Avoid youtubedownload.video and other similar websites

What is youtubedownload[.]video?

As its domain name suggests, youtubedownload[.]video is an online YouTube video downloader. People who use this website and video download service are often redirected to a variety of dubious websites - this is because youtubedownload[.]video uses rogue advertising networks. Note that it is illegal to download videos from YouTube.

At the time of research, youtubedownload[.]video led to a number of dubious websites, which promote potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) and are categorized as browser hijackers. PUAs should never be trusted, since they promote fake search engines by changing certain browser settings.

They also gather data including, for example, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, addresses of visited web pages, geolocations, etc. In some cases, they might be designed to record personal, confidential information. The data is often misused by developers and/or third parties to generate revenue.

Note that youtubedownload[.]video can lead to sites used to promote other PUAs, such as adware - software that, if installed, serves unwanted, often deceptive ads. If clicked, these ads open untrustworthy websites and sometimes execute scripts that cause download or even installation of other PUAs.

Furthermore, youtubedownload[.]video might open various scam pages such as apple.com-mac-optimization[.]live. Typically, these sites are used to trick visitors into installing dubious software. They inform visitors that they have 'detected' viruses on their computers and encourage removal of them with dubious apps.

Do not trust any web pages opened through youtubedownload[.]video or apps advertised on them. Additionally, youtubedownload[.]video asks permission to show notifications. Do not grant any such permissions, since these web pages then start to feed people with various notifications that contain dubious advertisements and other unwanted content.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by youtubedownload.video
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads.
Detection Names	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	104.28.14.21
Observed Domains	dl5.youtubedownload[.]video, dl4.youtubedownload[.]video, dl3.youtubedownload[.]video, dl2.youtubedownload[.]video, dl6.youtubedownload[.]video, dl1.youtubedownload[.]video.
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.

Other websites similar to youtubedownload[.]video include mp3-youtube[.]download, convert2mp3[.]net, and onlinevideoconverter[.]com.

Typically, they contain ads that lead to untrustworthy websites and/or redirects to them. In most cases, the opened pages advertise potentially unwanted software, and some advertise it using deceptive methods (by displaying fake virus notifications and so on).

How did adware install on my computer?

PUAs are commonly advertised on dubious web pages from which they can be downloaded, however, people often download and/or install them unintentionally through clicked deceptive ads or the set-ups of other programs. The latter distribution method is called "bundling".

Developers include PUAs into set-ups of other programs and present them as additional offers. In most cases, offers to download and/or install additional (potentially unwanted) software can be found in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. Many people fail to check or change these settings, thereby agreeing by default with offers to download and install PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not trust unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, third party downloaders, installers, or other sources of this kind to download or install software. The safest way is to use official websites and direct download links. Download and installation set-ups often have settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced".

Check these carefully and dismiss any offers to download or install unwanted software. Avoid clicking intrusive advertisements, especially those displayed on dubious web pages. For example, on pages relating to adult dating, pornography, gambling, etc. These ads can open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations.

Remove all unwanted, unknown or suspicious extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins from the browser, and programs of this kind from 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.

youtubedownload[.]video redirecting users to the searchdimension[.]com website (GIF):

youtubedownload[.]video redirecting users to the apple.com-mac-optimizer[.]live scam website (GIF):

youtubedownload[.]video redirecting users to a site that promotes the VideoConverterHD browser hijacker (GIF):

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

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 youtubedownload[.]video?
• 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 youtubedownload[.]video 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 youtubedownload.video, 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 youtubedownload.video, 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 youtubedownload.video 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 youtubedownload.video, 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 ads by youtubedownload.video or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion