Open Hardware Monitor Ads

What is Open Hardware Monitor?

Open Hardware Monitor is an open-source application allowing users to monitor computer temperature, fan speeds, voltages, load and clock speeds, etc. Note that this application is legitimate, however, cyber criminals have managed to modify the source code to continually generate intrusive online advertisements and collect personally identifiable information.

In addition, cyber criminals distribute this application using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. For these reasons, Open Hardware Monitor is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

The bogus variant of Open Hardware Monitor generates pop-up, banner, interstitial, and other similar intrusive advertisements. These are displayed using a 'virtual layer' and, thus, conceal underlying website content, thereby significantly diminishing users' web browsing experience.

In addition, the ads can redirect to malicious websites often containing infectious content - clicking them is risky and might cause further high-risk adware or malware infections. This PUP also gathers various information that might be personally identifiable including IP addresses, search queries, web URLs visited, and other similar data.

The data may seem insignificant to some users, however, it is often shared with third parties who misuse private information to generate revenue. Thus, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For the above reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall this PUP immediately.

Open Hardware Monitor is similar to CaptureItPlus (another open source application modified to display intrusive online ads).

Both offer valuable functionality, however, as with all regular adware, these apps also collect personally identifiable information and deliver intrusive online advertisements. Adware only generates revenue for the developers, providing no real value for every day users.

How did Open Hardware Monitor install on my computer?

As mentioned previously, Open Hardware Monitor is distributed as a bundle with other apps. Bundled software is mostly concealed within the 'Custom/Advanced' download or installation section. Therefore, users who skip this section often install bogus programs inadvertently.

Developers' revenue is dependent on the number of PUPs distributed and, thus, they rarely discloses these installations properly.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration from adware, be cautious when downloading and installing software. Follow all download/installation steps using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' steps. Furthermore, all additionally-included programs should be cancelled.

Delusive free software installer distributing Open Hardware Monitor (disclosed as 'HW-Opt') adware:

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Quick menu:

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

Open Hardware Monitor 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 "Open Hardware Monitor", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Open Hardware Monitor adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Open Hardware Monitor 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 open hardware monitor pup, 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 open hardware monitor pup, 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 open hardware monitor pup 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 open hardware monitor pup, 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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