Movies123 Suspicious Website
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Movies123?
Movies123 allows people to watch various movies online free of charge, however, it provides this service through illegal streaming websites. Additionally, people who develop these websites employ rogue advertising networks. Therefore, using services provided by Movies123 risks computer infection by adware-type and other potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
There are a number of variants of Movies123 websites that invite people to watch movies free of charge, however, all are used to promote various adware-type PUAs (and others). If installed, adware feeds users with intrusive, often deceptive ads. For example, coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on.
People who click them are redirected to dubious, deceptive web pages or it allows the ads to run scripts that download other unwanted apps.
These PUAs (including some adware) might be designed to gather browsing-related information such as users' IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on. people who develop these apps usually share all information with third parties who misuse it to generate revenue.
In some cases, these third parties include cyber criminals. Furthermore, Movies123's websites ask visitors for permission to show notifications. Do not allow dubious pages to show them, since they can start to display deceptive ads, unwanted notifications, and so on.
If clicked, they might also cause installation of unwanted applications. Note also that visitors to these movie streaming pages are redirected to deceptive web page, for example, those informing visitors that their computers are infected and encouraging them to install unwanted, untrustworthy applications. To avoid any this, avoid all of Movies123's websites.
Name | Movies123 adware |
Threat Type | Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads |
Related Domains | moovies123[.]com, movies123[.]ac, movies123[.]buzz, movies123[.]city, movies123[.]com, movies123[.]live, movies123[.]pro, movies123[.]top, movies123[.]watch, movies123[.]world, w1.movies123[.]io |
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. |
Some examples of adware-type apps include MyBestPrice, Clicker, and CraniumCapacity Ads. Typically, developers present them as legitimate apps that supposedly provide useful features. Unfortunately, most generate revenue for the developers and cause problems for the users. If there are any apps of this type installed on your system, removed them immediately.
How did Movies123 install on my computer?
Generally, people download and install adware-type and other unwanted applications of this type unintentionally. Software developers often use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" to trick them - they include unwanted apps into set-ups of other software.
They hide information relating to this in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar sections of the download/installation set-ups. These settings are often left unchanged, and PUAs are then installed with other software. Additionally, unwanted installations can occur by clicking untrustworthy ads that run scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Do not skip download/installation setup steps, especially if the software is free. Check all included "Custom", "Advanced (and other similar) settings, dismiss offers to download or install unwanted apps, and only then complete the setup.
Download software from official websites, avoid using third party software downloaders/installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule and other similar sources. Avoid clicking ads that are displayed on dubious web pages, since they can lead to other rogue sites or cause unwanted downloads/installations.
If a browser opens untrustworthy web pages, or unwanted ads are displayed on any visited web page, check for unwanted, unknown apps installed on the browser. Also check the list of installed extensions, add-ons, plug-ins, and remove unwanted entries.
The same applies to programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Movies123, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Notifications displayed by movies123.watch website:
Deceptive websites (to which movies123 sites redirect) designed to promote unwanted apps:
Other variants of Movies123 websites:
Movies123 and other websites asking to show notifications:
IMPORTANT NOTE! As mentioned above, some rogue sites 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 set the toggle button to "OFF"
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"
Internet Explorer:
- Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
- Select "Internet options"
- Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
- Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button
Microsoft Edge:
- Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window
- Scroll down, find and click "Settings"
- Scroll down again and click "View advanced settings"
- Click "Manage" under "Website permissions"
- Click the switch under each suspicious website
Safari (Mac):
- Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences..."
- Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
- Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each
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 Movies123?
- 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 Movies123 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 movies123 adware, 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 movies123 adware, 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 movies123 adware 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 movies123 adware, 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.
Post a comment:
If you have additional information on movies123 adware or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
▼ Show Discussion