How to remove Setupsk adware [Virus removal guide]

The Setupsk is classified as ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware). This software is created to make money. It can show annoying advertisements within the Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Internet Explorer or redirect your web browser on other ads sites. If you’re seeing lots of annoying ads and unwanted pop-ups then most probably that your web-browser is infected with the Setupsk adware. As a result of the adware infection, your web-browser will be full of ads (pop-ups, banners, in-text links, offers to install an unwanted programs) and your machine will be slower and slower.

The adware can change the settings of the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE and Edge, but often that a harmful software like this can also infect all types of internet browsers by changing their desktop shortcuts. Thus forcing the user each time start the web-browser to see unwanted advertisements.

What is more, the ‘ad supported’ software may display advertisements depend on a web site that you are visiting. That is, it is clear that this adware, without your permission, steals your private information such as: your ip address, what is a web page you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Internet, which links you are clicking, and much, much more. The adware may monetize its functionality by collecting data from your browsing sessions and selling it to third party companies. This puts your personal information at a security risk.

We recommend to get rid of Setupsk adware, which redirects your web-browser on the unwanted ad web sites, as soon as you found this problem, as it can direct you to web-resources which may load other harmful software on your system.

How can you protect your system from Setupsk

Most often, the free applications installer includes the optional potentially unwanted applications such as this adware. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way is to choose the Custom, Advanced or Manual setup mode. Here disable (uncheck) all optional applications in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you do not need to install the optional applications which you do not trust! The only thing I want to add. Once the free applications is installed, if you {aninstall} this software, the ad-supported software will not be removed. This must be done by yourself. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

How to manually remove Setupsk adware

The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will allow you manually get rid of Setupsk ads from the Chrome, Internet Explorer, FF and Microsoft Edge.

1. Uninstall suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel
2. Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
3. Remove Setupsk from Google Chrome
4. Remove Setupsk ads from FF
5. Remove Setupsk ads from IE
6. Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks

Uninstall suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel

We recommend that you start the machine cleaning process by checking the list of installed programs and remove all unknown or suspicious applications. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the malicious software such as adware and browser hijackers may be bundled with free applications. Uninstall the unwanted applications may remove the annoying ads or browser redirect to unknown or annoying web-sites.

It will display the Windows Control Panel as shown in the figure below.

Next, click “Uninstall a program”
It’ll show a list of all applications. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown applications. To quickly find the latest installed software, we recommend sort applications by date of installation in the Control panel.

Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts

When the adware is started, it can also change the browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument such as “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you launch the web-browser, it will be rerouted to an annoying ads.

To clear the web-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 browsers, as they may be infected too.

Remove Setupsk from Google Chrome

Reset Google Chrome settings is a simple way to get rid of the malware and ad-supported software, as well as to restore the web-browser’s settings that have been replaced by ad-supported software.

1. Now start the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three horizontal stripes).
2. It will open the Chrome main menu. Select “Settings” option.
3. You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Show advanced settings” link.
4. Scroll down again and click the “Reset settings” button.
5. The Google Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
6. Next, click the “Reset” button.
7. Once this task is finished, your web-browser’s settings will be restored to their original defaults. This will reset your homepage and search engine by default.
8. To learn more, read the article How to reset Chrome settings to default.

Remove Setupsk ads from FF

If the Firefox settings have been modified by the ‘ad supported’ software, then resetting it to the default state can help you to delete the redirect onto unwanted ad pages.

First, run the Mozilla Firefox and click button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the browser. Next, click the Help button () as on the image 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 open the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will open the confirmation dialog box, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The FF will begin a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the adware. When it is finished, click the “Finish” button

Remove Setupsk ads from IE

First, run the Microsoft Internet Explorer, then click button. Next, click “Internet Options” as shown in the figure below.

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

You will now need to reboot your system for the changes to take effect. It will restore the Internet Explorer’s settings like homepage and search engine by default to default state, disable ad-supported internet browser’s extensions and thereby remove the reroute to annoying ad web-pages.

Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks

If the annoying ads opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and remove all the tasks that have been created by adware.

Press Windows and R keys on the keyboard at the same time. This opens a prompt that titled with Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and click OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, press “Task Scheduler Library”, as shown on the image below.

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. Pay attention to that it launches on your computer. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete it. If you are not sure that executes the task, check it through a search engine. If it’s a component of the malicious program, then this task also should be removed.

Having defined the task that you want to remove, then click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as shown below.

Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by adware. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.

How to remove Setupsk pop-up ads with free malware remover

Remove Setupsk ads manually is difficult and often the ‘ad supported’ software is not completely removed. Therefore, we recommend you to use the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your system. Moreover, the free application will help you to get rid of malware, internet browser hijacker and toolbars that your personal computer may be infected too.

1. Download Malwarebytes from the link below.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   326379 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. Close all software and windows on your PC system. Open the directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup.
3. This will open the setup of Malwarebytes. Next, click Next button and follow the prompts.
4. Once install is complete, press on the “Scan Now” button for checking your computer for the Setupsk adware which displays unwanted ads within your internet browser. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
5. Once the scan is complete, make sure all entries have “checkmark” and click “Quarantine Selected”. When the disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your machine.

These steps above are shown in detail in the following video guide.

Stop unwanted pop-ups and other annoying web-sites

To increase your security and protect your PC against new annoying advertisements and malicious web-pages, you need to use program that blocks access to harmful ads and web sites. Moreover, the application can stop the show of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web-sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.

Once the download is finished, launch the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown below.

Follow the prompts. When the installation is finished, you will see a window as shown on the screen below.

You can press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which 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 start your system, AdGuard will run automatically and stop advertisements, unwanted pop-ups, as well as other malicious or misleading web-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.

If the problem with Setupsk is still remained

If MalwareBytes cannot get rid of Setupsk advertisements, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, toolbars.

1. Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the link below.
   
   

   AdwCleaner download
   225256 downloads
   Version: 8.4.1
   Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: October 5, 2024
   
2. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once the tool is started the main screen will appear as shown on the image above.
3. Now, click the “Scan” button to begin checking your system for the Setupsk adware that generates lots of annoying ads.
4. Once the system scan is done, AdwCleaner will display a scan report. Review the report and then click “Clean” button. It will open a prompt, press “OK” button.

The following video explains the steps above on how to remove ad supported software with AdwCleaner.

Finish words

Now your PC system should be clean of the Setupsk adware. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-up ads and unwanted harmful sites) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your PC for new malware and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new dangerous programs and ad supported software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to delete Setupsk from your machine, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.