How to remove apps causing redirects to the news-howaci.cc website?

What is the news-howaci[.]cc website?

News-howaci[.]cc is a rogue webpage, which operates by presenting visitors with dubious content and/or redirecting them to other untrustworthy and possibly malicious sites. Users seldom access news-howaci[.]cc and similar websites intentionally; most get redirected to them by intrusive advertisements or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

This software can infiltrate systems without user consent. PUAs can have heinous abilities, including - causing redirects, running intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collecting information relating to browsing activity.

There are thousands of rogue sites on the Web; special-message.online, wouldreallyl.biz, success-news.net, and ooddeco.online are but a few examples.

When news-howaci[.]cc is accessed, it first checks the visitor's IP (Internet Protocol) address to learn their geolocations. This data dictates the webpage's behavior. In other words, whether visitors are presented with questionable material and/or get redirected elsewhere - depends on their geolocations/ IP addresses.

Furthermore, websites of this type tend to use deceptive tactics to lure users into allowing their browser notifications. This is true of news-howaci[.]cc as well; it states - "This video cannot be played!/ Your browser may not allow video playback./ Click the 'Allow' button to view the video.".

If tricked, users will inadvertently allow news-howaci[.]cc to run intrusive advert campaigns. The delivered advertisements are more than just a nuisance, they also endanger device and user safety.

Once clicked on, intrusive ads redirect to various unreliable/dangerous webpages, and some can download/install software (e.g., PUAs) without user consent. PUAs can have different functionalities, and these functions can be in varied combinations.

To elaborate, these apps can force-open pages and/or deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns. What is more, PUAs usually have data tracking abilities.

They can record browsing activity (URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather sensitive information extracted from it (IP addresses/ geolocations, personally identifiable details, etc.). The gathered data is then shared with and/or sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

In summary, the presence of unwanted software on devices can result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. Therefore, it is crucial to eliminate all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	news-howaci.cc pop-up
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Malicious), Fortinet (Malware), Sophos (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	193.108.117.37
Observed Domains	1.news-howaci[.]cc
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.

PUAs rarely appear suspect, they look legitimate and harmless. Users are enticed into download/installation with offers of various "useful" features.

However, the advertised functions are typically nonoperational. The sole purpose of unwanted software is to generate profit at user expense.

Therefore, instead of delivering on any promises, PUAs can force-open untrustworthy and malicious websites, run intrusive ad campaigns, and collect vulnerable information.

How did adware install on my computer?

PUAs can be downloaded/installed together with other products. This false marketing method of packing ordinary software with unwanted or malicious additions is named - bundling.

Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, used "Easy/Express" setting, etc.) increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the device, thereby endangering the system with potential infections. Upon being clicked, intrusive adverts can execute scripts to make stealthy downloads/installations.

PUAs may also have "official" promotional sites from which they can be downloaded.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Only official and trustworthy download channels must be used.

Since dubious download sources, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - commonly offer bundled and/or harmful content. When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opt-out from additional apps, tools, features, etc.

It is just as important to exercise caution when browsing. Intrusive advertisements appear legitimate and innocuous; however, they redirect to various unreliable webpages (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and so forth). In case of encounters with ads and/or redirects of this kind, the system must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - removed from it without delay.

If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Screenshots of ads delivered by the news-howaci[.]cc website:

Appearance of the news-howaci[.]cc 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 news-howaci.cc pop-up?
• 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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