DesktopNews Adware

What is DesktopNews?

According to the developers, DesktopNews is a legitimate application that brings all the latest world news directly to the desktop - "DesktopNews Gadget is the easiest way for you to stay update with what is happening in the world." 

On initial inspection, this app might seem legitimate, however, DesktopNews is classed as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The reason for these negative associations is the rogue behavior of DesktopNews, which includes stealth installation, tracking of Internet browsing activity, and display of intrusive online advertisements.

DesktopNews generates various types of intrusive online advertisements such as coupon, banner, and pop-up ads. These often appear identical to regular ads. For this reason, many users are not aware that ads generated by this adware do not originate from their visited sites.

Third party advertisements conceal underlying web content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, some redirect to malicious sites - clicking them may cause further adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, DesktopNews continually tracks users' Internet browsing activity, gathering various information that might be personally identifiable including IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc. This recorded data is shared with third parties who often misuse personal details to generate revenue.

Thus, having DesktopNews installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall this PUP immediately.

DesktopNews Privacy Policy regarding information tracking and sharing:

We may collect certain information about your web usage and websites you have visited, which may be shared with third parties and used for advertising. NOTE: THE PLUGIN AND OTHER SERVICES COLLECT AND STORES INFORMATION CONCERNING THE WEB PAGES YOU VISIT AND YOUR ACTIVITY ON THOSE PAGES, SUCH AS IMPRESSIONS, CLICKS AND SEARCH TERMS. IN SOME CASES, INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THE PLUGIN AND OTHER SERVICES MAY BE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE, AND IN SOME CASES INFORMATION (INCLUDING INFORMATION FROM OR ABOUT PAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES YOU VISIT) MAY BE USED OR SHARED WITH THIRD PARTIES FOR PURPOSES OF DISPLAYING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS PROMOTIONAL AND MARKETING MATERIAL TO YOU.

DesktopNews shares many similarities with other adware-type programs such as Internet Cupom, SecurityPatchUpdater, Olcinium Browser, and PrintOnKey. All claim to enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, these fake promises are given only to trick users to install.

After infiltrating the system, they do not improve the Internet browsing experience in any way. These programs are designed to generate revenue for the developers by displaying intrusive online advertisements and collecting personally identifiable information.

How did DesktopNews install on my computer?

This application is proliferated using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party programs with regular software/apps) and, therefore, usually infiltrates systems without users’ consent.

Many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software - they rush these processes and skip virtually all steps. Developers conceal bogus applications within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings and so by skipping this section, users often install PUPs inadvertently.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two simple steps you should take to prevent adware-type computer infections. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software - perform these processes using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings and closely analyze each step. Secondly, opt-out of all additionally-included applications and decline all offers to download or install - bundled software is mostly infectious.

DesktopNews adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove DesktopNews adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, DesktopNews 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 ads by desktopnews, 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 ads by desktopnews, 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by desktopnews 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 ads by desktopnews, 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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