Ads by MediaAds

What is MediaAds?

The MediaAds browser extension claims to enhance the Internet browsing experience by displaying website content and advertisements relating to users' interests. While this functionality may seem legitimate, be aware that MediaAds is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

Many reputable antivirus and anti-malware programs detect MediaAds as a Trojan or malware. Commonly, users install this browser extension inadvertently without their consent when downloading free software. Developers of this add-on employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'.

This marketing method is legal, however, many analyzed free software 'download clients' and 'installers' fail to inform users of additional applications listed for installation together with free programs.

After successful installation on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox), MediaAds generates intrusive banner, pop-up, pop-under, and interstitial advertisements (usually marked as 'Ads by MediaAds').

Furthermore, this add-on tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, Internet service providers allocated to the device, URLs of webpages visited, antivirus programs installed, and other information, which can be personally identifiable.

The presence of MediaAds on your system may lead to malware infections (when clicking ads generated by this plug-in), and since it tracks users' Internet browsing activity, may also lead to privacy issues and identity theft.

MediaAds is similar to other potentially unwanted programs, which install on browsers without users' consent. Examples include Trust Media Viewer, Media Buzz, Rich Media View, and Baseflash. These plug-ins promise to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by adding various features, however, they only diminish browser performance and generate unwanted ads.

To avoid installation of adware such as this, express caution when downloading and installing freeware. When downloading free programs, inspect each download step and opt-out of installation of any advertised browser plug-ins by clicking the 'decline' button.

When installing free software, choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled adware listed for installation.

Users who have already installed MediaAds and observe various unwanted advertisements when surfing the Internet (Ads by MediaAds), should use this removal guide to eliminate MediaAds adware from their Internet browser/s.

MediaAds banner ads ('Ads by MediaAds') appearing in various websites (using a virtual graphic layer over any existing web page):

 

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Quick menu:

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

MediaAds 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 "MediaAds", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove". Note that this adware is known to hide under different names. Examples include: "Network System Driver", "MediaBuzzV1", "MediaPlayerV1", "WebenexpV1", and "Trust Media View". When in Control Panel be sure to uninstall all suspicious applications.

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

Remove MediaAds 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 "MediaAds", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mediaads 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 menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "MediaAds", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mediaads 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 "MediaAds".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with mediaads 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 mediaads 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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