Table of Contents
Pop-up ads, browser redirects, toolbars you never installed, sluggish performance out of nowhere. If your machine’s suddenly acting like it has a second job serving you ads, you’ve got adware. Here’s how to kill it.
1. Run a Full Antivirus Scan
The most reliable first move. If you already have antivirus software (Norton, Bitdefender, Windows Defender), update its definitions and run a full system scan. Not a quick scan. Full. This catches adware hiding in temp folders, AppData directories, and startup entries that you’d never find manually.
If you don’t have antivirus software, grab Malwarebytes. The free version kills adware. Download it from the official site (not some "free download" portal – that’s how you got adware in the first place).
2. Kill the Adware Process in Task Manager
Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for unfamiliar processes. Adware loves vague names like "AppHelper" or "SearchAssist." Right-click the suspicious process, hit "Open file location," end the task, then delete the files in that folder.
3. Uninstall the Program Through Settings
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps (Windows 11) or Control Panel > Programs and Features (Windows 10). Sort by install date and look for anything you don’t recognize that showed up around when the problems started. Adware loves names like "PC App Store," "Browser Assistant," or "Search Protect."
Click Uninstall and follow the prompts. But don’t assume this gets everything – adware often leaves behind registry entries, scheduled tasks, and browser extensions that survive uninstallation.
4. Purge Browser Extensions
This is where adware does its real damage. Open your browser’s extension manager:
Chrome: Three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions
Firefox: Hamburger menu > Add-ons and Themes > Extensions
Edge: Three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions
Remove anything you didn’t deliberately install. If you’re not sure what an extension does and you didn’t choose it, remove it. You can always reinstall legitimate ones later.
5. Reset Your Browser Settings
Removing extensions isn’t always enough. Adware changes your default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Resetting nukes all of that back to factory defaults.
Chrome: Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their original defaults
Firefox: Help > More Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox
Edge: Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their default values
This clears cookies and temporary data, so you’ll be logged out of sites. Bookmarks and saved passwords usually survive.
6. Check Startup Programs and Scheduled Tasks
Adware loves persistence. It adds itself to startup so it comes back after every reboot. Open Task Manager > Startup tab and disable anything suspicious. Also check Task Scheduler (search for it in the Start menu) for tasks that launch unfamiliar executables.
Look in these folders too:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Delete anything that shouldn’t be there.
7. Install an Ad Blocker
Prevention, not cure, but it stops you from getting reinfected. uBlock Origin is the gold standard – it’s free, open source, and blocks malvertising (malicious ads that push adware downloads). Install it from your browser’s official extension store.
This won’t remove existing adware, but it stops the deceptive "Download Now" buttons and fake update prompts that trick people into installing it.
8. Use Custom Installation Options for Everything
Most adware arrives bundled with software you actually wanted. During installation, always pick "Custom" or "Advanced" instead of "Express" or "Recommended." Those express options pre-check boxes to install toolbars, search engine changers, and "optimization" tools that are pure adware.
Read every screen. Uncheck every box for software you didn’t specifically come for. This one habit prevents more adware infections than any antivirus.
9. Download Software Only from Official Sources
The "free download" sites that rank high in search results are adware factories. CNET’s Download.com, Softonic, and similar portals wrap legitimate software in their own installers loaded with bundled garbage.
Go directly to the developer’s website or use the Microsoft Store. If you can’t find the official download page, the software’s Wikipedia article usually links to it.
