Ads by XTEX

What is XTEX?

XTEX is a potentially unwanted program that usually infiltrates systems without users’ permission. Following successful installation, XTEX generates intrusive online advertisements, monitors Internet browsing activity, and collects various browsing-related data. For these reasons, XTEX is classed as adware.

After infiltrating the system, XTEX uses a 'virtual layer' to generate various intrusive online ads. The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site and, therefore, no ads originate from users' visited websites.

Furthermore, they conceal underlying content (thereby diminishing the Internet browsing experience) and might also redirect to malicious websites containing infectious content. Clicking ads generated by XTEX can lead to further adware or malware infections.

XTEX gathers various browsing-related information that might contain personally identifiable details that are shared with third parties.

These companies are likely to misuse personal data to generate revenue. Thus, the presence of an information-tracking app such as XTEX on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall this PUP immediately.

Adware-type programs have similar characteristics. All give fake promises to enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, their real purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. Neither XTEX, nor apps such as Preispilot, Object Browser, or Results Hub, provide the functionality promised.

Rather than delivering any useful functionality, they generate intrusive online advertisements (using the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model), cause unwanted browser redirects (thereby increasing traffic of certain sites) and gather browsing-related information (which is later sold to third parties).

How did XTEX install on my computer?

XTEX is distributed as a 'bundle' with other software. Research shows that many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software. For this reason, bundled software is often concealed within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings.

Many users skip this section and rush the download/installation processes, thereby inadvertently installing rogue software such as XTEX. The developers are concerned only with the amount of revenue generated (which is dependent on the number of distributed PUPs) and, therefore, they fail to properly disclose installation of applications such as XTEX.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two main steps you should take to prevent installation of adware-type programs. Firstly, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings during the download and installation processes and closely analyze each step. Secondly, decline all offers to download/install additional programs and opt-out of those already included, since third party software is likely to be malicious.

Deceptive free software installer used in XTEX adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove XTEX adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, XTEX 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 xtex 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 xtex 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 xtex 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 xtex 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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