How to remove the Motivational Quotes adware-type browser extension
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is Motivational Quotes?
While inspecting suspicious sites, our researchers found one promoting a browser extension called Motivational Quotes. It is endorsed as a tool that displays famous entrepreneur quotes on the Google homepage. However, our inspection of this extension revealed that it operates as adware. In other words, Motivational Quotes runs intrusive advertisement campaigns and collects private data.
Motivational Quotes adware overview
Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It enables the placement of third-party graphical content (advertisements) on visited websites and/or other interfaces.
The displayed ads promote online scams, untrustworthy/harmful software, and even malware. Some intrusive adverts can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations once clicked on. It is noteworthy that any genuine products encountered via these ads are most likely endorsed by scammers seeking to acquire illegitimate commissions by abusing affiliate programs.
Adware might not deliver adverts if certain conditions are unsuitable, e.g., incompatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to particular sites, etc. Regardless of whether Motivational Quotes displays advertisements - its presence endangers device and user safety.
Furthermore, Motivational Quotes has data tracking functionalities. Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. The collected information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
In summary, the presence of advertising-supported software like Motivational Quotes on devices can lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Ads by Motivational Quotes |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Browser Extension(s) | Motivational Quotes |
| Supposed Functionality | Displaying quotes from famous individuals. |
| 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
We have analyzed thousands of adware samples; Parental Control: BlackList, Ad-free | best ad blocker, Screen Recorder, and Moviesm are merely some of our latest finds. This software tends to look harmless and offers a broad range of functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as promised, and in most cases - they do not work at all.
How did Motivational Quotes install on my computer?
Advertising-supported software may have "official" promotional pages, and it is endorsed on scam sites. We found both types pushing the Motivational Quotes browser extension. Users typically access such websites via redirects caused by mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, webpages using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).
Intrusive advertisements are used to distribute this software as well. When clicked on, some of these ads can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user permission.
Adware can also be bundled with (packed alongside) ordinary programs. Download from dubious channels (e.g., unofficial and freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.
How to avoid installation of adware?
We strongly advise researching software and downloading only from official/verified channels. Furthermore, installation processes must be treated with caution, e.g., by reading terms, studying possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, etc.
Another recommendation is to exercise care when browsing - as illegitimate and malicious content usually appears innocuous. For example, intrusive advertisements look ordinary/harmless, but they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., adult-dating, gambling, pornography, etc.).
In case of encounters with such ads/redirects, check the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Motivational Quotes, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Screenshot of Motivational Quotes adware's "official" promotional website:
Screenshot of a deceptive website used to promote Motivational Quotes 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 Motivational Quotes?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Motivational Quotes application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Motivational Quotes ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove 'Ads by Motivational Quotes' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove Motivational Quotes extension from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Motivational Quotes 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 "Motivational Quotes", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application (which causes Motivational Quotes ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Motivational Quotes adware from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove Motivational Quotes adware using Combo Cleaner:
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 "Motivational Quotes" and all other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by motivational quotes, 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 and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Motivational Quotes" and all other recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by motivational quotes 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 motivational quotes, 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 motivational quotes 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. It typically has data tracking abilities - therefore, is considered to be a privacy threat. Adware-delivered adverts promote hazardous content that can cause severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.).
What does adware do?
Adware is designed to run intrusive ad campaigns. In other words, this software displays advertisements on visited websites and/or other interfaces. Additionally, this software may be capable of causing redirects and collecting private data.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Adware developers generate revenue primarily via affiliate programs by endorsing various websites, apps, products, and other content. Profit may come in the form of commissions earned from ad clicks, site visits, file downloads, product purchases, or similar.
Will Combo Cleaner remove Motivational Quotes adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate all the adware-type apps present. It has to be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be ideal. In some cases, even after the adware has been manually removed - various files remain within the system. These remnants may continue running and causing issues. Hence, advertising-supported software must be eliminated thoroughly.
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