What it is
Adware.Gen is a catch-all name for adware that sneaks into your browser or system, stuffs pages with extra ads, adds unwanted extensions, and quietly phones home. For details and examples, see the
Adware.Gen guide
What you may notice
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Extra banners, pop-ups, or random redirects
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New extensions or a changed homepage/search
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Slower browsing and unusual data usage
How it gets in
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Bundled inside ‘free’ installers or fake updates
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Rogue browser add-ons from untrusted sources
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Drive-by downloads from shady sites
Remove it now (quick steps)
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Remove unknown apps and browser extensions
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Reset your browser to default settings
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Run a full scan with trusted anti-malware and reboot
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Check DNS/proxy settings and restore to automatic if changed
Prevent it
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Install software from official stores only
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Use Custom install and deselect extra offers
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Keep your browser, extensions, and OS updated