How to remove advertisements presented by Access+ adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Access+?
Access+ is classified as adware. It delivers various unwanted and even harmful advertisements into search results provided by the Google search engine. Additionally, most adware-type apps have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing activity.
Access+ is no exception to this. Due to its dubious proliferation methods, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Following successful infiltration, Access+ inserts ads into Google search results. Adware can enable the placement of various intrusive advertisements, such as pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and so on, onto any website.
As well as reducing browsing speed and overlaying page content, when clicked, these ads redirect to sale-based, untrusted, rogue, deceptive, compromised, scam and malicious websites. Some can even be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts designed to download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs) without users' consent.
Unwanted applications can force-open similarly dangerous sites. Other types can hijack browsers by modifying their settings and restricting/denying access to them. This particular type modifies browsers to promote fake search engines.
These bogus search engines are rarely able to provide unique results, and so they tend to redirect to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other genuine search engines.
Access+ can track data, which is common to most PUAs. It monitors users' browsing habits (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collects personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This data is likely to contain personally identifiable information.
PUA developers misuse the gathered data for profit and often share it with third parties seeking to do the same. To summarize, the presence of these unwanted apps on systems can lead to infiltration/infections, financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft.
To ensure device integrity and user safety, remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.
| Name | Access+ search hijacker |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus. |
| Browser Extension(s) | Access+ |
| 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. |
Best Media Converter, MessengerHub and MessengerTime are some examples of other adware infections. Software within this classification tends to seem legitimate and useful, however, the features promised seldom work as advertised and, in most cases, do not work at all.
In fact, this applies to all PUAs. These unwanted applications have just one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no value. PUAs can cause serious issues. They run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects, and track sensitive data.
How did Access+ install on my computer?
Some PUAs (including Access+) have "official" promotional pages from which they can be downloaded, however, these apps are often downloaded/installed together with other products. This deceptive marketing tactic of packing unwanted or malicious applications with normal software is called "bundling".
Rushing download/installations (e.g. ignoring terms, using presets, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertent installation of bundled content, despite the presence of any opt-out options. Intrusive advertisements proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to perform these stealthy downloads/installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to research all products to verify their legitimacy, before download/installation. Downloads should be performed only from official and trustworthy sources. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders are untrusted and should be avoided.
When downloading/installing, it is important to read the terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and other additions. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Access+, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Access+ adware asking for data-related permissions:
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Quick menu:
- What is Access+?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Access+ application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Access+ adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Access+ ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Access+' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Access+ extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Access+ 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 "Access+", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes Access+ ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Access+ 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 "Access+", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the access+ search hijacker, 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 "Access+", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the access+ search hijacker, 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 "Access+".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with access+ search hijacker 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 access+ search hijacker, 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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Outstanding!
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