Ads by Media Watch

What is Media Watch?

The Media Watch browser add-on claims to enhance the Internet browsing experience by enabling users to open various media files. While such functionality may seem legitimate, this browser extension is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

This plugin adds no real value and generates intrusive third party ads ('Ads by Media Watch') including, for example, banner, text, and pop-up advertisements. Clicking ads shown by Media Watch can result in installation of additional adware or even high-risk malware.

As well as generating deceptive ads, this bogus browser plugin tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, operating systems, browser information, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, and other software and hardware information.

User browser tracking such as this can lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft. At time of research, this adware was distributed using deceptive free software 'download clients', which trick users into installing Media Watch without their consent. To avoid damage caused by this poorly-programmed adware, computer users should eliminate Media Watch from their Internet browser/s.

Media Watch is similar to other adware, which infiltrates Internet browsers via freeware downloads. Examples include OkitSpace, Right Coupon, and SafeWeb. These browser extensions promise to enhance users' Internet browsing experience, however, they only diminish browser performance and cause intrusive online ads.

To avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications such as these, express caution when downloading and installing free software since, today, most freeware download websites employ deceptive 'download clients' to monetize their free services.

Download clients are small programs, which manage the download process of free software and offer installation of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen freeware. To avoid adware infections, users should decline installation of promoted browser extensions.

Furthermore, when installing downloaded free programs, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal installation of any 'bundled' adware. Internet users who observe 'Ads by Media Watch' when browsing the Internet should use this removal guide to eliminate Media Watch adware from their Internet browser/s.

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Quick menu:

• What is Media Watch?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Media Watch application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Media Watch add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Media Watch plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Media Watch extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Media Watch extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Ads by Media Watch 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 "Media Watch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes 'Ads by Media Watch'), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove "Ads by Media Watch" from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Media Watch", select this entry and click "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the media watch virus, 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 "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "Media Watch", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the media watch virus, 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 on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove "Media Watch".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with media watch virus 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 media watch virus, 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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