undefined?
"Ads by undefined" advertisements are displayed by various potentially unwanted adware-type programs that infiltrate computers during installation of other applications (the "bundling" method). Following successful infiltration, these PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) generate various intrusive online ads and continually monitor users' Internet browsing activity.
These PUPs use a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar advertisements. This enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, unwanted ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites. This behavior significantly diminishes the Internet browsing experience.
Research shows that these ads can redirect to malicious websites, some of which contain infectious content - clicking them is risky and will result in various high-risk adware or malware infections.
As well as display of ads, PUPs also record various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity including IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, and search queries. Some users believe that this data is insignificant, however, it might contain private details that developers share with cooperating third parties.
Private data is often misused to generate revenue - this can cause serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, you are strongly advised to remove these PUPs from your computer immediately.
Internet is full of adware-type applications falsely claiming to enhance Internet browsing. Yet, none provide any real value. All claims to provide 'valuable features' (merely attempts to trick users to install). Adware-type programs such as OnlineApp, MySafeSavings, Best Results, and others are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
They deliver intrusive online advertisements, collect personally identifiable information, and often cause unwanted browser redirects. These programs are useless for regular users.
How did Ads by undefined install on my computer?
Potentially unwanted programs are distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software. Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes.
Rushing and skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs. In doing so, users expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be very cautious during the download/installation processes. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, carefully analyze each step, opt-out of all additionally-included programs, and decline all offers to download or install them. There is a high probability that bundled software will be rogue and, thus, it should never be installed.
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Quick menu:
- What is Ads by undefined?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
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 any suspicious/recently-installed applications (for example, "hosts", "CondRed"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove 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 any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the undefined 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 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 undefined 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins (e.g., "hosts").
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with undefined 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 undefined 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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