What is Real Dark
Real Dark is supposed to be a browser extension that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security experts, this extension acts as adware. Adware is a form of malicious software designed just to display numerous pop-up windows and/or annoying ads using intrusive and at times dangerous methods. Adware can also include other forms of malicious software. It can steal personal information from the computer and pass it on to third parties. Adware has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the computer.
Does adware software steal your confidential data? Adware software can monetize its functionality by gathering confidential information from your browsing sessions. This personal info, afterwards, can be easily sold to third parties. This puts your user data at a security risk.
Adware software is usually written in ways common to malware, spyware and browser hijackers. In order to remove Real Dark adware, you will need complete the following steps or use free adware removal utility listed below.
How does Real Dark get on your PC
Adware software usually gets on computers as a part of free applications . So, when you installing freeware, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced setup type to watch for bundled programs that are being installed, because some of the apps are potentially unwanted software and adware.
Threat Summary
Name | Real Dark |
Type | adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), popup virus, pop-up advertisements, pop ups |
Symptoms |
|
Removal | Real Dark removal guide |
How to remove Real Dark adware (removal guidance)
If you have consistent popups or unwanted advertisements, slow PC, crashing system problems, you are in need of adware removal assistance. The instructions below will guide you forward to get Real Dark removed and will assist you get your computer operating at peak capacity again.
To remove Real Dark, complete the steps below:
Manual Real Dark removal
In this section of the post, we have posted the steps that will help to get rid of Real Dark adware manually. Although compared to removal utilities, this solution loses in time, but you don’t need to download anything on your computer. It will be enough for you to follow the detailed tutorial with pictures. We tried to describe each step in detail, but if you realized that you might not be able to figure it out, or simply do not want to change the MS Windows and browser settings, then it’s better for you to run utilities from trusted developers, which are listed below.
Remove recently added adware
When troubleshooting a computer, one common step is go to MS Windows Control Panel and delete dubious programs. The same approach will be used in the removal of adware software. Please use steps based on your Microsoft Windows version.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Windows logo, and then click Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown on the image below.
Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as displayed in the following example.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and choose the ‘Control Panel’ at right like the one below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (MS Windows 7 or Vista) as shown in the figure below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed software and get rid of all dubious and unknown applications. We recommend to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed applications by date. After you have found anything questionable that may be adware software or other PUP (potentially unwanted program), then select this application and press ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the questionable application blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to completely remove it from your computer.
Get rid of Real Dark from Mozilla Firefox by resetting browser settings
If the Firefox settings like startpage, newtab page and search engine by default have been changed by the adware, then resetting it to the default state can help. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.
Launch the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the internet 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 as shown on the image below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The Mozilla Firefox will start a task to fix your problems that caused by the Real Dark adware software. When, it is complete, click the “Finish” button.
Remove Real Dark adware from Internet Explorer
If you find that Internet Explorer web-browser settings such as newtab, search provider by default and startpage had been replaced by Real Dark adware, then you may revert back your settings, via the reset browser procedure.
First, open the Internet Explorer, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will display the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the browser, then click the “Internet Options” as displayed on the screen below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button like below.
Once the process is done, click “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and reboot your personal computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your internet browser’s new tab, search provider by default and home page to default state.
Remove Real Dark adware from Google Chrome
If you have adware problem or the Chrome is running slow, then reset Google Chrome settings can help you. In the steps below we will show you a solution to reset your Google Chrome settings to default state without reinstall. This will also help to remove Real Dark adware from your browser.
- First run the Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed plugins. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Google Chrome will open the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this procedure is done, your web-browser’s new tab, homepage and default search provider will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of Real Dark adware
Spyware, adware, potentially unwanted apps and hijackers can be difficult to remove manually. Do not try to remove this software without the aid of malware removal utilities. In order to completely delete adware from your PC system, use professionally created tools, like Zemana, MalwareBytes AntiMalware and Hitman Pro.
Remove Real Dark adware with Zemana
Zemana Anti-Malware is a malicious software scanner that is very useful for detecting and removing Real Dark adware. The steps below will explain how to download, install, and use Zemana AntiMalware to scan and remove malware, spyware, adware, potentially unwanted apps, browser hijackers from your computer for free.
Zemana Anti-Malware can be downloaded from the following link. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
164028 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
When the downloading process is done, close all windows on your PC. Further, launch the setup file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as displayed on the image below, press the “Yes” button.
It will show the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Zemana Anti-Malware on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is complete successfully, Zemana AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main window as displayed below.
Next, click the “Scan” button to scan for Real Dark adware. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done.
As the scanning ends, Zemana Anti-Malware will display a screen that contains a list of malware that has been detected. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Next” button.
The Zemana will remove Real Dark and move the selected items to the Quarantine. After the process is finished, you can be prompted to restart your computer.
Remove Real Dark adware software from web browsers with Hitman Pro
HitmanPro frees your PC system from hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, unwanted toolbars, web browser extensions and other undesired programs like Real Dark adware. The free removal tool will help you enjoy your computer to its fullest. Hitman Pro uses advanced behavioral detection technologies to search for if there are undesired programs in your PC. You can review the scan results, and select the threats you want to erase.
Please go to the following link to download HitmanPro. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
Once the download is complete, open the folder in which you saved it. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the Hitman Pro desktop icon. Once the tool is started, you will see a screen as shown below.
Further, click “Next” button to start scanning your PC system for the Real Dark adware. Depending on your PC, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. Once the scan get completed, Hitman Pro will open you the results like the one below.
Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and click “Next” button. It will show a dialog box, press the “Activate free license” button.
How to remove Real Dark with MalwareBytes AntiMalware
Remove Real Dark manually is difficult and often the adware software is not completely removed. Therefore, we suggest you to use the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware which are fully clean your device. Moreover, this free application will help you to get rid of malware, PUPs, toolbars and browser hijackers that your computer can be infected too.
First, visit the following page, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.
326381 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is done, close all applications and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBSetup such as the one below.
When the setup starts, you will see the Setup wizard which will help you setup Malwarebytes on your computer.
Once setup is done, you will see window as displayed in the following example.
Now click the “Scan” button to begin scanning your PC system for the Real Dark adware. Depending on your PC system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the tool is scanning, you may see number of objects and files has already scanned.
When MalwareBytes has finished scanning, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will display a list of detected threats. Next, you need to click “Quarantine” button.
The Malwarebytes will now begin to remove Real Dark . When that process is done, you may be prompted to restart your PC.
The following video explains few simple steps on how to remove hijacker, adware and other malicious software with MalwareBytes.
How to stay safe online
It’s important to use ad blocker software such as AdGuard to protect your computer from harmful web sites. Most security experts says that it is okay to stop advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to stop misleading and other unwanted web-sites.
- First, visit the page linked below, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.
Adguard download
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After downloading it, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- Once the installation is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” 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 personal computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop undesired advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, which may be found on your desktop.
To sum up
We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-up advertisements and annoying malicious websites) and Zemana Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your computer for new adwares and other malware). 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 Real Dark adware from the Internet Explorer, Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox, then ask for help here.