How to uninstall Anime Freak adware?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Anime Freak?
As written in Anime Freak's description, this app is supposed to help users to search for anime. However, it is an adware-type application designed to generate advertisements. It is known that this application is promoted through a deceptive website. Therefore, Anime Freak can be categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA).
Anime Freak in detail
It is common that adware displays pop-up ads, coupons, banners, surveys designed to open questionable pages. Sometimes, ads displayed by software of this type are designed to download (or even install) unwanted applications by running certain scripts. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to click ads generated by apps like Anime Freak.
Furthermore, it is likely that Anime Freak changes the web browser's settings, such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab to an address. More precisely, it is likely that this app has a functionality of a browser hijacker and is designed to promote a fake search engine (its address).
Most fake search engines show results generated by Yahoo, Google, Bing, or other legitimate search engines, or they show results that with links to untrustworthy websites. Either way, it is strongly recommended not to use fake search engines. It is worth mentioning that users cannot make changes to affected settings unless they uninstall a browser hijacker from a browser.
One more common problem with apps like Anime Freak is that they collect IP addresses, entered search queries, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, or other data related to browsing habits. Although, there are apps of this kind that collect sensitive information (e.g., data that could be used to steal identities, hijack accounts).
| Name | Ads by Anime Freak |
| 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. |
Potentially unwanted applications in general
In conclusion, Anime Freak and similar apps rarely function as advertised. Most of them are designed only to generate revenue for their developers by displaying ads, collecting data, promoting dubious websites. Therefore, apps of this type cannot be trusted. More adware examples are PotPlayer, MusiCalm, and MessengerHub.
How did adware install on my computer?
Most users download and install potentially unwanted applications through deceptive advertisements or together with free programs. It is common for PUAs to be distributed by including them in downloaders or installers for other programs as optional offers. This distribution method is called "bundling".
Typically, bundled applications can be deselected via "Custom", "Advanced" or similar settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes. When users download or install programs without checking (and changing) the aforementioned settings, they agree to download or install included apps as well.
As previously mentioned, unwanted downloads (and installations) can be caused through deceptive advertisements. In such cases, users unknowingly download or install PUAs by clicking advertisements designed to run certain scripts. It is worthwhile to mention that ads of this kind appear mainly on dubious pages.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is not recommended to download, install applications through third-party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks like eMule, torrent clients, questionable websites, and other sources of this kind. Those sources are used to distribute various unwanted, potentially malicious applications.
Files and apps should be downloaded from official web pages and through direct links. Downloaders and installers with settings like "Custom" or "Advanced" or ticked checkboxes should be checked for optional offers. Downloads, installations should not be finished until all unwanted offers are declined.
Advertisements on dubious web pages should not be clicked - those ads can be designed to open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads, or even installations. Suspicious, unwanted extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins installed on a browser or computer should be uninstalled. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Anime Freak's download page:
Deceptive page used to promote Anime Freak:
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 Anime Freak?
- 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.
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 Anime Freak 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 and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by anime freak, 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 anime freak 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 anime freak, 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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