Rakbler.ru POP-UP Redirect

What is rakbler.ru?

There are many rogue websites such as rakbler.ru available on the Internet (including thepopularlinks.com, buzz-track.com, and netoffersonline.com).

Most users visit rakbler.ru unintentionally - they are redirected to it by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that are often installed without users' permission. PUPs deliver various unwanted (intrusive) ads, misuse computer resources by running background tasks, and record user-system information.

Once installed, potentially unwanted programs assign the new browser windows/tabs default settings to rakbler.ru and also redirect users to this site. At this website, users are redirected to several other (usually 2-3) dubious websites and it is very likely that one will contain malicious content, thus causing high-risk computer infections.

PUPs deliver various unwanted (intrusive) ads in the form of coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on. These are displayed using tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site, and they conceal underlying content.

If clicked, they often lead to other dubious websites or even execute scripts designed to download and install malware or other potentially unwanted software. Potentially unwanted programs of this type often record user-system information (such as IP addresses, visited websites, keystrokes, search queries, geo-locations, and other data that could include sensitive information).

In most cases, collected data is shared with various third parties (in some cases, even cyber criminals) so that developers can generate revenue. Furthermore, some PUPs run background tasks and misuse computer resources. In doing so, they reduce computer performance.

Clearly, there is no reason to have a potentially unwanted program of this kind installed on your computer and you are strongly advised to uninstall it immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	rakbler.ru 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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

All potentially unwanted programs of this type are virtually identical and share identical roles: to give the impression of legitimacy by offering various "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 only cause problems with redirects, intrusive ads, and information tracking.

How did adware install on my computer?

One way to install potentially unwanted programs is to download them from official websites, however, most users install them inadvertently - through intrusive/unwanted ads or via a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Bundling is stealth installation of third party programs with regular (usually free) software.

Developers do not properly disclose installations of potentially unwanted programs and hide them in "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings of software installation processes. By skipping installation steps (or clicking untrustworthy ads), many users are doing a favour for PUPs developers and allow their programs to be installed.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Be cautious when downloading/installing software and clicking ads. Download software from official sources only and use directs links. Avoid using third party software downloaders/installers or downloading software using torrents. When installing software, check all available "Advanced", "Custom" and other sections of the installation process.

Make sure that there are no checkboxes ticked by default indicating that you agree to install software you do not want. Today, most rogue ads appear legitimate, however, once clicked, some can redirect to untrustworthy websites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.

If you encounter such redirects, immediately close the opened browser window or tab and look for any suspicious entries (plug-ins, add-ons, extensions, etc.) that might have been installed when visiting an untrustworthy website. If your computer is already infected with rakbler.ru, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.

IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications.

Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:

Google Chrome (PC):

• Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
• Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Google Chrome (Android):

• Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
• Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
• Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and click "Block"

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
• Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"

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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is rakbler.ru?
• 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 rakbler.ru 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 rakbler.ru 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 rakbler.ru 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 rakbler.ru 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 rakbler.ru 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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