Are you facing a problem with your web browser that constantly redirects to a suspicious webpage named 1stepdownload.com? Then, there are chances that your personal computer is infected by PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the adware (also known as ‘adware software’) family. Adware’s basic purpose is to show advertisements. These advertisements are often presented as advertising banners, pop-ups or push notifications. Clicks on the advertisements produce a monetary payoff for the software authors. Adware can work like Spyware, since it sends sensitive info such as searches and trends to advertisers.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to remove adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware can gather lots of privacy info about you that may be later used for marketing purposes. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.
Threat Summary
| Name | 1stepdownload.com |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), pop ups, pop-up advertisements, pop-up virus |
| Symptoms |
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| Removal | 1stepdownload.com removal guide |
How does Adware get on your PC system
Adware software may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but in many cases, adware is bundled with certain free software. Many creators of free applications include optional software in their install package. Sometimes it’s possible to avoid the installation of any adware: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode, reject all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.
If you are unfortunate have adware, you can follow the few simple steps below that will help you to remove adware software and thereby remove 1stepdownload.com pop-up ads from your browser.
How to remove 1stepdownload.com redirect from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
We are presenting various methods to remove 1stepdownload.com ads from the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge using only internal MS Windows functions. Most of adware software and PUPs can be removed through these processes. If these steps does not help to get rid of 1stepdownload.com redirect, then it is better to run a free malware removal utilities linked below.
To remove 1stepdownload.com, perform the steps below:
- How to manually remove 1stepdownload.com
- Automatic Removal of 1stepdownload.com pop-up ads
- How to stop 1stepdownload.com pop-up advertisements
How to manually remove 1stepdownload.com
Most adware software can be uninstalled manually, without the use of antivirus software or other removal utilities. The manual steps below will show you how to delete 1stepdownload.com pop up ads step by step. Although each of the steps is very simple and does not require special knowledge, but you doubt that you can complete them, then use the free tools, a list of which is given below.
Uninstall dubious applications using MS Windows Control Panel
First, you should try to identify and remove the application that causes the appearance of intrusive ads or browser redirect, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Make sure you have closed all browsers and other applications. Next, remove any unwanted and suspicious apps from your Control panel.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Now, press the Windows button, type “Control panel” in search and press Enter. Select “Programs and Features”, then “Uninstall a program”.
Look around the entire list of programs installed on your computer. Most probably, one of them is the adware software responsible for 1stepdownload.com ads. Select the suspicious program or the application that name is not familiar to you and remove it.
Windows Vista, 7
From the “Start” menu in MS Windows, select “Control Panel”. Under the “Programs” icon, choose “Uninstall a program”.
Choose the questionable or any unknown programs, then click “Uninstall/Change” button to uninstall this unwanted program from your PC system.
Windows XP
Click the “Start” button, select “Control Panel” option. Click on “Add/Remove Programs”.
Choose an unwanted program, then click “Change/Remove” button. Follow the prompts.
Remove 1stepdownload.com advertisements from Google Chrome
If your Google Chrome browser is re-directed to unwanted 1stepdownload.com web page, it may be necessary to completely reset your internet browser program to its default settings.
- First run the Google Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this task is complete, your internet browser’s start page, search provider and new tab page will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove 1stepdownload.com from Firefox by resetting browser settings
If the Firefox web browser is re-directed to 1stepdownload.com and you want to restore the Mozilla Firefox settings back to their default values, then you should follow the step-by-step guidance below. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
Launch the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web browser screen. Next, press the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will display the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as displayed on the image 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 task to fix your problems that caused by the 1stepdownload.com adware software. After, it’s complete, click the “Finish” button.
Delete 1stepdownload.com pop up ads from IE
In order to restore all browser default search engine, start page and newtab you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Windows was installed on your PC system.
First, launch the Microsoft Internet Explorer, then press ‘gear’ icon 
. It will display the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the internet browser, then click the “Internet Options” as displayed below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, press the “Reset” button as shown in the figure below.
When the task is done, click “Close” button. Close the Microsoft Internet Explorer and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your browser’s home page, search provider and new tab page to default state.
Automatic Removal of 1stepdownload.com pop-up ads
If the 1stepdownload.com ads are still there, the situation is more serious. But do not worry. There are several utilities that are developed to look for and get rid of adware software from your web browser and computer. If you are searching for a free way to adware removal, then Zemana AntiMalware is a good option. Also you can get Hitman Pro and MalwareBytes. Both programs also available for free unlimited scanning and for removal of detected malicious software, adware software and potentially unwanted applications.
How to get rid of 1stepdownload.com pop up ads with Zemana
Zemana Anti-Malware is free full featured malware removal utility. It can scan your files and MS Windows registry in real-time. Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) can help to get rid of 1stepdownload.com pop ups, other PUPs, malicious software and adware. It uses 1% of your personal computer resources. This tool has got simple and beautiful interface and at the same time effective protection for your device.
First, please go to the link below, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of Zemana.
164037 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After the download is finished, launch it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Anti-Malware will try to update itself and when this task is done, click the “Scan” button . Zemana Anti Malware program will scan through the whole PC for the adware which causes pop-ups.
Depending on your personal computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the Zemana utility is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Next” button.
The Zemana Free will delete adware which redirects your internet browser to the intrusive 1stepdownload.com web page.
Use HitmanPro to get rid of 1stepdownload.com redirect
The HitmanPro utility is free (30 day trial) and easy to use. It can check and delete malware, PUPs and adware software in Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox web-browsers and thereby remove all annoying 1stepdownload.com pop ups. Hitman Pro is powerful enough to find and get rid of harmful registry entries and files that are hidden on the PC system.
- Visit the page linked below to download HitmanPro. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
- When the downloading process is done, double click the HitmanPro icon. Once this tool is opened, click “Next” button to begin checking your PC system for the adware software related to the 1stepdownload.com popup ads. Depending on your device, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malicious software, adware software or PUPs are found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
- When HitmanPro has finished scanning, Hitman Pro will display a list of all items found by the scan. Next, you need to click “Next” button. Now press the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to remove all malicious software found.
How to remove 1stepdownload.com with MalwareBytes
You can remove 1stepdownload.com pop ups automatically through the use of MalwareBytes. We suggest this free malicious software removal tool because it may easily delete browser hijackers, adware software, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware by clicking on the link below.
326391 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is finished, close all windows on your computer. Further, start the file called MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up similar to the one below, press the “Yes” button.
It will open the Setup wizard that will allow you set up MalwareBytes on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is done successfully, click “Get Started” button. Then MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main window like below.
Next, press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the adware which causes pop ups. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your PC system. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
Once the scan is finished, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will open a list of detected items. Once you have selected what you want to remove from your device press “Quarantine” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will begin to remove adware responsible for 1stepdownload.com pop ups. After the process is complete, you can be prompted to restart your computer. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware to remove browser hijackers, adware software and other malicious software.
How to stop 1stepdownload.com pop-up advertisements
The AdGuard is a very good ad-blocking application for the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Internet Explorer, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of annoying advertisements, popunders, pop-ups, annoying new tab pages, and even full page advertisements and web site overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block the 1stepdownload.com ads automatically or by using a custom filter rule.
Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
26629 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen like below.
Follow the prompts. After the installation is finished, you will see a window as displayed on the screen below.
You can click “Skip” to close the install application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will allow 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 run your PC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block 1stepdownload.com, 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, which can be found on your desktop.
Finish words
Now your personal computer should be free of the adware software that causes 1stepdownload.com pop up ads in your internet browser. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and annoying harmful websites) and Zemana Anti Malware (to periodically scan your device for new adwares and other malicious 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 remove 1stepdownload.com redirect from the Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Internet Explorer, then ask for help here here.
