PopDown Adware

What is PopDown?

According to the developers, PopDown is a legitimate application used to block intrusive online advertisements - "Did you have enough from all the Ads and pop-up that you get every time you go online? If the answer is “yes”, you need PopDown. With PopDown you can make sure no pop-up will interfere you surfing the internet."

This app might seem legitimate and useful, however, be aware that it is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP), since it infiltrates systems without users' permission, tracks Internet browsing activity, and displays intrusive online advertisements.

Although PopDown claims to block intrusive online advertisements, it actually generates them. PopDown employs a virtual layer to display pop-up, pop-under, interstitial, banner, and other similar ads. These ads do not originate from the visited websites, conceal underlying content, and thus diminish the Internet browsing experience.

Furthermore, some redirect to infectious websites - clicking them can lead to various high-risk adware or malware infections.

Another downside of this PUP is  information tracking. PopDown collects various information that might include personally identifiable details such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geographic locations), websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other gathered data.

These details are shared with third parties who can misuse it to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of PopDown adware on your system may lead to various privacy issues or even identity theft. If you are concerned with your privacy and Internet browsing safety, eliminate PopDown adware immediately.

PopDown is not the only application giving fake promises to trick users. Most adware-type apps (for example, MyBrowser, Games Desktop, and FutureGames) claim to enhance the Internet browsing experience by enabling various features.

In fact, their purpose is to generate revenue by displaying advertisements and collecting personally identifiable information. Users receive no real value.

How did PopDown install on my computer?

PopDown adware is usually distributed as a 'bundle' with other applications. Many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software - they rush these processes and pay little attention.

Developers are aware of this, and intentionally conceal rogue apps such as PopDown within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. By skipping this section, users often inadvertently install PUPs and expose their systems to risk of further infection.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Only by paying close attention can you protect your system from similar infections. All software should be downloaded and installed with caution. Closely follow each step and use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' download/installation options - this will prevent PUPs from remaining concealed, and you will be able to opt-out.

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove PopDown adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, PopDown 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 popdown 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 "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 popdown 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 plug-ins 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 popdown 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 popdown 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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