Ads by ConvertAd

What is ConvertAd?

ConvertAd is a rogue browser extension that installs on Internet browsers using a deceptive free software marketing method called 'bundling'. Bundling allows infiltration of systems during installation of other software, and therefore, most users inadvertently install ConvertAd during download of free software from freeware download websites.

After Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox are successfully infiltrated, ConvertAd delivers banner, coupon, pop-up, and other types of intrusive advertisements. Clicking ads generated by ConvertAd often leads to dubious websites containing bogus content, which may infect your system with adware or malware.

ConvertAd collects various information such as IP addresses, visited websites, pages viewed, activity on these pages, search queries, and other details. This tracked information may be personally identifiable and lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

ConvertAd is similar to other adware that demonstrate this behavior. Web United, PastaLeads, External Source, and Eppink are just some examples among many other similar rogue applications.

Be aware that applications such as ConvertAd are useless to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of advertisements and sharing collected data with third parties. You are strongly advised to eliminate ConvertAd from your system.

Research shows that rogue applications such as ConvertAd are mostly distributed on freeware download websites including download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com and many others.

These websites employ small download programs (called 'installers', 'download clients', 'download managers', etc.) to monetize their free services and traffic in exchange for offering installation of additional applications together with the chosen free software.

Although these advertised programs are claimed to be '100% legitimate and virus-free', reckless download and installation often results in adware or malware infections. This situation can be prevented by closely analysing each step of the free software download procedure and ensuring that no other applications are included.

Furthermore, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' options when installing downloaded software - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to uncheck them. If you have installed ConvertAd, read the removal guide provided and eliminate this adware from your system.

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Quick menu:

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

ConvertAd 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 "ConvertAd", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove ConvertAd adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, ConvertAd 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 "gear" 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 convertad 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 "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertad 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with convertad 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 convertad 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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