Ad by netutils

What is netutils?

Advertisements marked as "Ad by netutils" are displayed by various adware-type applications that infiltrate the system during installation of regular (often free) software.

Most of adware infiltrates systems without users' permission. Following successful infiltration, these rogue applications display various intrusive online advertisements, track web browsing activity, and potentially cause unwanted browser redirects to bogus websites.

Adware-type applications employ a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar intrusive advertisements. None originate from users' visited websites and conceal underlying, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

In addition, they might redirect to malicious websites - clicking them risks further high-risk adware or malware infections. Adware-type applications also cause unwanted browser redirects to fake Internet search engines, websites that attempt to trick users into paying for certain services, and various other bogus sites.

In addition, adware collects various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity including IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered into search engines, geo-locations, mouse/keyboard activity, etc.

This information might contain private details that are shared with third parties (who attempt to generate revenue by misusing private information). This can lead to serious privacy issues. All adware-type applications should be uninstalled immediately.

Research shows that all adware-type programs are virtually identical. By delivering fake promises to enable a number of 'useful features', adware often tricks users to install. In fact, adware-type applications are often useless for regular users. These programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than enabling the functionality promised, apps such as FastPlayer, Consumer Input, OnlineApp, and many others, collect personally identifiable information, display intrusive online advertisements, and cause unwanted browser redirects. Claims to enhance web browsing are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimate software.

How did adware install on my computer?

Potentially unwanted adware-type programs are usually distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of third party software with regular software/apps. Developers know that users often rush and skip most/all of the download and installation steps.

Therefore, all bundled programs are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of bogus programs that track web browsing activity, display intrusive ads, and cause unwanted browser redirects.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUPs/adware, be cautious during the download and installation processes. Carefully analyze each step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. In addition, all additionally-included programs should be cancelled and offers to download/install them, declined.

Here's how Netutils ads look like on an infected computer (GIF):

'Ad by netutils' advertisements appearing in various websites:

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Quick menu:

• What is Ad by netutils?
• 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 "GameLauncher", "Host Service", "CondRed", or any other suspicious/recently-installed applications, 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 netutils 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 netutils 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.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with netutils 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 netutils 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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