Removal instructions for Healthiness adware and the ads it displays
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Healthiness adware?
Healthiness is a piece of rogue software that our research team discovered while inspecting dubious download webpages. After analyzing this app, we determined that it operates as advertising-supported software (adware) and that is nearly identical to Bloom adware.
Healthiness adware overview
Advertising-supported software is designed to display advertisements on visited websites and/or other interfaces. These adverts promote untrustworthy/harmful sites and applications, online scams (e.g., fake virus and outdated software alerts, etc.), and even malware. Some intrusive ads can stealthily download/install software - once clicked.
Note that any legitimate products encountered through adware-displayed adverts are unlikely to be endorsed by their actual developers. This promotion is undertaken by scammers abusing the products' affiliate programs to obtain illegitimate commissions.
It must be mentioned that adware may require certain conditions to be met (e.g., compatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to particular websites, etc.) - to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. However, regardless of whether Healthiness (or other advertising-supported software) displays advertisements - its presence endangers device/user safety.
Furthermore, Healthiness likely has data tracking abilities. Adware typically targets browsing-related data (e.g., visited websites, viewed pages, searched queries, etc.), personally identifiable details, usernames/passwords, credit card numbers, and so forth. The collected information is monetized through sale to third-parties.
To summarize, the presence of software like Healthiness on devices - can lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Ads by Healthiness |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Detection Names (installer) | Combo Cleaner (Application.AdSearch), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Script.AdSearch.g), Lionic (Adware.Script.AdSearch.2!c), Zillya (Adware.AdSearch.Script.1), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Detection Names (app) | Combo Cleaner (Application.AdSearch), Jiangmin (AdWare.Script.gh), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Script.AdSearch.gen), Lionic (Adware.Script.AdSearch.2!c), Zillya (Adware.AdSearch.Script.1), 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. |
Adware examples
Extra-Dark, Encyclopedia Wanderer, Everyday Quote, and Rainbow Blocker are some examples of the adware we have analyzed recently. Advertising-supported software usually appears legitimate and offers "useful" features. However, these functionalities rarely work as promised, and in most cases - they are utterly nonoperational.
How did Healthiness install on my computer?
We acquired Healthiness from a dubious download page. Software within this classification is often promoted through dubious and deceptive websites. Most users enter such webpages via redirects caused by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, or installed adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).
Bundling - packing regular programs with unwanted/malicious additions - is also used to distribute advertising-supported software. Download from dubious channels (e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations - increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.
Intrusive adverts are used to proliferate adware as well. Once clicked on, some of these ads can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent.
How to avoid installation of adware?
We strongly advise researching software and downloading only from official/verified sources. Additionally, installation processes must be approached with caution, e.g., by reading terms, studying available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out of all supplements.
We recommend being vigilant when browsing - since illegitimate and malicious content usually appears harmless. For example, intrusive advertisements look legitimate yet redirect to questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
If you experience ads/redirects of this kind, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Healthiness, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Screenshots of Healthiness adware's processes on Windows Task Manager (process names - "Healthiness application copyright", "Healthiness Software Copyright © 2022"):
Screenshot of the website used to promote Healthiness adware:
Screenshot of the deceptive installer (ISO file) used to spread Healthiness 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:
▼ 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 Healthiness?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Healthiness application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Healthiness ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove 'Ads by Healthiness' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove Healthiness extension from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Healthiness 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 "Healthiness", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application (which causes Healthiness ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Healthiness adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Healthiness did not install its browser plug-ins on Microsoft Edge, 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 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 healthiness, 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 plugins 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 healthiness 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 healthiness, 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 healthiness or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What harm can adware cause?
Adware can decrease browsing quality and system performance. This software typically has data tracking abilities, which make it a threat to user privacy. Furthermore, adware-delivered ads can be deceptive/malicious and cause severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.).
What does adware do?
Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It operates by enabling the placement of third-party graphical content (ads) on visited websites and/or different interfaces. This software may also force-open sites and collect private information.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Adware developers primarily profit via affiliate programs by endorsing various websites, apps, products, services, and similar.
Will Combo Cleaner remove Healthiness adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of scanning computers and eliminating installed adware-type apps. It is noteworthy that manual removal (unaided by security software) might be ineffective. In some instances, even after the adware itself has been (manually) removed - various file leftovers stay hidden within the system. Furthermore, such remnants may continue running and causing issues. Therefore, it is paramount to remove adware thoroughly.
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