Qdownloader.net Virus

What is qdownloader[.]net?

qdownloader[.]net is an 'Online Video Downloader' for downloading videos from YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other websites. Videos can be downloaded in several different formats. It is illegal to download videos from YouTube. Furthermore, qdownloader[.]net uses various advertising networks.

This does not indicate that the web page itself is harmful, however, using it can lead to unwanted redirects, download and installation of potentially unwanted apps (PUAs), and so on.

When opened qdownloader[.]net causes redirects to other dubious websites, often used to promote PUAs in various ways. For example, qdownloader[.]net might cause redirects to scam websites that trick people into believing that their operating systems have errors, are infected, and so on.

Typically, scammers use these pages to promote PUAs by claiming that they can fix (fake) problems using various software. Scammers commonly attempt to trick people into paying for their software or technical support. Note that qdownloader[.]net might lead to pages that promote various adware, browser hijackers, and other PUAs.

If installed, apps of this type serve users with even more advertisements and gather data relating to users' browsing habits. Having PUAs installed can thus cause additional unwanted installations, problems with privacy, browsing safety, and so on.

Additionally, some of the web pages opened through qdownloader[.]net might contain ads such as surveys, coupons, banners, etc. If clicked, they might run scripts designed to download and install unwanted apps or cause redirects to potentially malicious pages.

Websites such as qdownloader[.]net and (especially those opened by them) often ask visitors for permission to show notifications. Do not accept notifications, since they are usually irrelevant, contain various ads, and other unwanted content. Furthermore, clicking them often leads to redirects to untrustworthy sites.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by qdownloader.net
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads.
Serving IP Address	104.31.72.170
Observed Domains	s79.qdownloader.net
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, potentially unwanted applications (adware)
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.

qdownloader[.]net is virtually identical to many other websites of this type including, for example, youtubnow[.]com, olpair[.]com, and savefrom[.]net. Most of these pages offer similar services and use advertising networks. To avoid unwanted redirects, downloads and installations, or even computer infections, do not to use any of these websites.

How did adware install on my computer?

Intrusive, deceptive advertisements often lead to unintentional download and installation of PUAs. Simply downloading and installing regular programs can also cause these problems when software developers use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".

Developers hide additionally-included (bundled) apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar sections of software set-ups. When people leave these settings unchanged, they grant permission for PUAs to be downloaded and installed with the chosen software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Download and install software properly, without skipping setup steps, especially if it is free software. Check all available options (settings) such as "Custom", "Advanced", etc., and deselect any offers to download/install unwanted software.

Do not download software using dubious sources such as unofficial websites, third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, and various other tools of this kind. The safest way to download is using official websites and direct download links. Avoid visiting dubious websites, and especially clicking ads displayed on them.

Once clicked, they often redirect users to other dubious sites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on. If unwanted redirects occur regularly or various ads appear on each opened page, check installed apps (extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons) on your web browser. If there are unknown, unwanted entries, they should be removed immediately.

Additionally, check the list of installed programs on your computer. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Screenshot of a questionable page opened by qdownloader[.]net, designed to promote a potentially unwanted app:

Appearance of qdownloader[.]net website promoting potentially unwanted applications (GIF):

Appearance of qdownloader[.]net website promoting fake Flash Player updater which injects adware into the system (GIF):

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 qdownloader[.]net?
• 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 qdownloader[.]net 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 by qdownloader.net, 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 qdownloader.net, 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 by qdownloader.net 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 qdownloader.net, 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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