Open Plugins Adware

What is Open Plugins?

Identical to Plugins Button, Open Plugins is a deceptive application that supposedly allows access to browser plug-ins. Judging on appearance alone, Open Plugins may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app usually infiltrates systems without permission.

Furthermore, it continually generates intrusive online advertisements and records data relating to Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, Open Plugins is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Following successful infiltration, Open Plugins generates coupon, banner, pop-up, and other similar advertisements. These ads are delivered using a "virtual layer" - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. The ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

In addition, some might lead to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Another downside is information tracking.

Open Plugins continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by gathering various data that might contain personal details (for example, URLs visited, queries entered into search engines, pages viewed, Internet Protocol [IP] addresses, etc.) This collected data is later shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private details to generate revenue.

This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, uninstall Open Plugins adware immediately.

Open Plugins is virtually identical to Cookies On-Off, Cookies Control, AdsKeeper, CloudExtender, and hundreds of other adware-type applications that also offer various 'useful features'. Although the functionality offered by these apps differs, they have identical behavior.

Adware-type applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Open Plugins, and other similar PUPs, deliver intrusive online advertisements and continually record various user-system information. They are useless for regular users.

Note - if this adware was installed as "Installed by Enterprise Policy" on your Chrome browser, follow this guide.

How did Open Plugins install on my computer?

Open Plugins is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, developers also distribute it by employing a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". They are aware that many users rush download/installation procedures and skip steps and, therefore, hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings.

By skipping this section users, expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be very cautious during the download and installation processes. Carefully analyze each step within the "Custom/Advanced" settings, cancel all additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them. The key to computer safety is caution.

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Quick menu:

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

Open Plugins 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 "Open Plugins", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Open Plugins 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 "Open Plugins", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the open plugins 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Open Plugins", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the open plugins 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 "Open Plugins".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with open plugins 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 open plugins 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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