How to avoid unwanted ads from openload.co

What is openload[.]co?

openload[.]co is a file hosting website, however, research shows that it contains dubious files, including illegal software 'cracking' tools. Additionally, this web page contains rogue ads and causes redirects to various other dubious websites. Do not use these sites, since they can lead to unwanted applications or even malware being installed on the system.

The openload[.]co website contains dubious ads that redirect people to other rogue, potentially malicious sites. These sites often promote potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). For example, adware, browser hijackers, and so on. PUAs feed users with unwanted ads, collect data, cause unwanted redirects, change browser settings, etc.

Many sites such as openload[.]co open other deceptive pages that display virus/error alerts and other notifications to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted software. Furthermore, openload[.]co is used to host unofficial activation tools ('cracking' software).

These are illegal and might be designed to cause download and installation of malicious software such as ransomware. When opened, openload[.]co asks visitors for permission to show notifications. If allowed, it displays various ads in the form of push-notifications.

It is not safe to click notifications displayed by dubious websites such as openload[.]co, since they open other dubious sites that might contain malware or are used to advertise other unwanted applications.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by openload.co
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads
Detection Names (openload[.]co)	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (openload[.]co)	104.16.164.50
Observed Domains	api.openload[.]co, tt2.openload[.]co, tt1.openload[.]co, support.openload[.]co, t1.openload[.]co, thumb.openload[.]co, analytics.openload[.]co, mail.openload[.]co, ftp.openload[.]co, t2.openload[.]co.
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.

openload[.]co is very similar to filerio[.]in, however, there are many other sites of this type including Nitroflare[.]com and mysuccesspaths[.]com.

These site are supposedly useful, however, they contain rogue ads, cause unwanted redirects, and often display unwanted notifications. It is not safe to use or visit web pages of this type. For this reason, we advise against using openload[.]co

How did adware install on my computer?

In most cases, users download and install PUAs through intrusive ads or during download or installation of other, regular software. In any case, most people download and install PUAs unintentionally when people do not check settings of various download or installation set-ups.

Typically, information about additional (bundled) apps is hidden in options such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. Leaving settings unchecked or unchanged, often allows PUAs to be downloaded and installed.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Do not download or install software through third party downloaders (or installers), torrent clients, eMule (and other P2P networks), unofficial pages, and so on. Use official web pages and direct download links. Check the "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings that are available in the download/installation set-ups and deselect unwanted offers/features.

When clicked, intrusive ads often redirect to untrustworthy websites. You are strongly advised not to click ads that are displayed on sites relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on. If the default browser opens dubious pages or shows unwanted ads, it might have adware or other PUA installed on it.

In these cases, check the list of installed plug-ins, extensions, and add-ons, and remove all unwanted entries. Also remove any unwanted programs installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of openload[.]co website (GIF):

openload[.]co opens a dubious web page that asks to show notifications:

Notification by openload[.]co:

Another notification by this page:

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 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

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Quick menu:

• What is openload[.]co?
• 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 openload[.]co 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 openload.co, 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 openload.co, 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 openload.co 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 openload.co, 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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