BetterAds Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is BetterAds?
BetterAds (also knows "BetterAdsSoftware") is a deceptive application that supposedly enhances the Internet browsing experience by filtering and blocking irrelevant advertisements. Judging on appearance alone, BetterAds may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app infiltrates systems without consent.
Furthermore, it delivers intrusive online advertisements and records information relating to users' Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, BetterAds is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
Following infiltration, BetterAds displays pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ a "virtual layer" - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed advertisements often conceal underlying content of visited websites, significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.
In addition, some lead to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. BetterAds records IP addresses, URLs visited, search queries, and other similar information relating to browsing activity.
There is a high probability that this collected information will contain personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue.
Therefore, having an information-tracking app installed on your computer might result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you uninstall BetterAds adware immediately.
The Internet is full of adware-type apps similar to BetterAds including Speedownloader, Spoutly, and WebDiscover - these are just some examples from many. All claim to provide 'useful functionality', however, they are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and provide no value for regular users.
Apps such as BetterAds deliver intrusive advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model) and continually record various user-system information (which is later sold to third parties).
How did BetterAds install on my computer?
BetterAds is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, it is also distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of third party applications with regular (mostly free) software.
Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Rushing and skipping this section inadvertently grants set-ups permission to modify various options.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be very cautious during the download/installation processes. Closely analyze each step within the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. The key to computer safety is caution.
Deceptive free software installer distributing BetterAds adware:
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Quick menu:
- What is BetterAds?
- STEP 1. Uninstall BetterAds application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove BetterAds adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove BetterAds ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by BetterAds' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove BetterAds extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
BetterAds 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 "BetterAds" ("BetterAdsSoftware"), select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes BetterAds ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove BetterAds adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, BetterAds 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 betterads, 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 betterads, 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 ads by betterads 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 betterads, 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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