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Nav Links Virus

Also Known As: Nav-Links Ads
Type: Adware
Damage level: Moderate

What is Nav Links?

Nav Links is an advertising platform used by many dubious websites, which promote potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), questionable medicinal products, dating services, etc. This platform is implemented by various browser extension developers in order to monetize their free plugins.

This is not a stand-alone program, and therefore, users who observe Nav Links advertisements (in-text ads) when browsing the Internet should check recently-installed browser add-ons - they are likely to be the cause of these intrusive ads.

Note these ads alone are not categorized as viruses or malware, however, clicking them can cause serious privacy and computer security issues. Commonly, these ads lead to dubious websites, and you are advised not to navigate to these sites.

Nav Links virus

Many computer users report that they did not install any browser plugins, however, still observe Nav Link ads when browsing sites such as Wikipedia, Google, or any other text-based websites. This situation may occur if computer users have recently downloaded and installed free software.

Many download websites use 'download clients', which manage the process of freeware download and offer (some in a deceptive way) installation of additional (promoted) free browser extensions.

Internet users who do not pay close enough attention to the download or installation steps of free software can inadvertently install adware, which subsequently causes Nav Link ads.

The Nav Links advertising platform is similar to "Ads not by this site" adware. Both platforms use intrusive ads, which appear within any sites visited and are bundled with third-party browser add-ons (usually, lyrics-related).

These rogue browser add-ons use a virtual graphic layer over any existing web page - in the case of Nav Links, the text appearing on visited websites is underlined (in-text advertising) and used to link to dubious websites.

Internet users wishing to avoid the installation of potentially unwanted applications, which cause Nav Links ads should be attentive when downloading free software.

If your download is managed by a download client, look for the 'decline' button and opt-out of installation of any promoted programs or browser add-ons. If you observe underlined text (in-text) ads, which lead to Nav Links, use the removal guide provided to eliminate the adware causing them.

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Quick menu:

Nav Links virus removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

Nav links uninstall

At time of testing, Nav Links was bundled with BobyLyrics adware, however, each case can be different. In the uninstall programs window, look for "BobyLyrics-1" or any recently-installed program, which looks out of place or suspicious, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

Check the list of potentially unwanted browser add-on, which can cause Nav Links ads here.

After uninstalling Boby Lyrics (adware causing Nav Links ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. recommended malware removal software.

Remove Nav Links from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Nav Links removal from Internet Explorer

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed browser add-ons and remove them. Note that by default, there should be no browser extensions. At time of research, Nav Link ads were caused by a browser plugin called "BobyLyrics".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the nav-links ads, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Nav Links removal from Google Chrome

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed (potentially unwanted) browser add-ons and click the trash can icon.

If any browser extensions you wish to eliminate are greyed-out and you are unable to remove them ("This extension is managed and cannot be removed or disabled"), follow this removal guide - how to remove a managed Google Chrome extension?

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the nav-links ads, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Boby Lyrics removal from Mozilla Firefox

Click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove any recently-installed add-ons. At time of research, Nav Links ads were caused by "BobyLyrics", however, Nav Links ads can be bundled with any browser extension. Note that by default, the extensions list in Firefox is empty.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with nav-links ads removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

removing adware from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

removing adware from safari step 2 - removing extensions

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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.

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the nav-links ads, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of adware while downloading free software sampleCommonly, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on nav-links ads or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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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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Removal Instructions in other languages
Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

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

QR Code
Nav-Links Ads QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Nav-Links Ads on your mobile device.
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