| Name | Ads by Currency |
| Type | Adware, PUP |
| Short Description | Ads by Currency may have been brought by a PUP. |
| Symptoms | Unwanted advertisements are generated in the browser. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling, unsafe browsing. |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By Ads by Currency |
Several user complaints have been issues regarding an ad-supported application. The adware in question is Ads by Currency and it is reported to generate advertisements. Ads by Currency appear in Google Chrome, but it may affect other widely-used browsers as well (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer). The ads may keep appearing on every domain. What is troublesome about Ads by Currency is that it can be quite tricky to locate on the system.
Ads by Currency Details
- System Affected: Windows 7 (possibly newer Windows versions)
- Associated Program: Chrome Notepad (v3.8.5)
- File Name: chrome notepad.exe
- Symptoms: Advertisements with texts ‘Ads by Currency’
Ads by Currency Distribution Method
As visible by the details provided above, the adware is most likely generated by a program called Chrome Notepad (v3.8.5). What might have happened is a bundled download. The adware application called Currency may have been included in the installer of Chrome Notepad. If the user didn’t pay attention during the installation process, he didn’t get the chance to un-check the additional program.
However, another scenario is also possible. Chrome Notepad (v3.8.5) may have been included in a freeware installer itself. Many free apps are ad-supported, meaning that once they are installed, unwanted advertisements will be generated in the browser.
Chrome Notepad (v3.8.5), chrome notepad.exe Detection Ratio
Several AV providers have detected Trojan components in Chrome Notepad’s primary process. Hence, the status of the application is potentially unwanted.
Here is a list of probable detection names per AV program:
- Gen:Variant.Mikey.11576 (BitDefender)
- Gen:Variant.Mikey.11576 (F-Secure)
- HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky)
- Threat.Win.Reputation.IMP (Reason Heuristics)
Being a potentially unwanted application (PUA) with Trojan infiltration capabilities, Chrome Notepad (v3.8.5) should be removed instantly from the PC. Once this is done, the advertisements dubbed Ads by Currency should cease.
Ads by Currency Removal Options
As just mentioned, the Chrome Notepad application should be uninstalled so that the ads are stopped permanently. To do so, the user should consider running an anti-malware scanner that runs in real time. Such a scanner will identify the threat and remove it automatically.
If you have located Chrome Notepad (v3.8.5) on your system, you can try and uninstall it manually. However, running an AV scanner is still required. More PUPs may have sneaked into the system via the bundling method. Furthermore, some PUPs may have employed a silent or unattended installer. If such installations take place, the PC is put at risk of severe infections.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall Ads by Currency in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 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 get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes 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:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall Ads by Currency.
Step 2: Remove Ads by Currency from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select Ads by Currency and click “Remove”
After Ads by Currency is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select Ads by Currency to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After Ads by Currency has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on Ads by Currency
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Ads by Currency. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Ads by Currency will be removed.
Step 3: Remove Ads by Currency automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
To clean your computer you should download an updated anti-malware program on a safe PC and then install it on the affected computer in offline mode. After that you should boot into safe mode and scan your computer to remove all Ads by Currency associated objects.
