How to Remove Adware, PUPs, and Unwanted Toolbars

What Are Adware and PUPs?

You download what seems like a simple free program, and suddenly your browser is filled with ads, toolbars you never asked for, and pop-ups appearing everywhere. Your computer feels slower, and every click seems to open new advertisements. Welcome to the world of adware and PUPs.

Adware is software that displays unwanted advertisements on your computer. PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) are programs you may have technically agreed to install, but often didn't realize were being added. They're usually bundled with free software you actually wanted, sneaking in during installation when you click "Next" without reading the fine print.

While not as dangerous as viruses or ransomware, adware and PUPs are incredibly annoying, slow down your system, compromise your privacy by tracking browsing habits, and can sometimes open security holes for more serious malware.

Quick Fix: Use AdwCleaner

The fastest way to remove most adware and PUPs is using a specialized tool:

1. Download Malwarebytes AdwCleaner from malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner (it's free)
2. Run the downloaded file—no installation needed
3. Click "Scan Now"
4. Wait for the scan to complete (usually 2-5 minutes)
5. Review the detected items—AdwCleaner shows adware, unwanted toolbars, PUPs, and browser hijackers
6. Click "Quarantine" to remove all detected items
7. Restart your computer when prompted

AdwCleaner has over 20,000 reviews with a 4.8-star average rating and is specifically engineered to aggressively target adware, spyware, PUPs, and browser hijackers that other programs often miss. After restarting, check if the ads and unwanted programs are gone.

Signs You Have Adware or PUPs

• Excessive advertisements - Pop-ups, banners, or in-text ads appear on websites that normally don't have them
• New browser toolbars - Toolbars you didn't install appear at the top of your browser
• Changed browser settings - Homepage or search engine changed without permission
• Slow browser performance - Websites load slowly or browser becomes unresponsive
• Redirects - Clicking links takes you to unexpected advertising websites
• New programs you didn't install - Unfamiliar programs appear in your app list
• System slowdown - Overall computer performance decreases

Complete Manual Removal Steps

If AdwCleaner doesn't completely solve the problem, or you prefer manual removal:

Step 1: Uninstall Suspicious Programs

1. Press Windows key and go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps
2. Sort by "Install date" to see recently added programs
3. Look for programs you don't recognize or didn't intentionally install, especially:
   • Names containing "toolbar," "helper," "search," "coupon," or "deals"
   • Programs from unfamiliar publishers
   • Programs installed around the time issues started
4. Click the three dots next to suspicious programs and select "Uninstall"
5. Follow the uninstall wizard carefully:
   • Decline any offers to keep components
   • Uncheck boxes to install other software
   • Select "complete removal" if offered

Common PUP names to watch for: PC Optimizer, Driver Updater, Registry Cleaner, Speed Booster, Browser Companion, Shopping Helper, Coupon extensions, Search Protect, and similar generic-sounding utilities.

Step 2: Remove Browser Extensions

Adware frequently installs browser extensions to display ads and track your activity:

For Chrome or Edge:

1. Type chrome://extensions or edge://extensions in the address bar
2. Review each installed extension
3. Remove any extensions you:
   • Don't recognize
   • Didn't intentionally install
   • Haven't used in months
4. Pay special attention to extensions with vague names, no reviews, or permissions to "read and change all data on websites"
5. Click "Remove" for unwanted extensions

For Firefox:

1. Click the three lines menu > Add-ons and themes
2. Review the Extensions list
3. Remove suspicious or unfamiliar extensions

Step 3: Reset Browser Settings

Adware often modifies browser settings. Resetting restores defaults:

Chrome/Edge:

1. Go to Settings (three dots > Settings)
2. Scroll to bottom and click "Reset settings"
3. Click "Restore settings to their original defaults"
4. Confirm by clicking "Reset settings"

Firefox:

1. Click three lines menu > Help > More troubleshooting information
2. Click "Refresh Firefox"
3. Confirm in the dialog that appears

Step 4: Clear Browser Data

1. In browser settings, find "Privacy and security"
2. Click "Clear browsing data"
3. Select:
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
   • Hosted app data (if available)
4. Choose "All time" as the time range
5. Click "Clear data"

Step 5: Check Scheduled Tasks

Some adware reinstalls itself through scheduled tasks:

1. Press Windows + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter
2. Browse through the Task Scheduler Library
3. Look for suspicious tasks, especially those running frequently or tied to unfamiliar programs
4. Right-click suspicious tasks and select "Disable" or "Delete"

Be careful: Don't delete Windows system tasks. Research task names online if unsure.

Step 6: Scan with Multiple Tools

Use complementary scanning tools to catch everything:

1. Malwarebytes (malwarebytes.com) - Excellent for PUPs and adware
2. Windows Defender - Run a full scan in Windows Security
3. HitmanPro (free trial) - Catches things other scanners miss

Run scans with at least two different tools—different scanners have different detection databases.

Advanced: Remove Persistent Adware

For stubborn adware that keeps coming back:

Check Startup Programs

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager
2. Go to the "Startup" tab
3. Disable any suspicious programs from starting with Windows

Check Browser Shortcuts

Adware sometimes modifies browser shortcuts to load malicious pages:

1. Right-click your browser shortcut (desktop or taskbar)
2. Select "Properties"
3. In the "Target" field, check that it only contains the browser path (should end with chrome.exe, msedge.exe, or firefox.exe)
4. If you see any URLs or additional text after the .exe, delete everything after the closing quotation mark
5. Click "Apply" then "OK"

Check Hosts File

1. Open Notepad as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator)
2. Click File > Open
3. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
4. Change file type to "All Files" and open the "hosts" file
5. Look for suspicious entries below the last line starting with #
6. Delete any unfamiliar website entries
7. Save and close

Prevention Tips

Avoid adware and PUPs in the future:

• Download from official sources only - Get software from official websites or the Microsoft Store, not third-party download sites
• Choose Custom/Advanced installation - Never click "Express" or "Recommended" installation. Custom lets you uncheck bundled software
• Read every installation screen - Decline any offers for additional software, toolbars, or search engine changes
• Don't click deceptive download buttons - Download sites often have fake "Download" buttons that are actually ads
• Keep Windows and browsers updated - Updates include security patches
• Use an ad blocker - uBlock Origin (free browser extension) blocks malicious ads
• Be skeptical of free utilities - Free "PC optimizers," "driver updaters," and "registry cleaners" are often PUPs themselves