PredictAd Adware

What is PredictAd?

PredictAd is an advertising platform used by many websites and browser plug-in developers. This platform is commonly implemented by browser extension developers in order to monetize their free plug-ins and applications. 

PredictAd is not a stand-alone program, and therefore, users who observe PredictAd advertisements (Powered by PredictAd) when browsing the Internet should check any recently-installed browser add-ons and software - they are likely to be the cause of these ads (appearing in search boxes).

These ads alone are not categorized as viruses or malware, however, clicking them can cause serious privacy and computer security issues.

Commonly, these ads lead to dubious websites, and you are advised not to navigate to these sites. Many computer users report that they did not willingly install any browser plug-ins, however, still observe PredictAd ads when browsing sites such as Wikipedia, Google, or other popular websites.

This situation may occur if computer users have recently downloaded and installed free software. Many download websites employ 'download clients', which manage the process of freeware download and offer (some in a deceptive way) installation of additional (promoted) free browser extensions.

Internet users who do not pay close enough attention to the download or installation steps of free software risk inadvertently installing adware, which subsequently causes PredictAd ads.

The PredictAd advertising platform is similar to Cloudget, Online Advertising Support, DailyOfferService, OnlineBrowserAdvertising, InterYield, Nav-links, and "Ads not by this site" adware. These platforms use intrusive ads, which appear within any sites visited and are bundled with third-party browser add-ons or applications.

These rogue browser add-ons present a virtual graphic layer over any existing web page, and in the case of PredictAd, text-link ads appear on visited websites search boxes, which link to dubious websites. To avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications causing PredictAd ads, be attentive when downloading free software.

If your download is managed by a download client, look for the 'decline' button and opt-out of installation of any promoted programs or browser add-ons. If you observe PredictAd ads when browsing the Internet use the removal guide provided to eliminate adware causing them.

Deceptive free software installer used in PredictAd adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is PredictAd?
• STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove PredictAd ads from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove PredictAd advertisements from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove PredictAd pop-ups from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove PredictAd extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

PredictAd ads 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 any recently-installed applications, which appear suspicious or out of place. Select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

At time of testing, PredictAd ads were bundled with an app called "AutocompletePro", however, each case can be different. In the uninstall programs window, look for any recently-installed programs, which appear out of place or suspicious. Select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs (which cause PredictAd ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove PredictAd ads 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 any recently-installed browser add-ons ("AC-Pro") and remove them. Note that by default, there should be no browser extensions.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the autocompletepro adware, 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 icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed (potentially unwanted) browser add-ons ("AutocompletePro plugin for chrome") and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the autocompletepro adware, 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 any recently-installed add-ons ("AutocompletePro"). Note that by default, the extensions list in Firefox is empty.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with autocompletepro adware 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 autocompletepro adware, 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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