The cause of unwanted GreatDealz popup ads on your screen is adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software). Technically, the adware, that shows tons of ads or redirects on an annoying page, is not a virus. It’s is created to make a money. Once started, the ‘ad supported’ software injects a small code within the content of web-pages that you visit. The malicous code may pop-up a new internet browser window with GreatDealz web page or insert lots of advertising links directly into the web pages you’re viewing.
Most often, the ad-supported software affects the most common web browsers such as the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and IE. But such the malicious software as well may infect another internet browsers by changing its shortcuts (adding an argument such as ‘http://site.address’ into Target field of a web-browser’s shortcut). So every time you run the internet browser, it’ll display annoying Ads by GreatDealz. Even if you setup a new startpage, an unwanted site will be the first thing you see when you launch the Chrome, FF, Microsoft Internet Explorer and MS Edge.
The adware is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, alters internet browser settings and blocks them from changing. Also the ad supported software can install additional internet browser extensions, addons and modules that will inject ads within the Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and MS Edge’s screen. Moreover, the ad-supported software may install internet browser hijacker that once started, will modify the web-browser’s startpage and search engine. And finally, the ad-supported software can collect a wide variety of personal information such as what sites you are opening, what you are looking for the Web and so on. This information, in the future, may be transferred to third parties.
Therefore it’s very important to follow the instructions below as quickly as possible. The few simple steps will assist you to get rid of adware as well as clean your personal computer from the GreatDealz pop-ups. What is more, the step-by-step instructions below will help you remove other dangerous software such as unwanted toolbars and browser hijackers, which could penetrate the machine along with the ad supported software.
How did you get infected with GreatDealz ads
The ad supported software usually gets onto PC system by being attached to another application in the same installation package. The risk of this is especially high for the various freeware downloaded from the Net. The makers of the programs are hoping that users will use the quick install mode, that is simply to press the Next button, without paying attention to the information on the screen and don’t carefully considering every step of the installation procedure. Thus, the adware can infiltrate your PC without your knowledge. Therefore, it is very important to read all the information that tells the application during install, including the ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’. Use only the Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode. This mode will allow you to disable all optional and unwanted programs and components.
How to manually remove GreatDealz advertisements
This few simple steps will allow you get rid of GreatDealz adware. These GreatDealz removal steps work for the Chrome, FF, Internet Explorer and MS Edge, as well as every version of Windows operating system. Some of the steps may require you to close the web browser or reboot your machine. So, bookmark or print it for later reference.
- Uninstall suspicious and unknown applications by using Windows Control Panel
- Get rid of GreatDealz advertisements from Google Chrome
- Remove GreatDealz ads from Mozilla Firefox
- Delete GreatDealz pop-up ads from Internet Explorer
- Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
- Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Uninstall suspicious and unknown applications by using Windows Control Panel
First, you should try to identify and remove the program that causes the appearance of annoying ads and web-browser redirect to unwanted web-pages, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
Press Windows key
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown on the image below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ under Programs category like below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of installed software. Most likely, one or more of them are responsible for unwanted GreatDealz pop-up ads. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious software by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused application, right click to it and press ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel like below.
When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as shown in the figure below.
You will see a list of programs installed on your PC. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the software that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of annoying pop-up ads and web-browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the program, you need to delete, is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as shown below.
Get rid of GreatDealz advertisements from Google Chrome
Like other modern web browsers, the Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby remove the redirect to GreatDealz unwanted ads which is caused by the ad-supported software.
At first, start the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will appear the main menu. Click on the option named “Settings”. Another way to show the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter.
The internet browser will show the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as on the image below and click the “Reset settings” button.
The Google Chrome will open the confirmation prompt. You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The program will start the task of cleaning. When it’s done, the web-browser settings including the ‘block pop-ups’ option back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your machine.
Remove GreatDealz ads from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox settings have been replaced by the adware, then resetting it to the default state can help you to delete annoying GreatDealz ads.
First, run the Firefox and click button. It will show the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web-browser. Next, click the Help button (
) as shown on the screen below.
In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the internet browser address bar and press Enter. It will show the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the image below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, press the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will open the confirmation dialog box, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the adware. When it’s complete, press the “Finish” button
Delete GreatDealz pop-up ads from Internet Explorer
First, start the IE, then click 
button. Next, click “Internet Options” as shown in the figure below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer” settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and press Reset button.
You will now need to restart your PC system for the changes to take effect. It will restore the IE’s settings like start page and search provider by default to default state, disable ad-supported internet browser’s extensions and thereby remove unwanted GreatDealz ads.
Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
When the adware is started, it can also alter the web browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument like “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you open the web browser, it will be rerouted to an annoying advertisements.
To clear the internet browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text which starts with “http://” that has been added here. You need to remove it.
When the argument is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your web browsers, as they may be infected too.
Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Once installed, the adware can add a task in to the Windows Task Scheduler Library. Due to this, every time when you start your PC, it will show GreatDealz annoying ads. So, you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and delete all tasks that have been created by unwanted software.
Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time. It will open a dialog box which called Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and click OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click “Task Scheduler Library”, as on the image below.
Task scheduler, list of tasks
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be show just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Necessary to look at the text which is written under Details. Found something such as “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address” or “firefox.exe http://site.address”, then you need get rid of this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it is a component of the adware, then this task also should be removed.
Further click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as shown in the figure below.
Task scheduler, delete a task
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by unwanted applications. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.
How to remove GreatDealz advertisements automatically
We recommend using the Malwarebytes Free. You can download and install this utility to detect GreatDealz threat and remove it, from the link below. When installed and updated, the free malware remover will automatically scan and detect all threats present on the personal computer.
326379 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once installed, the Malwarebytes will try to update itself and when this task is complete, click “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the adware and malware. During the scan it will detect all threats present on your computer. In order to remove all threats, simply click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about the Malwarebytes, we recommend you to read and follow the step-by-step guide or the video guide below.
Stop GreatDealz ads and other unwanted web-sites
To increase your security and protect your computer against new unwanted ads and malicious web pages, you need to use program that blocks access to malicious advertisements and web-pages. Moreover, the program can block the display of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web-pages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
Download AdGuard program from the following link.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading is finished, start the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the figure below.
Follow the prompts. When the setup is done, you will see a window as shown below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and block ads, ads by GreatDealz, as well as other malicious or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your Windows desktop.
Get rid of GreatDealz advertisements and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner.
If MalwareBytes cannot remove the unwanted GreatDealz ads from the Chrome, IE, Firefox and MS Edge, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for ‘ad supported’ software, browser hijackers, PUPs and toolbars.
Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the link below.
225256 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Once downloading is done, open the file location. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this utility is started, you will see a screen such as below.
Now, press the “Scan” button for scanning your PC for the malicious extensions and adware that opens annoying GreatDealz ads within your web-browser. Once the checking is done, it will open a scan report as shown below.
Review the report and then click “Clean” button. It will show a prompt. Click “OK”. When the cleaning procedure is finished, AdwCleaner may ask you to restart your computer.
Look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the AdwCleaner to delete ad-supported software, browser hijackers and other harmful programs.
Finish words
Once you have done the step-by-step guide outlined above, your system should be clean from malware and adware. The Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge will no longer open GreatDealz annoying ads and redirect you to unknown web pages. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new type of ad supported software, and then the best way – ask for help.
- Download HijackThis from the link below and save it to your Desktop.
HijackThis download
4690 downloads
Version: 2.0.5
Author: OpenSource
Category: Security tools
Update: November 7, 2015
- Double-click on the HijackThis icon. Next click “Do a system scan only” button.
- When it has finished scanning your machine, the scan button will read “Save log”, click it. Save this log to your desktop.
- Create a Myantispyware account here. Once you’ve registered, check your e-mail for a confirmation link, and confirm your account. After that, login.
- Copy and paste the contents of the HijackThis log into your post. If you are posting for the first time, please start a new thread by using the “New Topic” button in the Spyware Removal forum. When posting your HJT log, try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately.
- Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the annoying GreatDealz pop-up ads.
