TheAdBlock

By GoldSparrow in Potentially Unwanted Programs

Threat Scorecard

Threat Level: 10 % (Normal)
Infected Computers: 42
First Seen: May 27, 2015
Last Seen: February 27, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

The real AdBlock software is designed to stop advertisements from appearing on Web browsers. However, marketers have cleverly created an adware named TheAdBlock. This adware is designed to do the opposite of advertisement blockers and may display large volumes of advertisements on affected Web browsers. TheAdBlock is a typical PUP (Possibly Unwanted Program) infection that may mislead computer users by making them believe that TheAdBlock is designed to stop advertisements on affected computers. Computer users have complained that TheAdBlock may be difficult to remove and that TheAdBlock may appear again after it has been removed. This is because it may be necessary to take extra steps to remove PUPs like TheAdBlock from affected computers. If TheAdBlock is installed on your Web browser, PC security researchers strongly recommend the use of a reliable security program to remove TheAdBlock immediately.

How TheAdBlock may be Installed on Your Computer

TheAdBlock may be bundled with other software installed automatically, or using a misleading language to make computer users believe that TheAdBlock is beneficial (in this case, TheAdBlock's creators make it seem as if TheAdBlock is designed to stop advertisements rather than displaying them on affected Web browsers). TheAdBlock may be installed in most popular Web browsers, including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Once installed, TheAdBlock may display numerous advertisements on the affected Web browser, ranging from irritating pop-up advertisements and banners to sneaky links that have been inserted into regular text on Web pages viewed on the affected Web browser. TheAdBlock also may make changes to affected Web browsers, such as changing the default homepage and search engine, and interfere with the Web browsers' security settings and other preferences.

Risks and Problems that may be Associated with TheAdBlock and Similar PUPs

TheAdBlock has many characteristics of threats. However, PUPs may behave like threats without being so destructive or potentially risky to your security. This does not mean that TheAdBlock is harmless – far from it! TheAdBlock may display numerous advertisements and pop-up messages that may expose computer users to known misleading tactics, other PUPs and even threatening software. TheAdBlock also may track the computer user's online activities for marketing purposes and profit at the expense of computer users. TheAdBlock runs automatically in the background, starting up automatically when the affected computer starts up (unlike other Web browser extensions). Because of this, TheAdBlock may use up system resources and bandwidth, resulting in significant performance issues on the affected computer.

Most of the problems that may be associated with TheAdBlock and similar PUPs are listed below; don't be fooled, TheAdBlock is not a real advertisement blocker and may cause numerous problems on affected computers:

  1. TheAdBlock may display advertisements and content from third parties on the affected Web browser. This content is rarely monitored and may lead to known hoaxes and PUPs or threats.
  2. TheAdBlock may make changes to your Web browser's and computer's settings, and may cause performance issues and severe security breaches.
  3. The presence of TheAdBlock on a computer may result in additional PUPs and even threats to become installed on the affected computer.
  4. TheAdBlock may make it very difficult to use the affected Web browser. TheAdBlock may interrupt the computer users' activities with pop-up windows and messages constantly, also redirecting computer users to suspicious websites and other shady online content.
  5. TheAdBlock may allow a third party to profit at your expense by causing all kinds of symptoms and tracking your online activities. TheAdBlock may use false pretenses to enter a computer, pretending to be something that TheAdBlock is not.

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