Removing the Free Ride Games Player adware from your operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Free Ride Games Player?
Free Ride Games Player is a deceptive application that supposedly allows users to play various addictive Flash games. Initially, Free Ride Games Player may seem a legitimate and useful app, however, it is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
One of the main reasons for these negative associations is stealth installation without users' permission. Following installation, this PUP displays online advertisements and tracks Internet browsing activity.
Free Ride Games Player adware overview
This application is designed to collect Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geographic location), website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar Internet browsing-related information. Some of the collected data might contain personally identifiable details that are shared with third parties and misused to generate revenue.
This behavior can lead to various privacy issues. Furthermore, Free Ride Games Player generates various pop-up advertisements and notifications on users' desktops. While most of these ads redirect to random websites (for example, online stores), some may redirect to infectious sites.
Thus, clicking them risks system infection with high-risk adware or malware. These ads are extremely inconvenient, since they continually fill up the screen. For these reasons, users should uninstall Free Ride Games Player immediately.
| Name | Free Ride Games Player adware |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Symptoms | Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
| Distribution Methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling). |
| Damage | Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Adware examples
Free Ride Games Player is similar to other adware-type applications such as Print PDF Pro, FullVideoConverter Pro, Rocket Media Player, and ScrollUp. All adware claims to be legitimate and useful, however, these applications intentionally give fake promises of enabling useful functionality to trick users to install.
Their purpose is to generate revenue for the developers, and therefore, after infiltrating the system, apps such as Free Ride Games Player merely generate intrusive online advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model), and collect personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third party companies).
How did Free Ride Games Player install on my computer?
Free Ride Games Player infiltrates the system during installation of various Flash games. This deceptive software marketing method is called 'bundling'.
The developers conceal third party programs within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, since they are aware that many users rush the download and installation processes and skip this section - thus, leading to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs. This behavior compromises users' privacy and exposes their systems to risk of further infection.
How to avoid installation of adware?
There are two main steps you should take to prevent installation of potentially unwanted programs. Firstly, use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings when downloading/installing software and closely analyze each step. Secondly, never accept offers to install additional applications, since bundled software is mostly rogue.
If your computer is already infected with Free Ride Games Player, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Deceptive Flash game installer set-up used in Free Ride Games Player adware distribution:
Screenshot of Free Ride Games Player adware:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is Free Ride Games Player?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Free Ride Games Player application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Free Ride Games Player adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Free Ride Games Player ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Free Ride Games Player' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Free Ride Games Player ads from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Free Ride Games Player 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 "Free Ride Games Player", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Free Ride Games Player ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Free Ride Games Player adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Free Ride Games Player 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 free ride games player 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 free ride games player 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 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 free ride games player 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 free ride games player 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What harm can adware cause?
Adware poses significant threats through the content that its ads endorse (e.g., system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, etc.). The presence of this software on devices can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Additionally, it is classed as a privacy threat since adware usually has data-tracking functionalities.
What does adware do?
Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It operates by displaying adverts on various interfaces. Some adware types can also force-open sites and collect private data.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Adware developers generate revenue primarily via affiliate programs by endorsing content (e.g., websites, apps, extensions, products, services, etc.).
Will Combo Cleaner remove Free Ride Games Player adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate installed adware-type apps. Note that manual removal (performed without security software) might not be a perfect solution. In some instances, after the adware has been manually removed – various components (files) stay hidden within the system. What is more, the remnants might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, it is paramount to thoroughly eliminate advertising-supported software.
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