If lots of unwanted websites popping up in your internet browser then most probably that your PC is affected by an adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software). It is a type of malicious software that designed to open lots of unwanted pop ups, display annoying ads, offers and deals. Unlike viruses, the ‘ad supported’ software will not delete or infect your files, but its actions will cause some problems with your internet browser. This is because, it’ll hijack your system, get full access to your browsers such as Firefox, MS Edge, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome and can change their settings. Of course, it did not ask you for permission and do it secretly as possible.

Once your web-browser settings will be modified, you’ll be redirected to unwanted websites, some of which can be malicious or misleading pages. For this reason, we recommend that you begin the clean up of your personal computer as quickly as possible and thereby stop unwanted websites from opening automatically in your browser.

The adware that redirects your web-browsers to unwanted websites, is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, changes web-browser settings and blocks them from changing. Also the ad supported software can install additional browser extensions and modules that will inject ads within the Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge’s screen. Moreover, the ad-supported software may install web-browser hijacker that once started, will change the web-browser’s start page and search provider. Even worse, the ‘ad supported’ software can be used to collect privacy data about you such as what pages you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This confidential data, subsequently, may be sold to third parties.

It’s important, don’t use unwanted and questionable websites and don’t click on advertisements placed on it, as they can lead you to a more malicious or misleading web-pages. The best option is to use the tutorial posted below to clean your computer of ‘ad supported’ software and thus stop unwanted websites from opening automatically.

How to stop websites from opening automatically in Chrome, Firefox, IE and Edge

Uninstall suspicious software

First, you should try to identify and uninstall the program that causes the appearance of annoying ads or web browser redirects. Use the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.

Windows

1) Click the MS Windows logo, and then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter like below.

2) Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as displayed in the figure below.

Stop websites from opening automatically in Firefox by resetting web browser settings

Resetting Firefox web-browser will reset all the settings to their original state and will remove unwanted pop-up ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.

First, start the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes It will display the drop-down menu. Next, press the Help button .

In the Help menu press the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page press on “Refresh Firefox” button like below.

Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.

Stop websites from opening automatically in Google Chrome

Use the Reset web-browser tool of the Google Chrome to reset all its settings like home page, newtab and search provider to original defaults. This is a very useful utility to use, in the case of internet browser redirects to unwanted web sites, ads and annoying deals.

First launch the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots.

It will display the Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.

Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.

The web-browser will open the settings screen. Another way to show the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as displayed on the image below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.

The Google Chrome will open the confirmation prompt as shown in the following example.

You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web-browser will start the task of cleaning. When it is finished, the internet browser’s settings including newtab page, search engine and home page back to the values which have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your PC system.

Stop automatic opening of websites in Internet Explorer

If you find that Microsoft Internet Explorer browser settings such as new tab, search provider by default and homepage having been modified by ‘ad supported’ software responsible for redirects to unwanted websites, then you may revert back your settings, via the reset internet browser procedure.

First, launch the Internet Explorer, click  button. Next, click “Internet Options” like below.

In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.

You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect. It will remove adware that responsible for browser redirect to the annoying Unwanted webpage, disable malicious and ad-supported browser’s extensions and restore the Internet Explorer’s settings like default search provider, new tab and home page to default state.

Automatically

Manual removal guidance does not always help to completely delete the adware, as it is not easy to identify and delete components of ad supported software and all malicious files from hard disk. Therefore, it is recommended that you use malicious software removal utility to completely stop websites from opening automatically in your browser. Several free malicious software removal tools are currently available that can be used against the adware. The optimum method would be to use Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM), MalwareBytes Anti-Malware and Hitman Pro.

Also Read: How to reset Nintendo Switch