Alt.Center Adware

What is Alt.Center?

Alt.Center is a rogue application (adware-type) that offers 'useful features' (most apps of this type make these offers). Despite these supposedly useful features, Alt.Center is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Users generally install adware-type PUAs inadvertently, after which, this rogue software delivers intrusive ads and collects data.

Alt.Center collects data that often includes IP addresses, keystrokes, search queries, geo-locations, URLs of visited, pages viewed, and so on. It might also collect personal or sensitive data, which is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

This can lead to various problems relating to browsing safety and privacy, and could also result in identity theft. Another downside of the presence of apps such as Alt.Center is that most deploy intrusive advertisements, such as coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on.

Do not click these ads, since they often lead to untrustworthy/malicious websites or run scripts that download other PUAs.

Additionally, they are annoying, as they are often displayed using tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site and conceal underlying content. Due to these problems, we strongly recommend that you uninstall these apps immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by Alt.Center
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are hundreds of adware-type applications, most of which are very similar. They are promoted as providing useful features, but these are merely attempts to trick users into installing them.

As a rule, these apps are designed only to generate revenue, and few provide the functionality promised. Here are some examples of other adware-type apps that are virtually identical: Somefungames, GamesOnlineNetwork, and GameFunNetwork.

How did Alt.Center install on my computer?

Although Alt.Center is available on its official website, most users install it when software developers use a deceptive marketing method called bundling or through clicked intrusive ads. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of third party apps (PUAs) with regular software. Free or ad-supportive software is commonly bundled with regular software.

Developers hide these PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options/settings of installation processes, so that it is more difficult to notice them.

They do not explain the purpose of these apps, how to uninstall them, and do not disclose information regarding their presence in general. The most common reason for these installations is skipped installation steps and not adequately checking the associated settings.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Do not download software using torrents, third party software downloaders/installers, or unofficial/untrustworthy websites. Download software from official websites and use direct links. Furthermore, never skip installation steps (many users do this) and check all available settings/options, such as "Custom", "Advanced", and others.

Look for checkboxes, especially those that are ticked by default, and untick them if they are suggest that you agree to download/install additional software.

If you encounter advertisements that lead you to websites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, or others, check installed extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins, and remove all the unwanted/unknown entries immediately. Also check installed programs on your computer.

If your computer is already infected with Alt.Center, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.

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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Alt.Center?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Alt.Center application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Alt.Center adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Alt.Center ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Alt.Center' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Alt.Center extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Alt.Center 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 "Alt.Center", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Alt.Center adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Alt.Center 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 alt.center, 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 ads by alt.center, 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by alt.center 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 alt.center, 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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