Ads.gold POP-UP Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ads.gold?
ads.gold is a rogue website identical to pulseonclick.com, kaizentraffic.com, channel1vids.com, and many others. Research shows that many visitors arrive at ads.gold inadvertently, since they are redirected by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) or intrusive ads generated by other rogue sites.
In most cases, PUAs infiltrate systems without users’ permission. As well as causing redirects, they generate advertisements and record information.
After successful system infiltration, these unwanted applications start opening new browser tabs/windows and redirecting users to ads.gold. Immediately after visiting this site, users encounter several additional redirects to other dubious websites. It is very likely that at least one of these sites will contain malicious content. Thus, visiting ads.gold site may lead to system infections.
These unwanted applications also deliver various types of intrusive advertisements, which can also lead to malicious websites or even run scripts designed to download/install malware. Even a single accidental click might result in high-risk computer infection. To deliver intrusive ads, developers employ tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any visited website.
Therefore, ads often conceal website content, thereby diminishing the browsing experience. Unwanted apps often track and record information. The programs record information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, keystrokes, URLs visited, queries entered into search engines, pages viewed, etc.
Collected data is likely to contain personal details that are misused to generate revenue. For example, developers sell information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). Therefore, having data-tracking apps installed on your computer might result in serious privacy issues.
For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall all potentially unwanted applications immediately.
Name | ads.gold 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. |
The internet is full of unwanted apps, all of which are very similar. Most offer useful features to trick user to install, however, few of these unwanted applications provide the functionality promised. PUAs serve just one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than giving any real value for regular users, they cause unwanted redirects, deliver ads, and record information. PUAs pose a direct threat to your privacy and computer safety.
How did adware install on my computer?
Research shows that, although some PUAs have official download websites, most infiltrate systems without consent, since developers distribute rogue apps using intrusive advertising and "bundling" methods. "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of third party programs with regular (typically free) software.
"Bundled" applications are usually concealed behind "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes.
Furthermore, many users often click advertisements and skip download/installation steps - behavior that often leads to inadvertent installation of unwanted apps. In this way, users expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, to prevent PUA infiltration, pay close attention when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software. Most intrusive advertisements seem legitimate/legitimate, however, they are easy to distinguish, since many redirect to dubious websites, such as pornography, adult dating, survey, and so on.
If you see any such advertisements, immediately remove dubious applications/browser plug-ins and ensure that visited sites are legitimate. Carefully analyze all steps of the download/installation processes using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. While doing so, deselect additional applications and cancel offers to download/install them.
Avoid using unofficial download/installation tools, since most "bundle" rogue apps. Software should be downloaded only from official sources, using direct download links. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
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 ads.gold?
- 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 applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes ads.gold 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 ads.gold 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 ads.gold 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 ads.gold 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 ads.gold 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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