How to uninstall MoFinder adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is MoFinder?
MoFinder is software, categorized as adware. While typically applications of this type are promoted as "useful", they operate by running intrusive advertisement campaigns. Therefore, MoFinder delivers various unwanted, dubious and even harmful ads. Since most users install this program inadvertently, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Advertisements delivered by adware include (but are not limited to) pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons and many others. Intrusive ads significantly diminish the browsing experience, as they reduce browsing speed and limit site visibility (by overlaying web page content).
While this is a significant nuisance, ads of this kind are also a threat to device health and user safety. When they are clicked, they redirect to various sale-based, untrustworthy/rogue, compromised, deceptive/scam and even malicious websites. Through these sites, users can encounter dubious and malicious material, which can lead to serious problems.
Additionally, these advertisements can be triggered (by clicking them) to execute scripts, designed to download/install unwanted content without users' permission. PUAs are just one example of rogue software that can infiltrate systems via intrusive ads. Adware is not the only type of PUA, which can have many varied capabilities.
PUAs (including adware) can record browsing activity (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This sensitive data is often shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for profit.
Therefore, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections and lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user safety, you are advised to remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
Name | Ads by MoFinder |
Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus. |
Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Graftor.680678), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/MoFinder.A Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.Generic), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
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, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
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. |
FlowAds, Lightening Media Player, MessengerNow and Bookmark this Page are examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem legitimate and often entice users into download/installation with offers of "useful" functions. These features are varied, ranging from quick access tools to content providers, however, they are generally nonoperational.
In fact, this applies to all PUAs. The sole purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate revenue for the developers at users' expense. PUAs deliver intrusive advertisements, modify browsers and limit/deny access to their settings, force-open untrustworthy/malicious pages and gather private data.
How did MoFinder install on my computer?
Some PUAs (including MoFinder) have "official" promotional web pages from which they can be downloaded (often free of charge). PUAs also proliferate through the download/install set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing method of packing normal content with unwanted or malicious content is called "bundling".
Rushing download and installation processes (e.g. skimming or ignoring terms, using presets, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled programs onto systems, thereby endangering them with potential infiltration and infections. Intrusive ads also proliferate PUAs. When clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Research all products to verify their legitimacy, prior to download/installation. Use official and trustworthy download sources. Avoid P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting sites and other third party downloaders, since these can offer deceptive and/or bundled software.
When downloading/installing, read the terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and other additions. Intrusive advertisements may seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious websites, such as gambling, pornography, adult-dating and so on.
If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the device and remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins without delay. If your computer is already infected with MoFinder, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is MoFinder?
- STEP 1. Uninstall MoFinder application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove MoFinder adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove MoFinder ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by MoFinder' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove MoFinder extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
MoFinder 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 "MoFinder", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes MoFinder ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove MoFinder adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, MoFinder did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your 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 mofinder, 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 mofinder, 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by mofinder 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 mofinder, 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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