Would Like To Use Your Computing Power Pop-Up
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Would Like To Use Your Computing Power?
"Would Like To Use Your Computing Power" is a pop-up message displayed by a malicious websites. As its name suggests, this pop-up encourages users to give permission to use system resources to perform various 'calculations'.
Be aware that these websites are likely to proliferate adware-type potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). Furthermore, these applications deliver intrusive advertisements and record sensitive data.
Research shows that there are a number of websites (including ThePirateBay) that display the "Would Like To Use Your Computing Power" pop-up. These sites are injected with various scripts (e.g., Coinhive) designed to mine cryptocurrencies (typically, Monero). JavaScript is an effective tool to access CPU resources.
Therefore, after providing these sites with access to their system CPUs, users immediately experience a significant reduction in overall system performance. These sites essentially employ CPUs to perform various mathematical calculations for 'cryptocurrency mining'.
The revenue generated (cryptocurrency) goes to cyber criminals, whilst regular users receive no real value. This situation significantly diminishes the web browsing experience.
Therefore, if you encounter a "Would Like To Use Your Computing Power" pop-up, immediately close the web browser (preferably, via "Task Manager") or reboot the system (some sites contain scripts that prevent users from closing the browser). After re-running Internet browsers, do not click "Restored Closed Tabs" (or similar), since this will re-open the malicious site.
As mentioned above, rogue sites often proliferate adware-type applications. Immediately after infiltration, these PUPs deliver various intrusive advertisements (coupons, banners, pop-ups, etc.) To achieve this, developers employ various tools (e.g., a "virtual layer") that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site.
Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying website content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience. Furthermore, the ads can lead to malicious websites and even run scripts that stealthily download and install malware/PUPs. Therefore, even a single click can result in high-risk computer infections.
Another significant downside is information tracking. Potentially unwanted programs gather IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, keystrokes, geo-locations, and other information that typically includes personal details.
Developers later sell this collected data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), who misuse it to generate revenue. The presence of data-tracking application(s) might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, all of these apps should be eliminated immediately.
| Name | "Would Like To Use Your Computing Power" scam |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Symptoms | Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
All PUPs are very similar. By offering various 'useful features' (e.g., file conversion, anti-virus, system optimization, download performance increase, etc.), potentially unwanted programs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy and trick users to install, however, their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than providing any significant value for regular users, potentially unwanted programs pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.
How did potentially unwanted programs install on my computer?
Adware-type applications are often distributed using intrusive advertisements, and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". For example, the aforementioned rogue sites contain intrusive ads, fake download buttons, or promote applications that "bundle" adware. "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party software together with regular (most likely free) programs.
Developers do not adequately disclose these installations and hide "bundled" PUPs within various sections (for instance, "Custom/Advanced" settings) of the download/installation processes.
In addition, they rush and skip these steps, click various ads without understanding the possible consequences. In doing so, they 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 careful when browsing the Internet, and when downloading/installing software. Furthermore, intrusive ads typically look legitimate, however, they redirect to gambling, adult dating, survey, and other dubious sites. If you experience these redirects, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins.
Select "Custom/Advanced" download/installation settings, closely observe each step, and cancel all additionally-included programs. You are advised to avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since criminals employ them to proliferate PUPs (the "bundling" method).
Software should be downloaded only from official/trustworthy sources, using a direct download link. Having a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed is also paramount. The key to computer safety is caution.
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Would Like To Use Your Computing Power?
- STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions 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 potentially unwanted programs, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Would Like To Use Your Computing Power redirects, 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 "would like to use your computing power" scam, 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 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 "would like to use your computing power" scam, 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 "would like to use your computing power" scam 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 "would like to use your computing power" scam, 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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