Retropages.com is a malicious redirect domain with no legitimate content or service function. The domain operates as a node in advertising redirect chains and push notification abuse networks, appearing in the browser address bar during redirect events triggered by advertising on adult content sites, piracy platforms, freeware portals, and similar low-quality advertising environments. Retropages.com does not represent any legitimate website. Its presence in the browser’s address bar or notification settings indicates either that adware installed on the system is routing traffic through the domain, or that advertising content encountered on another site directed the browser through a redirect chain passing through it.
Users who encounter Retropages.com and click through or interact with its notification permission prompt may subsequently receive persistent desktop notification spam advertising scam content – fake prize pages, tech support scam flows, adult content platforms – delivered through the browser notification system regardless of whether a browser window is open. Security vendors classify connections to Retropages.com as adware-associated activity, and the domain has been documented as part of push notification abuse infrastructure sharing characteristics with similar redirect and notification hijacker domains active across the same advertising networks.
| Name | Retropages.com |
| Threat Type | Browser Redirect Domain / Adware Redirect / Push Notification Hijacker |
| Detection Names | Adware.Retropages, BrowserModifier:Win32/RetroRedirect, PUA:Win32/PushNotificationAbuse |
| Symptoms | Browser being redirected through Retropages.com during page loads or advertising interactions on unrelated sites; push notification permission prompts appearing from Retropages.com or domains loaded through it; persistent desktop notification spam from Retropages.com or associated domains following a permission grant; pop-up windows or new browser tabs opening to Retropages.com without user navigation; antivirus blocking a connection attempt to Retropages.com while browsing other sites; browser homepage or new tab page modified to redirect through Retropages.com |
| Distribution Method | Redirect chains from advertising networks on adult content sites, piracy platforms, and freeware portals; adware installed through software bundling that generates redirect traffic to Retropages.com; browser extensions with redirect capabilities pushing traffic through the domain; malicious advertising on low-quality content sites triggering automatic redirect events |
| Removal Time | Around 15 Minutes |
| Removal Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Malware
* Free Remover allows you, subject to a 48-hour waiting period, one remediation and removal for results found. SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy, and more details about Free Remover. |
How Did Retropages.com Get on My Computer?
Retropages.com reaches browsers through a combination of adware-generated redirects and advertising network redirect chains:
- Redirect chains from low-quality advertising networks – advertising content on adult sites, piracy platforms, and freeware download portals routes through multi-hop redirect chains that pass through Retropages.com as one of the intermediate destinations. These redirects can occur without the user interacting with advertising directly, triggering automatically when certain page elements load.
- Adware generating redirect traffic – software bundled with free downloads or installed through fake update prompts can include browser-modifying components that inject redirect events into browsing sessions, routing the browser through Retropages.com as part of advertising monetization.
- Browser extensions with redirect behavior – extensions installed through software bundling or deceptive permissions requests can intercept navigation and route traffic through redirect domains including Retropages.com before delivering the user to a destination page.
- Direct redirect from compromised advertising – some ad placements on legitimate sites serve compromised advertising content that redirects through domains like Retropages.com during load, without any user interaction with the ad.
What Does Retropages.com Do?
The activity associated with Retropages.com includes:
- Redirect traffic monetization – each browser session routed through Retropages.com generates advertising revenue for the network operating the redirect infrastructure, regardless of where the user ends up after the redirect completes.
- Push notification permission harvesting – when the browser lands on Retropages.com, the site presents notification permission requests using deceptive overlays designed to collect Allow clicks. Granted permissions are used to deliver ongoing notification spam to the device.
- Desktop notification spam from permission abuse – once notification permission is granted, Retropages.com or associated domains push persistent spam notifications promoting scam pages, fake security alerts, gambling platforms, and subscription trap services.
- Further redirect exposure through notification content – clicking notifications from Retropages.com routes through additional redirect chains to scam destinations, extending the original redirect exposure into an ongoing series of advertising interactions.
How to Remove Retropages.com?
Step 1: Revoke notification permissions from Retropages.com in your browser
- Chrome: Settings – Privacy and Security – Site Settings – Notifications. Locate Retropages.com or any associated domain in the Allow list, click the three-dot menu, select Remove or Block.
- Firefox: Settings – Privacy and Security – Permissions – Notifications – Settings. Find Retropages.com, change to Block, click Save Changes.
- Edge: Settings – Cookies and Site Permissions – Notifications. Find the entry in the Allow section and click Remove.
- Brave / Opera: Navigate to the browser’s Site Settings or Shields Settings – Notifications and remove Retropages.com from the Allow list.
Step 2: Remove suspicious browser extensions
Open the browser extension manager and remove any extension not deliberately installed, particularly those installed around the time Retropages.com redirects began. Extensions with broad permissions including read and change data on all websites are the highest-risk category to review.
Step 3: Scan for adware generating the redirects
Run a full system scan with SpyHunter to detect and remove any adware, browser hijacker, or potentially unwanted software responsible for routing the browser through Retropages.com. Manual removal of redirect-associated adware often leaves behind components that reinstall the redirect behavior after a reboot.
Step 4: Reset browser settings if the homepage was modified
If Retropages.com or a redirect destination modified the browser’s homepage, new tab page, or default search engine, reset these settings through the browser’s settings menu after completing the scan and removal steps.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Retropages.com from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Retropages.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Retropages.com and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Retropages.com on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Retropages.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for Retropages.com (Windows).
Get rid of Retropages.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Retropages.com and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Retropages.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Retropages.com via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Retropages.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Retropages.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Retropages.com (Mac)
Remove Retropages.com from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase Retropages.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall Retropages.com from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove Retropages.com from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Retropages.com will be removed.
Eliminate Retropages.com from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Retropages.com-FAQ
What Is Retropages.com?
The Retropages.com threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Retropages.com?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Retropages.com?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Retropages.com Work?
Once installed, Retropages.com can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Retropages.com can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Retropages.com Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Retropages.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Retropages.com how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Retropages.com?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Retropages.com threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.