Every time, when you surf the Net with your internet browser the Dating ads keeps annoying you? Then most probably that your machine is infected by an adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) that can end up on your PC in various ways. Most commonly is when you download and install free software and forget to uncheck the box for the bundled software installation. Do not panic because we have got the solution. Here’s a tutorial on how to block (remove) undesired Dating pop-up ads from the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge and other web browsers.
As well as unwanted internet browser redirects to Dating ads, the adware can gather your Web surfing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, internet browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web-pages visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or privacy information theft. This is another reason why the ad supported software responsible for Dating ads, is classified as potentially unwanted application (PUA).
The adware usually affects only the Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge by changing the web-browser’s settings or installing a malicious extensions. Moreover, possible situations, when any other internet browsers will be affected too. The ‘ad supported’ software will perform a scan of the computer for web browser shortcuts and alter them without your permission. When it infects the internet browser shortcuts, it’ll add the argument like ‘http://site.address’ into Target property. So, each time you open the browser, you will see an undesired Dating site.
So, obviously, you need to remove the ad supported software as quickly as possible. Use the free instructions below. This guide will help you clean your machine of adware and thereby block the Dating intrusive advertisements.
Block Dating ads (removal tutorial)
The ad supported software is a form of malware that you might have difficulty in deleting it from your machine. Happily, you’ve found the effective Dating pop up ads removal instructions in this blog post. Both the manual removal method and the automatic removal way will be provided below and you can just choose the one that best for you. If you’ve any questions or need assist then type a comment below. Read it once, after doing so, please print this page as you may need to shut down your web browser or restart your computer.
To remove Dating, execute the steps below:
- Get rid of Dating pop up ads without any utilities
- Dating pop-up ads automatic removal
- Run AdBlocker to block Dating ads and stay safe online
- How can you prevent the Dating ads
- Finish words
Get rid of Dating pop up ads without any utilities
Read this “How to remove” section to know how to manually block adware that causes intrusive Dating popup advertisements. Even if the instructions does not work for you, there are several free malware removers below that can easily handle such ad-supported software which redirects your internet browser to unwanted Dating site.
Uninstall suspicious applications using MS Windows Control Panel
The process of adware removal is generally the same across all versions of Microsoft Windows OS from 10 to XP. To start with, it’s necessary to check the list of installed programs on your system and delete all unused, unknown and suspicious programs.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the MS Windows logo, and then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown on the image below.
Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown on the screen below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and select the ‘Control Panel’ at right as displayed on the image below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Windows 7 or Vista) as shown in the figure below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed software and remove all programs that has the name like “Dating”. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed software by date. When you have found anything suspicious that may be the adware, adware or potentially unwanted applications, then select this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious application blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully block it from your PC.
Remove unwanted Scheduled Tasks
If the intrusive Dating web-page opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and stop all the tasks which have been created by ‘ad-supported’ software.
Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard together. It will show a dialog box that 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 shown on the screen below.
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be display 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 stop this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it’s a component of the ‘ad-supported’ program, then this task also should be removed.
Further click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as displayed below.
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by malicious software. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.
Clean up the browsers shortcuts which have been affected by adware
Once installed, this adware responsible for redirects to Dating ads, may add an argument such as “http://site.address” into the Target property of the desktop shortcut for the Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Due to this, every time you launch the web browser, it will show an undesired ad web page.
Click the right mouse button to a desktop shortcut that you use to open your web browser. Next, choose the “Properties” option. Important: necessary to click on the desktop shortcut file for the web-browser which is redirected to the Dating ads or other unwanted page.
Further, necessary to look at the text which is written in the “Target” field. The ‘ad supported’ software that causes multiple undesired ads can replace the contents of this field, which describes the file to be start when you launch your internet browser. Depending on the web-browser you are using, there should be:
- Google Chrome: chrome.exe
- Opera: opera.exe
- Firefox: firefox.exe
- Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe
If you are seeing an unknown text like “http://site.addres” which has been added here, then you should remove it, as displayed in the figure below.
Next, click the “OK” button to save the changes. Now, when you run the browser from this desktop shortcut, it does not occur automatically redirect on the Dating web site or any other undesired web pages. Once the step is complete, we recommend to go to the next step.
Remove Dating ads from Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings is a easy way to stop the hijackers, harmful and ‘ad-supported’ extensions, as well as to recover the web-browser’s homepage, newtab and search engine by default that have been modified by adware that causes multiple intrusive popup advertisements.
Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (). It will open the drop-down menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Google Chrome main menu again, press to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as displayed on the screen below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, press the “Reset” button.
Remove Dating advertisements from Firefox
If the FF web-browser program is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Firefox settings such as home page, new tab and default search provider to its default state. It will save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, and open tabs.
Start the Mozilla Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the browser screen. Next, press the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will show the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you’re unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page like below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will begin a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the adware responsible for redirecting your web browser to Dating site. When, it’s complete, click the “Finish” button.
Remove Dating popup advertisements from IE
In order to restore all browser startpage, newtab and default search engine you need to reset the Microsoft Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Windows was installed on your computer.
First, run the Internet Explorer, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will open the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the internet browser, then click the “Internet Options” as on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button like below.
After the task is done, press “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and reboot your PC for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your browser’s newtab, home page and search provider by default to default state.
Dating pop-up ads automatic removal
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely remove adware responsible for Dating popup advertisements. So, we advise to scan your PC for any remaining harmful components with free adware removal applications below.
Scan and clean your internet browser of Dating ads with Zemana Anti-malware
Zemana Anti-malware highly recommended, because it can find security threats such adware and ‘ad supported’ softwares that most ‘classic’ antivirus software fail to pick up on. Moreover, if you have any Dating ads removal problems which cannot be fixed by this tool automatically, then Zemana Anti-malware provides 24X7 online assistance from the highly experienced support staff.
Now you can install and run Zemana AntiMalware to stop Dating pop up ads from your browser by following the steps below:
Click the following link to download Zemana installer called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your computer. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
164028 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Launch the installer after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to install this tool on your PC system.
During installation you can change some settings, but we recommend you don’t make any changes to default settings.
When installation is finished, this malicious software removal tool will automatically start and update itself. You will see its main window as displayed below.
Now press the “Scan” button to begin scanning your PC system for the ‘ad supported’ software responsible for redirections to Dating ads. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malware, ‘ad supported’ software or potentially unwanted programs are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.
As the scanning ends, you can check all threats detected on your machine. You may move threats to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will start to block ad-supported software that causes web-browsers to open annoying Dating pop-up ads. Once the cleaning process is complete, you may be prompted to reboot your PC to make the change take effect.
Use Malwarebytes to stop Dating advertisements
We suggest using the Malwarebytes Free. You may download and install Malwarebytes to detect ad supported software and thereby remove Dating advertisements from your web browsers. When installed and updated, the free malware remover will automatically check and detect all threats present on the computer.
Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). Save it directly to your Microsoft Windows Desktop.
326380 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is finished, close all windows on your computer. Further, open the file called mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown on the image below, click the “Yes” button.
It will display the “Setup wizard” that will allow you install MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is complete successfully, click Finish button. Then MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically run and you may see its main window like below.
Next, click the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the adware responsible for redirecting your internet browser to Dating web-site. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is checking, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.
Once MalwareBytes has completed scanning, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will show you the results. All found threats will be marked. You can block them all by simply click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The MalwareBytes Free will block adware that causes web-browsers to open annoying Dating pop-up ads and add threats to the Quarantine. When disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to reboot your PC system. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes to stop browser hijackers, ad-supported software and other malicious software.
Delete Dating advertisements and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner
The AdwCleaner utility is free and easy to use. It can scan and block malicious software, PUPs and adware in Chrome, IE, Firefox and Edge browsers and thereby stop all annoying Dating pop-up ads. AdwCleaner is powerful enough to find and stop harmful registry entries and files that are hidden on the PC.
- Download AdwCleaner from the following link. Save it directly to your Windows Desktop.
AdwCleaner download
225257 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Select the file location as Desktop, and then press Save.
- After the downloading process is complete, run the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, press Yes to continue.
- Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
- In the AdwCleaner window, press the “Scan” .AdwCleaner program will scan through the whole computer for the adware which cause unwanted Dating ads to appear. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your personal computer and the speed of your computer. While the AdwCleaner program is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
- After AdwCleaner has finished scanning, AdwCleaner will show a list of all items detected by the scan. All detected items will be marked. You can block them all by simply click “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to restart your personal computer, click “OK”.
The step by step guide shown in detail in the following video.
Run AdBlocker to block Dating ads and stay safe online
In order to increase your security and protect your machine against new intrusive ads and harmful pages, you need to use adblocker program that blocks an access to malicious ads and web sites. Moreover, the program can stop the display of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of pages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
Installing the AdGuard adblocker program is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
When the downloading process is finished, double-click the downloaded file to run it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as shown below.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick instructions as shown on the image below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick instructions that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you start your system, AdGuard will run automatically and stop pop up ads, Dating ads, as well as other harmful 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 desktop.
How can you prevent the Dating ads
The ad-supported software may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but in many cases, the adware spreads together with some free programs. Many makers of freeware include additional software in their setup file. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the install of any ‘ad supported’ software: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode, disable all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new free applications.
Finish words
After completing the few simple steps shown above, your machine should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge and Internet Explorer will no longer open undesired Dating ads when you browse the Web. Unfortunately, if the step by step guide does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help.
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 Dating popup advertisements.