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Quiclean Adware

Also Known As: Ads by Quiclean
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Quiclean?

Quiclean is a rogue application identical to History Cleaner, Always Weather, Search In Tabs, and a number of others. This app claims to clean browser cookies and web browsing history. Although this functionality may appear legitimate and useful, Quiclean is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) stealth installation without consent; 2) display of intrusive online advertisements, and; 3) tracking of users' browsing activity.

Quiclean adware

Research shows that Quiclean delivers pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar advertisements. PUP developers usually employ a so-called "virtual layer", which enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying website content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

In addition, these ads often redirect to malicious websites or even execute scripts designed to download and install malware (or other PUPs). Therefore, clicking them risks further high-risk adware or malware infections. As with most PUPs, Quiclean monitor users' browsing activity by gathering various user-system information.

The list of collected data commonly includes (but is not limited to) IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, and queries entered into search engines.

This information might contain personal details that PUP developers sell to third parties to generate revenue. These cyber criminals also aim to increase their revenue by misusing private information. This can lead to serious privacy issues. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Quicleadware immediately.

Threat Summary:
Name Ads by Quiclean
Threat Type Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus
Symptoms Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution methods Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)

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All adware-type applications are virtually identical. Their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. By offering various "useful features", PUPs such as Quiclean attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, they deliver no significant value for regular users.

Adware-type applications employ the "Pay Per Click" advertising method to deliver intrusive online advertisements and collect various user-system information, which is later sold to third parties.

How did Quiclean install on my computer?

Quicleadware has an official download website, however, these PUPs are also proliferated using the aforementioned intrusive ads and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of third party programs with regular software/apps). Cyber criminals know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps.

Therefore, they conceal bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of these procedures. Clicking ads and rushing the download/installation processes often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs. In addition, users expose their systems to risk of various infections and inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify browser options.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. Be cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing various programs. Avoid clicking advertisements.

Research shows that criminals put a great deal of time and effort into making intrusive ads appear legitimate - distinguishing legitimate ads from intrusive ones becomes virtually impossible. Do not risk clicking them.

Bear in mind also that PUPs are distributed using the "bundling" method and, therefore, you should carefully analyze each download/installation step (especially the "Custom/Advanced" options) and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Furthermore, third party downloaders/installers are likely to include third party software, and also hide their installation, thus preventing users from opting-out. If you are forced to use these tools, cancel the entire process immediately. We strongly advise you to download your software from direct download URLs only. The key to computer safety is caution.

IMPORTANT NOTE! Quiclean installs its Google Chrome extension as Administrator (read more here), thereby preventing removal. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:

1) Open the Command Prompt by clicking the start menu button and typing "command prompt". Right click the "Command Prompt" result and select "Run as Administrator":

Quiclean Run Command Prompt

2) Execute the following commands:

  • rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
  • rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
  • gpupdate /force

Bookmarks Access Command Prompt commands

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this adware.

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Quick menu:

Quiclean adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

Quiclean adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Quiclean", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Quiclean adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing Quiclean ads from Internet Explorer step 1

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Quiclean", select this entry and click "Remove".

Removing Quiclean ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by quiclean, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing Quiclean  ads from Google Chrome step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Quiclean", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Removing Quiclean ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by quiclean, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing Quiclean ads from Mozilla Firefox step 1

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "Quiclean".

Removing Quiclean ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by quiclean removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

removing adware from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

removing adware from safari step 2 - removing extensions

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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.

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by quiclean, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of adware while downloading free software sampleCommonly, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on ads by quiclean or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Removal Instructions in other languages
Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

QR Code
Ads by Quiclean QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Ads by Quiclean on your mobile device.
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