How to uninstall the Custom Look adware?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Custom Look?
Custom Look is described as a color inverted for Chrome web browsers. However, this app is classified as adware not without reason - Custom Look generates unwanted advertisements while users browse the web (it displays ads on websites users visit).
It is known that this application collects browsing data as well. Typically, users download and install apps like Custom Look (adware-type apps) unintentionally. Apps that get downloaded or installed by users without them knowing about that are called potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
More often than not, applications like Custom Look generate advertisements designed to open untrustworthy websites. Their ads open questionable pages used to extract personal information (e.g., "You Are Our Winner Today!", "Instagram Copyright Infringement"), advertise potentially malicious applications, and so on.
Moreover, ads displayed by installed adware can be designed to run certain scripts and download or even install unwanted software. Therefore, it is highly advisable not to click ads that appear on pages because of apps like Custom Look.
A couple of examples of ads that adware-type apps can be designed to serve are banners, coupons, surveys, pop-up ads. Another reason not to have Custom Look installed on a browser (or the operating system) is that the information collected by it may be misused for marketing purposes, sold to third parties (potentially cybercriminals), or monetized in other ways.
It is common that apps of this type gather browsing data (e.g., Internet Protocol addresses, geolocations, visited websites, entered search queries). It is important to mention that many adware-type apps can access sensitive information (e.g., credit card details, telephone numbers, passwords).
In such cases, collected data is likely to be used to steal personal accounts, identities, make fraudulent transactions, unauthorized purchases, etc.
| Name | Ads by Custom Look |
| Threat Type | Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads |
| 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, potentially unwanted applications (adware) |
| 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. |
In conclusion, Custom Look serves annoyning advertisements and collects certain information. It is worthwhile to mention that apps of this kind often are designed to change browser's settings as well - they change the address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab to an address of a fake search engine.
In one way or another, it is strongly recommended not to download and install apps like Custom Look. More adware examples are Movies Hunt, Turbo Ad Blocker, and Ad Video Blocker.
How did adware install on my computer?
It is common that users download, install adware or other PUAs through downloaders, installers for other programs (alongside programs that are bundled with PUAs). In such cases, bundled PUAs are included in downloaders, installers as extra offers.
As a rule, offers to download or install PUAs can be declined by unticking certain checkboxes or via "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual", or other settings. If those settings are not changed before finishing downloads or installations, then PUAs get downloaded and installed as well.
In some cases, PUAs are distributed via deceptive advertisements. Users cause unexpected downloads or installations by clicking advertisements designed to run certain scripts. Typically, untrustworthy advertisements appear on unofficial, potentially malicious pages.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is highly advisable to download programs, files from official websites and via direct links. It is common that third-party downloaders (and installers), Peer-to-Peer networks (like torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages, etc., are used to trick users into downloading (and installing) unwanted, potentially malicious apps.
Downloaders and installers with checkboxes or settings like "Custom" and "Advanced" are likely to be bundled with unwanted applications. Therefore, unwanted offers should be declined before finishing downloads, installations.
Ads that appear on sites related to gambling, pornography, adult dating, and other questionable pages can be used to promote unwanted apps. Therefore, it is not recommended to click those ads as well.
Unwanted or suspicious add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions installed on a browser or program of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Download page for Custom Look:
Notification saying that Custom Look can read and change data on websites:
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 Custom Look?
- STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
- STEP 6. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
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 Custom Look 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 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 (like "Custom Look") and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by custom look, 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 custom look 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 custom look, 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.
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 custom look, 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.
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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