Uninstall apps that force browser to open skolk.pro

What is skolk[.]pro?

In most cases, browsers open websites such as skolk[.]pro due to potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) installed on the browser and/or operating system. These websites are not generally opened intentionally. When visited, however, they load dubious content or redirect people to other untrustworthy web pages.

Some examples of other websites similar to skolk[.]pro are balanceformoon[.]com, mediazone[.]mobi and toobotnews[.]biz. Most PUAs open untrustworthy websites, collect information relating to users' browsing activity and/or serve intrusive advertisements.

When opened (in a new browser or window), skolk[.]pro loads dubious content or opens more (about 2-3) untrustworthy websites. The way websites such as skolk[.]pro operate when opened depends on visitors' geolocations. At the time of research, skolk[.]pro displayed a message stating that, to play a video, users are required to click the "Allow" button.

This is one of many 'clickbait' techniques that websites of this kind use to trick visitors into allowing them to show notifications. People who click the button allow the web pages to show notifications, which usually contain dubious advertisements, links to untrustworthy websites, and so on.

We advise against giving these rogue pages permission to show notifications. Furthermore, PUAs usually gather information and display advertisements. They usually collect details relating to users' browsing activities (IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, etc.), however, in some cases, they record sensitive data.

Developers sell the information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. PUAs also display ads (coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, etc.) - if clicked, these open untrustworthy websites or run scripts designed to cause download/installation of PUAs or other malicious programs. Therefore, do not trust or download/install any PUAs.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by skolk.pro
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads.
Detection Names	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Serving IP Address	88.208.60.53
Related Domains	exuc9.skolk[.]pro, 27d65.skolk[.]pro, 7p8ds.skolk[.]pro, 5l67m.skolk[.]pro, 3kqxl.skolk[.]pro, oy1bf.skolk[.]pro, gjrkh.skolk[.]pro, 471xd.skolk[.]pro, mb1ah.skolk[.]pro, 68z1y.skolk[.]pro.
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.

Developers of PUAs advertise them as useful, legitimate applications, however, they do not operate as promoted. They deliver no useful features or any other value.

They are designed only to help developers to generate revenue. Having apps of this type installed on computers or browsers might cause problems relating to browsing safety and privacy. Data gathered by PUAs is also misused to steal identities.

How did adware install on my computer?

People often download and install PUAs unintentionally together with regular software when it has one or more PUAs included in the download/installation setup. This PUA distribution method is called "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted software.

PUAs are downloaded and installed when people leave "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the set-ups unchanged. In this way, people inadvertently agree with offers to download/install additionally-included software. Unintentional downloads and installations are also caused by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Files and programs should be downloaded from official websites, since other sources could be used to distribute unwanted applications. Examples of tools and channels that should be avoided are third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, free file hosting pages and Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, etc.).

Do not click intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on untrustworthy websites. These ads can open other rogue pages or execute scripts that download or install unwanted apps.

If your browser opens dubious web pages and/or displays ads, remove all unwanted, suspicious apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) from the browser and software of this kind from the operating system immediately. 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 skolk[.]pro website (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 Ads by skolk.pro?
• STEP 1. Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome
• STEP 2. Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome (Android)
• STEP 3. Remove spam notifications from Mozilla Firefox
• STEP 4. Remove spam notifications from Microsoft Edge
• STEP 5. Remove spam notifications from Safari (macOS)

Disable unwanted browser notifications:

Video showing how to disable web browser notifications:

Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome:

Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings". In the opened window select "Privacy and security", then click on "Site Settings" and choose "Notifications".

In the "Allowed to send notifications" list search for websites that you want to stop receiving notifications from. Click on the three dots icon near the website URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome (Android):

Tap the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings". Scroll down, tap on "Site settings" and then "Notifications".

In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and tap on them one-by-one. Once the pop-up shows up, select either "Block" or "Remove" (if you tap "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen. Select "Settings" 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 and block them using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove Website" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove Website" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Microsoft Edge:

Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window and select "Settings". Click on "Cookies and site permissions" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen and select "Notifications".

Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL under "Allow" section and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Safari (macOS):

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 using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

How to avoid browser notification spam?

Internet users should be very skeptical when being asked to allow notifications. While this is a useful feature that allows you to receive timely news from websites you like, deceptive marketers frequently abuse it.

Only allow notifications from websites that you fully trust. For added security - use an anti-malware application with a real-time web browsing monitor to block shady websites that tries to trick you into allowing spam notifications. We recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

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