Digitalmerkat.com POP-UP Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is digitalmerkat.com?
digitalmerkat.com is one of the many rogue websites (like check-now.online, chancce.com, vutilityy.com and lots of others) that is designed to cause redirects to potentially malicious or/and untrustworthy websites.
Nor these rogue websites are being visited or potentially unwanted applications (PUAs, that are causing such redirects) get installed intentionally. PUAs not only redirect users to untrustworthy websites, but deliver intrusive ads and collect information as well.
It is common for potentially unwanted applications force web browsers to open new tabs or windows and make users to visit digitalmerkat.com (or other rogue website). When this kind of website gets visited it causes additional redirects (typically 2-3) to other untrustworthy websites that could contain malicious content.
By being redirected to such potentially malicious websites users are put to potential danger of various high-risk computer infections or other similar issues.
What's more, PUAs often diminish user's browsing experience by delivering ads (such as coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and so on) that are displayed through tools that enable placement of third party graphical content and conceal underlying content of any visited website.
If such ad is clicked, typically it redirects users to some untrustworthy (potentially malicious) website. There are cases where ads of this type, when clicked, execute particular scripts designed to download and install potentially unwanted applications.
Moreover, installed potentially unwanted applications typically collect various information about their users, such info includes IP addresses, geo-locations, search queries, visited websites, keystrokes and other data that could contain personally identifiable or sensitive information.
Once collected, this data gets handed over (shared/sold) to various third parties (potentially cyber criminals) and used to generate revenue. Information tracking and sharing could put users privacy, browsing safety at risk or even cause an identity theft. These are the main reasons why users should uninstall PUAs immediately.
| Name | digitalmerkat.com pop-up |
| 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) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
The list of potentially unwanted applications is impressive and most PUAs of this kind are very similar or even identical. Most of them offer questionably useful tools/features and pretend to be legitimate.
However, they often do not deliver the promised functionalities or any real value for their users, and are designed only to generate revenue by causing unwanted redirects, gathering sensitive information and delivering advertisements.
How did adware install on my computer?
Usually it is possible to download a potentially unwanted application from its official website, however, in most cases that is not how they get downloaded/installed. Most users get PUAs installed through intrusive advertisements (the ones we mentioned before) or when installing some other software, especially if that software is free.
Developers often use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - a stealth installation of various software together with some regular software. P
otentially unwanted applications usually are hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the installation processes and developers do not disclose these installations properly, which makes it harder to notice the included PUAs (or other additional offers).
There are many cases where users are simply skipping the installations steps and by doing so they unknowingly/unwillingly allow PUAs to be installed.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Download software using reliable and official sources. Avoid using torrents, third party software downloaders and other similar applications/programs to download software. Program slike third party software downloaders usually are monetized by promoting various potentially unwanted applications.
When installing software, make sure that you do not leave any unwanted offers or additional software selected/included. Check all the "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar options/settings and opt-out undesired extras. Avoid clicking intrusive ads, especially when visiting dubious websites.
These ads tend to redirect users to gambling, adult dating, pornography and other untrustworthy websites that could be malicious and cause various problems. If you clicked such advertisement, close the opened website immediately and check what are the installed extensions, plug-ins and add-ons on your web browser, or programs on your computer.
Uninstall every suspicious/unknown entry (application or program) as soon as possible. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is digitalmerkat.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
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 any potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes digitalmerkat.com redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove adware from 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 digitalmerkat.com pop-up, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the digitalmerkat.com pop-up, 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 digitalmerkat.com pop-up 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 digitalmerkat.com pop-up, 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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Outstanding!
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