Congratulations popup virus – How to remove (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge)

The ad-supported software often change all web-browser shortcuts that located on your Desktop to force you visit various intrusive ad sites. As a result, your web-browser can still redirect you to an undesired ad web page despite your computer is actually clean of ad supported software and other malicious software.

The tutorial below explaining steps to remove Congratulations redirect problem. Feel free to use it for removal of the adware that may attack Google Chrome, FF, Internet Explorer and Edge and other popular web browsers. The step-by-step instructions will allow you remove adware and thereby clean your web-browser from all unwanted pop up.

How to remove Congratulations popups

Fortunately, it is not hard to get rid of adware virus that causes web browsers to show annoying Congratulations popups. In the following guide, we will provide two methods to free your computer of this ‘ad supported’ software. One is the manual removal method and the other is automatic removal way. You can choose the solution that best fits you. Please follow the removal tutorial below to delete Congratulations pop-up right now!

How to manually remove Congratulations popup virus

The useful removal instructions for the Congratulations redirect virus. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to remove adware virus let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

Remove adware and other PUPs through the MS Windows Control Panel

First, you should try to identify and delete the program that causes the appearance of annoying pop up or browser redirect, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.

Windows 8, 8.1, 10

First, click Windows button , then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown below.

Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown in the figure below.

You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown in the figure below.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your PC. Most likely, one or more of them are responsible for the appearance of pop up and browser redirect to the misleading “Congratulations” web site. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious programs by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.

Windows XP, Vista, 7

First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown in the figure below.

Once the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to click ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as on the image below.

You will see a list of programs installed on your personal computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the applications that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of pop up and web-browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. After the program which you need to remove is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as shown below.

Fix infected internet browsers shortcuts to remove Congratulations redirect

Important to know, most anti malware programs that are able to delete adware, but unable to find and recover changed shortcuts. So, you need to fix the desktop shortcuts for your Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge and IE web-browsers manually.

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 like “http://site.address” which has been added here. You need to delete it.

When the text is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your browsers, as they may be infected too.

Delete Congratulations popups from Mozilla Firefox

If your Mozilla Firefox internet browser is rerouted to Congratulations phishing page without your permission, then it may be time to perform the web browser reset.

First, launch the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will show the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button ().

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

Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.

Delete Congratulations pop up from IE

The Internet Explorer reset is great if your web browser is hijacked or you have unwanted addo-ons or toolbars on your web browser, which installed by an malicious software.

First, run the IE. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as shown below.

In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown on the screen below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.

You will now need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Remove Congratulations pop-up from Google Chrome

If your Chrome web-browser is rerouted to misleading Congratulations web page, it may be necessary to completely reset your browser program to its default settings.

1. First, launch the Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three horizontal stripes).
2. It will show the Google Chrome main menu, press the “Settings” menu.
3. Next, press “Show advanced settings” link, that located at the bottom of the Settings page.
4. On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings” button.
5. The Google Chrome will show the reset settings dialog box as on the image above.
6. Confirm the web browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
7. To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks

Once installed, the ad-supported software can add a task in to the Windows Task Scheduler Library. Due to this, every time when you run your personal computer, it will show Congratulations phishing web site. So, you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and remove all harmful tasks that have been created by malicious software.

Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard simultaneously. It will open a dialog box that titled as 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 shown in the figure 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 like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address” or “firefox.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it’s a component of the malicious applications, 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 malicious application. Once is complete, close the Task Scheduler window.

Congratulations pop-ups automatic removal

After completing the manual removal tutorial above all unwanted software and browser’s extensions that causes web-browser redirects to the Congratulations web page should be removed. If the problem with Congratulations pop up is still remained, then we recommend to scan your PC for any remaining malicious components. Use recommended free ad supported software removal software below.

Automatically delete Congratulations pop ups with Zemana Anti-malware

We advise using the Zemana Anti-malware which are completely clean your computer of the ‘ad supported’ software. The utility is an advanced malicious software removal application designed by (c) Zemana lab. It is able to help you get rid of potentially unwanted programs, hijackers, malware, toolbars, ransomware and adware which reroutes your browser to misleading Congratulations page.

Download Zemana Anti Malware by clicking on the link below.

Zemana AntiMalware
164032 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019

When the download is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Anti Malware will try to update itself and when this procedure is finished, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the adware which redirects your web browser to undesired Congratulations web page.

Depending on your computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a threat is detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done. Review the report and then press “Next” button.

The Zemana Anti Malware will start to remove adware that causes web browsers to show annoying Congratulations pop ups.

How to remove Congratulations popup virus with Malwarebytes

Manual Congratulations redirect virus removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We recommend that run the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your computer of adware. Moreover, the free application will help you to delete malware, PUPs, hijackers and toolbars that your machine may be infected too.

Download Malwarebytes Free by clicking on the link below.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326385 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020

Once the download is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Malwarebytes will try to update itself and when this procedure is finished, press the “Scan Now” button It’ll scan through the whole machine for the adware that cause intrusive Congratulations popup to appear. Depending on your PC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the utility is scanning, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned. Review the report and then press “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 this malicious software removal tool, we suggest you to read and follow the few simple steps or the video guide below.

Delete Congratulations pop-up from browsers with AdwCleaner

AdwCleaner is a free portable program that scans your computer for adware which causes intrusive Congratulations pop-ups, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers and allows get rid of them easily. Moreover, it will also allow you remove any harmful internet browser extensions and add-ons.

Download AdwCleaner from the link below.

AdwCleaner download
225261 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024

After the download is finished, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.

Double click the AdwCleaner desktop icon. When the tool is launched, you will see a screen as shown in the figure below.

Further, click “Scan” button It will scan through the whole computer for the ‘ad supported’ software that causes multiple annoying pop ups and pop-ups. This process can take some time, so please be patient. Once the scan is finished, it’ll open a scan report as shown on the screen below.

You may move items to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click “Clean” button. It will show a prompt as shown on the image below.

You need to click “OK”. When that process is done, the AdwCleaner may ask you to restart your machine. When your computer is started, you will see an AdwCleaner log.

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

Stop Congratulations pop ups and other annoying sites

It is important to run adblocker software like AdGuard to protect your computer from harmful pages. Most security experts says that it’s okay to block pop-up. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block Congratulations and other phishing pages.

Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.

Adguard download
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018

When the downloading process is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the image below.

Follow the prompts. After the setup is complete, you will see a window as shown below.

You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC, AdGuard will launch automatically and block popup, as well as other harmful or misleading web pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.

Do not know how your browser has been hijacked by Congratulations redirect?

The ad supported software is usually come bundled with free software and install themselves, with or without your knowledge, on your personal computer. This happens especially when you’re installing a freeware. The application installer tricks you into accepting the install of third-party applications, which you do not really want. Moreover, certain paid applications can also install third-party applications which you don’t want! Therefore, always download free software and paid programs from reputable download web-pages. Use ONLY custom or manual install mode and never blindly click Next button.

To sum up

Now your computer should be free of the adware that causes multiple unwanted pop-up and popups. Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-up and intrusive harmful web pages) and Zemana Anti-malware (to periodically scan your computer for new browser hijacker infections, malicious software and ad supported software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.

If you are still having problems while trying to delete Congratulations popups from the Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.