This page is here to help you remove Ads by DNS Unlocker. This Ads by DNS Unlocker removal guide is suitable for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer, as well as all Windows versions.
DNS Unlocker, also known as Ads by DNS Unlocker is a Windows application which allegedly grants users access to online content blocked by local DNS servers. Additionally, its developers claim the free service they provide is faster and easier to configure than VPN. Whether these claims are true remains unclear. What is, however, certain is that the program is of malicious nature, and belongs to the adware family.
What Does Ads by DNS Unlocker Do?
Similarly to other adware applications, Ads by DNS Unlocker has been created with the sole primary purpose to underhandedly generate massive advertising revenue. In order to achieve this, the offensive program employs deceptive distribution methods which allow it to surreptitiously enter target computers and take over resident browsers, which it then begins to manipulate into displaying myriads of intrusive third party adverts. As a result, each time victims start Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer, they are completely flooded with countless banners, video ads, pop-ups and the like, regardless of what websites they view. Additionally, supposedly in order to help users circumvent DNS blocks, the program changes their original DNS settings to its own, redirecting traffic to privately held DNS servers. This has a two-fold negative effect. Firstly, the cybercriminals behind DNS Unlocker are able to track all users’ browsing activities, extract system-related information and steal sensitive data such as login credentials or credit card details. Secondly, users without profound IT training may experience difficulties permanently uninstalling the adware (since they wouldn’t be aware of their altered DNS settings). It is also to note, that affected computers experience significant drops in their overall performance and Internet connection speed.
How Is Ads by DNS Unlocker Distributed?
Although Ads by DNS Unlocker is featured on vidcreek.tv’s file sharing forum, this website is automatically blocked by both Google’s Safe Browsing and Mozilla’s Malware Protection, and cannot be considered a substantial propagation vector. Identically to uncounted other adware applications, DNS Unlocker Ads is widely spread across the World Wide Web via a set of deceptive techniques.
1. Software Bundling
Software bundling is, unsurprisingly, the most typical way in which Ads by DNS Unlocker is distributed. This means the adware is wrapped and installed together with other free programs. Malware actors massively offer per-install payments to freeware developers and download portals (such as softonic.com, download.com, brothersoft.com, etc.) in order to promote suspicious applications, which has led to software bundling becoming an increasingly popular freeware monetization method. Consequently, the great majority of freeware nowadays is downloaded and installed via custom-built setup wizards which contain numerous additional (potentially dangerous) features. Since, as mentioned, freeware vendors are paid each time a “bonus offer” is installed, they use a variety of deceptive tricks to foist them upon users. Typically, these involve misleading usage of text and layout formatting, illogical installation menus sequence, and default pre-selection of additional features. For these reasons, it is highly recommendable that users always go for the advanced (or “custom”) installation option, which will give them the opportunity to actively participate in the setup process, identify pre-checked “extras”, and discharge them.
2. Malvertising, Spam E-mails, Drive-by Downloads
A so called “drive-by download” attack occurs when malware installs exploiting a client-side system vulnerability, such as programming weaknesses in the code of browsers, browser add-ons or other locally installed software. In order to detect and take advantage of such susceptible spots, cybercriminals use software tools known as exploit kits, which are set up on compromised or maliciously designed websites.
Potential victims are sometimes lured onto these websites using dangerously programmed adverts deceptively introduced into legitimate advertising networks. Mislead by false marketing statements and the credibility of popular advertising systems, users are tricked onto websites equipped with an exploit kit, and this is how the contamination takes place.
Spam e-mails are also sent in great masses (using so called botnets), trying to convince users to open a hyperlink associated with exploit-kit hosting websites. Therefore, you should be greatly cautious whenever you receive unsolicited electronic post. Messages, which are allegedly sent by banks, delivery services, utility providers,etc., should be examined with special care, since malware actors often attempt to impersonate them.
What Makes Ads by DNS Unlocker Dangerous?
Ads by DNS Unlocker is an adware application which should be removed as soon as detected. Created and underhandedly distributed with the primary goal to illicitly generate advertising revenue by imposing the display of excessive adverts within all major browsers, the offensive program begins to manipulate Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer immediately after successfully sneaking onto a target system. As a result, users are literally flooded with all sorts of ads such as banners, in-text ads, video ads, overlays, interstitials, pop-ups and pop-unders whenever they venture online. This has the effect that navigating across websites becomes extremely difficult, whereby relevant Internet content is barely accessibly due to numerous overlapping advertisements. Apart from turning Web browsing into a frustrating and unrewarding task, Ads by DNS Unlocker also exposes users to additional malware and scam threats by introducing numerous unsafe advertising items, which either link to malicious websites or directly trigger suspicious software installations.
Besides forcefully promoting obtrusive and dangerous adverts, Ads by DNS Unlocker is designed to extract various personal data which is most probably sold on illegal (dark net) markets, thus serving as an additional source of revenue. Thanks to replacing victims’ original DNS settings with its own, the adware is able to fully monitor their online activities (such as frequented websites, search engine queries, online purchases), IP and geographic locations, as well as highly sensitive data such as login credentials, banking information or credit card details.
Ads by DNS Unlocker is constructed in a way which makes sure the computer contaminant is always active. This is achieved by adding an entry into Windows Task Scheduler, which launches the unwanted application when the system is started as well as in certain intervals of time (so that if even its process is killed, the malware will be re-launched). Considering the exorbitant amounts of dynamic advertising content which it continuously loads, and the stolen data transmission to its servers, the adware inevitably causes a strong decrease in system performance and stability. Reportedly, it also may make connecting to the Internet extremely slow or even impossible.
How To Remove Ads by DNS Unlocker – Malware Removal Guide
Below you will find our detailed Malware Removal Guide which is specially designed to help you easily and permanently get rid of Ads by DNS Unlocker from all your browsers.
Ads by DNS Unlocker Homepage Hijacker Removal Instructions
Navigation:
1: Enter Safe Mode.
2: Remove Ads by DNS Unlocker from Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge.
3: Remove malicious attachments to browser shortcuts.
4: Uninstall the malware from your Add/Remove Programs.
5: Permanently delete the virus from Task Manager’s processes.
6: Uninstall the threat from Regedit and Msconfig.
In order to get rid of Ads by DNS Unlocker, please refer to the following step-by-step removal instructions for each of your browsers. Please note that you also have to manually restore their desktop shortcuts to their original state.
Before starting the real removal process, you must reboot in Safe Mode. If you are familiar with this task, skip the instructions below and proceed to Step 2. If you do not know how to do it, here is how to reboot in Safe mode:
For Windows 98, XP, Millenium and 7:
Reboot your computer. When the first screen of information appears, start repeatedly pressing F8 key. Then choose Safe Mode With Networking from the options.
For Windows 8/8.1
Click the Start button, next click Control Panel —> System and Security —> Administrative Tools —> System Configuration.
Check the Safe Boot option and click OK. Click Restart when asked.
For Windows 10
Open the Start menu and click or tap on the Power button.
While keeping the Shift key pressed, click or tap on Restart.
Ads by DNS Unlocker displays annoying ads on Chrome, Firefox and IE. Please, follow the guide precisely. If you miss some of the steps below, there is a chance that Ads by DNS Unlocker will come back at a later moment. Here are the steps you must follow to remove the hijacker from the browser:
Remove Ads by DNS Unlocker From Mozilla Firefox:
Open Firefox, click on top-right corner 
, click Add-ons, hit Extensions next.
Look for suspicious or unknown extensions, remove them all.
Remove Ads by DNS Unlocker From Chrome:
Open Chrome, click chrome menu icon at the top-right corner —>More Tools —> Extensions. There, identify the malware and select chrome-trash-icon(Remove).
Remove the Hijacker From Internet Explorer:
Open IE, then click IE gear icon on the top-right corner —> Manage Add-ons.
Find the malicious add-on. Remove it by pressing Disable.
Right click on the browser’s shortcut, then click Properties. Remove everything after the .exe” in the Target box.
Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.
Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.
Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.
Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.
Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.
Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.
Still can not remove Ads by DNS Unlocker from your browser? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.
