Games Desktop Adware

What is Games Desktop?

Created by Tuto4Pc, Games Desktop is a potentially unwanted program claiming to enable users to download free popular games.

Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Games Desktop is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP) since it employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen free software) to install on Internet browsers without users' consent.

Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Games Desktop generates numerous intrusive online advertisement that are likely to cause high-risk adware or malware infections. For example: coupon, banner, pop-up, and in-text ads.

In addition, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since this potentially unwanted browser add-on collects various information such as IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, ads clicked, and other details that may be personally identifiable.

This behavior could lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft. There are many potentially unwanted programs similar to Games Desktop including, for example, BuyNsave, Click Caption, OneSoftPerDay, and MyBestOffersToday.

These browser plug-ins are useless to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements. Therefore, Internet users are strongly advised to uninstall Games Desktop from their Internet browsers.

Close examination of Games Desktop reveals that it is mostly distributed using free software download managers on freeware download websites such as softonic.com, download.com, soft32.com and many others.

Download managers are used by these websites as free service monetization tools since they offer installation of promoted 'legitimate' browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.

This situation can be prevented by inspecting each step of the free software download process and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered.

Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation together with the downloaded software and allow you to decline them. If you have already installed Games Desktop, follow the removal instructions provided to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in Games Desktop adware distribution:

Games Desktop adware generating intrusive pop-up ads - gmsd_ca_482.exe file ('Message from a webpage'):

"Brand new iPhone 6 for 1$?":

Another sample of an intrusive pop-up ad generated by Games Desktop adware:

Attention: Your Browser seems to have encountered a problem because your IP address may have a severe adware/malware attack. To block access to your personal and financial information from foreign IP’s, Windows has blocked access to the Internet. It is highly recommended that you call network diagnostic experts and get the issue fixed. Please call 1-855-710-0010 for free diagnosis. (24x7 Toll Free Support Line)

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Quick menu:

• What is Games Desktop?
• STEP 1. Uninstall GamesDesktop application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Games Desktop ads from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Games Desktop advertisements from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Games Desktop' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Games Desktop extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Games Desktop 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 "GamesDesktop", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Games Desktop adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Games Desktop did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, 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 add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gears" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the games desktop ads, 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 any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the games desktop ads, 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 suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with games desktop ads 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 games desktop ads, 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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