Advanced Top Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Advanced Top?
Advanced Top is a rogue application that infiltrates systems without users' permission (the "bundling" method). Following infiltration, Advanced Top delivers intrusive advertisements and might record various user-system information. For these reasons, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
After successful system infiltration, Advanced Top delivers coupon, pop-up, banner, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any visited website. Therefore, intrusive advertisements often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
Furthermore, these advertisements might lead to malicious websites and even execute scripts that stealthily download/install malware. Therefore, clicking them can result in high-risk computer infections. In addition, potentially unwanted adware-type programs are likely to record information relating to browsing habits.
Keystrokes, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geolocations, and other collected information typically includes personal details. Developers share this recorded information with third parties. These people generate revenue by misusing private details.
Therefore, the presence of data-tracking applications might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you eliminate Advanced Top adware immediately.
| Name | Ads by Advaced Top |
| 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. |
There are dozens of adware-type PUPs similar to Advanced Top. For example, Powzip, Check And Switch, SearchAwesome, FastDataX, and many others. All claim to provide 'useful features', however, these programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
By offering various functions, PUPs attempt to trick users into believing that these programs are legitimate and useful. In fact, they deliver no real value for regular users. They deliver intrusive advertisements and record sensitive information, thereby posing a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.
How did Advanced Top install on my computer?
This potentially unwanted program infiltrates systems without permission, since developers promote it using the aforementioned intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software).
Developers hide "bundled" PUPs within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes - they do not disclose PUP installations properly. Furthermore, many users are likely to click advertisements and skip download/installation steps without understanding the possible consequences.
This behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs such as Advanced Top.
Note that developers distribute a small executable of Advanced Top, which (once infiltrated) connects to the down.dollar2018.com website and downloads other essential files to operate properly. In summary, the main reasons for computer infections are are poor knowledge and careless behavior.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent PUP infiltration, be extremely cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate, since developers invest many resources into their design, however, most redirect to untrustworthy websites, such as gambling, adult dating, pornography, and similar.
If you encounter these ads, immediately eliminate all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, select "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. We also advise you to avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since developers monetize them by promoting ("bundling") PUPs.
Software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with Advanced Top, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Deceptive installer distributing Advanced Top adware:
Screenshot of Advanced Top process in Windows Task Manager:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Advanced Top?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Advanced Top application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Advanced Top adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Advanced Top ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Advanced Top' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Advanced Top extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Advanced Top 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 "Advanced Top", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Advanced Top ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Advanced Top adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Advanced Top 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 advaced top, 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 and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by advaced top, 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by advaced top 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 advaced top, 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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Outstanding!
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