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How to remove apps created to promote positive-news.org?

Also Known As: Ads by positive-news.org
Damage level: Medium

What is positive-news[.]org?

Positive-news[.]org loads deceptive content to trick visitors into allowing it to show notifications and promotes various untrustworthy websites. Most users end up on pages like positive-news[.]org unintentionally: these pages get opened through shady advertisements, other pages of this kind, or installed potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

positive-news[.]org pop-up redirects

Positive-news[.]org in detail

As mentioned previously, positive-news[.]org can load its content and open a couple of other dubious websites (it depends on the geolocation of its visitors). It is common for sites like positive-news[.]org to be designed to open deceptive download pages for browser hijackers, adware, scam pages asking to provide personal information, etc.

A couple of examples of websites that sites like positive-news[.]org can open are "CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE THE VISITOR NO. 1.000.000", "Access To This Pc Has Been Blocked For Security Reasons", and "Your Device Might Have Security Issues". At the time of the research positive-news[.]org opened another virtually identical website.

Positive-news[.]org may open legitimate websites as well. Pretty often, when users create accounts or purchase something on legitimate pages opened through pages like positive-news[.]org, their creators get paid a referral fee. Typically, opened legitimate pages are related to sports bettings, online gaming, and so on.

It is known that positive-news[.]org uses a clickbait technique to trick visitors into allowing it to show notifications. It loads a fake CAPTCHA encouraging visitors to click the "Allow" button to prove that they are not robots. Usually, notifications from pages like positive-news[.]org are used to promote potentially malicious websites.

How do potentially unwanted applications operate?

A great deal of potentially unwanted applications collect browsing data and (or) generate advertisements. They collect IP addresses, visited pages (their addresses), entered search queries, geolocations, and so on. In some cases, these apps gather sensitive data (for example, saved passwords, credit card details).

Also, PUAs can display coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, etc. Those ads should not be trusted - they can be designed to open untrustworthy pages run certain scripts, and cause unwanted downloads, installations of other potentially unwanted applications. Thus, most PUAs are not trustworthy and should be downloaded (and installed).

Threat Summary:
Name Ads by positive-news.org
Threat Type Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads
Detection Names Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
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.
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Pages like positive-news[.]org in general

Positive-news[.]org and similar websites cannot be trusted. The majority of them display deceptive content encouraging visitors to agree to receive notifications and promote other shady pages. A couple examples of other pages like positive-news[.]org are watch-this-leaked[.]video, goodsurvey[.]site, and expeerience[.]top.

How did adware install on my computer?

In some cases, users download or install potentially unwanted applications through deceptive advertisements. They cause it by clicking ads designed to run certain scripts. In other cases, users download or install apps of this kind with free programs (when downloaders or installers for other programs are used to distribute PUAs).

Typically, users can deselect optional downloads or installations using "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings or by unticking checkboxes in downloaders or installers for free programs. They agree to download or install PUAs by when they leave those settings unchanged (or checkboxes ticked).

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advisable to download programs and files from official websites (and via direct links). Files downloaded via third-party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (like torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages, etc., can be used to distribute PUAs and malicious apps. Third-party installers can be used to distribute unwanted software too.

Downloads and installations of free programs should not be finished without checking "Custom", "Advanced" (or other settings) or other settings that their downloaders or installers might have. Usually, those settings mention additional downloads or installations and can be used to deselect them.

Additionally, it is recommended not to click on ads that appear on sites related to gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc. Those ads might open potentially malicious pages or cause unwanted downloads or even installations. As a rule, unreliable ads appear on untrustworthy websites.

All suspicious add-ons, plug-ins, or extensions installed on a browser and programs 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.

Appearance of positive-news[.]org website (GIF):

positive-news[.]org website appearance (GIF)

Notification from positive-news[.]org:

positive-news.org ads notification

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:

Disable unwanted browser notifications:

Video showing how to disable web browser notifications:

Google Chrome logoRemove spam notifications from Google Chrome:

Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings". In the opened window select "Privacy and security", then click on "Site Settings" and choose "Notifications".

Disable web browser notifications in Google Chrome (step 1)

In the "Allowed to send notifications" list search for websites that you want to stop receiving notifications from. Click on the three dots icon near the website URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Disable web browser notifications in Google Chrome (step 2)

Android logoRemove spam notifications from Google Chrome (Android):

Tap the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings". Scroll down, tap on "Site settings" and then "Notifications".

Disable web browser notifications in Google Chrome - Android (step 1)

In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and tap on them one-by-one. Once the pop-up shows up, select either "Block" or "Remove" (if you tap "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Disable web browser notifications in Google Chrome - Android (step 2)

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove spam notifications from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen. Select "Settings" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen. Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications".

Disable web browser notifications in Mozilla Firefox (step 1)

In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and block them using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove Website" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove Website" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Disable web browser notifications in Mozilla Firefox (step 2)

Microsoft Edge logoRemove spam notifications from Microsoft Edge:

Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window and select "Settings". Click on "Cookies and site permissions" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen and select "Notifications".

Disable web browser notifications in Microsoft Edge (step 1)

Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL under "Allow" section and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Disable web browser notifications in Microsoft Edge (step 2)

Safari logoRemove spam notifications from Safari (macOS):

Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences...". Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane.

Disable web browser notifications in Safari - macOS (step 1)

Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Disable web browser notifications in Safari - macOS (step 2)

How to avoid browser notification spam?

Internet users should be very skeptical when being asked to allow notifications. While this is a useful feature that allows you to receive timely news from websites you like, deceptive marketers frequently abuse it.

Only allow notifications from websites that you fully trust. For added security - use an anti-malware application with a real-time web browsing monitor to block shady websites that tries to trick you into allowing spam notifications. We recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

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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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Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

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

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