Identies.com POP-UP Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is identies.com?
identies.com is one of many rogue sites that is identical to thepopularlinks.com, contentplaces.com, and rosetheet.com One of the main purposes of this site is to redirect users to other suspicious/dubious websites. Many users visit the identies.com inadvertently - they are redirected by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that are installed without consent.
Most potentially unwanted programs cause redirects to untrustworthy websites, provide intrusive ads, record user-system information, and sometimes run background processes.
Following infiltration, these PUPs tend to open new browser windows/tabs and redirect users to identies.com, which later causes redirects to other suspicious sites (usually 2 or 3). These redirects are known to cause high-risk computer infections.
Furthermore, potentially unwanted programs deliver intrusive advertisements (banners, pop-up ads, coupons etc.) that are often displayed using tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site and also conceal underlying content.
Furthermore, when clicked they redirect to malicious websites or even execute scripts designed to download and install malware or other potentially unwanted software. Information tracking is also a known problem regarding potentially unwanted programs.
PUPs usually record user-system information such as IP addresses, visited websites, keystrokes, search queries, geo-locations, and other data that could include sensitive information. Later, the data is shared with third parties (in some cases, with cyber criminals) to generate revenue.
Additionally, potentially unwanted programs are known to run background tasks without permission. In this way, they misuse system resources and significantly affect overall computer performance.
Having a potentially unwanted program such as this installed poses a direct threat to your Internet browsing safety and privacy. Therefore, eliminate all potentially unwanted programs immediately.
Name | identies.com pop-up |
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 hundreds of PUPs/rogue software available on the Internet. All are virtually identical and share an identical purpose - to give the impression of legitimacy by offering 'useful features' and trick users into downloading them so that developers can generate revenue.
In most cases, they do not provide the functionality promised, and cause problems by causing unwanted redirects, intrusive ads, and recording information.
How did adware install on my computer?
There are many potentially unwanted programs with official sites where you can download them, however, as mentioned before, user often install them without consent. This is due to clicked intrusive ads or the "bundling" method, which is often used by PUPs developers.
Bundling is stealth installation of third party programs with regular (usually free) software - 'stealth' because developers usually do not disclose installations of these programs properly and hide potentially unwanted programs in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of software installation processes.
Clicking ads and skipping installation process steps usually leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs and system exposure to various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent installation of potentially unwanted programs, download/install software and browse the web carefully. Download software (especially free software) using official sources and direct links. Avoid using third party software downloaders and torrents.
Do not skip installation process steps or install without first checking "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings/options. The same applies to checkboxes ticked by default. If you find any special offers, tools, or extra software while installing software, deselect it if you suspect that it might be a potentially unwanted program.
If you click an ad that redirects you to a dubious website by opening new windows or tabs, immediately close it and check if it has installed an unwanted extension, plug-in, or add-on. If so, remove unwanted/suspicious entries immediately. Finally, have antivirus software installed and keep it enabled at all times.
Also, update your web browser to the latest version. If your computer is already infected with identies.com, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is identies.com?
- 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 identies.com 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 identies.com pop-up, 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 identies.com pop-up, 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 identies.com pop-up 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 identies.com pop-up, 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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