Video Abductor Adware

What is Video Abductor?

Video Abductor is a rogue application that supposedly allows users to download video and audio files from various websites such as YouTube, Instagram, etc. Judging on appearance alone, Video Abductor may appear legitimate and useful, however, this application often infiltrates systems without users' consent.

Furthermore, it delivers various intrusive online advertisements and continually gathers information relating to Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, Video Abductor is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Following infiltration, Video Abductor employs a "virtual layer" to generate coupon, banner, pop-up, and other similar ads. Note that the "virtual layer" enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, the displayed ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites, significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

In addition, they often lead to malicious websites containing infectious content - clicking them is risky and can result in further adware or malware infections. Another downside is information tracking. Video Abductor gathers URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and other similar information that may be personally identifiable.

Developers share the data with cooperating third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal details to generate revenue. The presence of an information-tracking app can result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall Video Abductor adware immediately.

Video Abductor shares similarities with dozens of other adware-type applications such as Shoppers Tab, BrowserAir, VidSqaure, and many others. Note that all of these applications claim to enable various 'useful features', however, adware-type applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no value.

Rather than enabling the functions promised, Video Abductor and these other similar apps, deliver intrusive online advertisements and collect user/system information.

How did Video Abductor install on my computer?

Video Abductor has an official download website, however, it is also distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, users often install this app inadvertently, without their consent. Bundling is stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs.

Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and, thus, skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs such as Video Abductor.

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, decline offers to download/install additional application and opt-out of those already included.

Official Video Abductor adware installation set-up:

Deceptive free software installer set-up distributing Video Abductor adware:

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Quick menu:

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

Video Abductor 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 "Video Abductor", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Video Abductor adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Video Abductor 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 ads by video abductor, 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 ads by video abductor, 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 ads by video abductor 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 ads by video abductor, 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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