Counterflix adware. How to delete? (Removal tutorial)
Counterflix might change DNS settings and display lots of ads on the browser
Counterflix is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that is presented as simple and reliable DNS service that operates as a phone book. This tool might seem useful for those who want to bypass geographical restrictions and access unavailable sites in their countries. However, if you decide to use it, you will need to deal with features of the adware.
So-called Counterflix virus works as an adware program. Just like the developer’s FAQ page says, they do not provide ads-free service yet. Thus, your browser might be flooded with tons of ads that help authors to make revenue from your clicks.
Counterflix adware might use a virtual layer that allows displaying ads, banners, pop-ups and other commercial content on each website you visit. They might be eye-catching and even misleading. However, the majority of them promote paid version of this suspicious DNS service.
Apart from causing chaos on the browser, Counterflix might also alter Windows DNS settings. As a result, you might be redirected to numerous websites. According to the data of the analysis, this cyber parasite might redirect to potentially dangerous websites, such as technical support scam or phishing.
The same Counterflix redirect issue has been noticed with ads as well. If you decide to click on an interesting ad, you might end up on an unknown domain that has nothing in common with promoted content. Thus, you can easily become a victim of cyber crime.
Another negative feature of this infection is that it might get inside the device without asking your permission. Indeed, this application has been noticed spreading with various freeware and shareware. Once it sneaks in the computer, it starts showing advertisements labeled as “Ads by Counterflix” or similarly.
However, such suspicious activities should not be tolerated. Once your Chrome, Firefox or Explorer starts acting oddly, you should scan the computer with reputable security software. Reimage or another credible anti-malware can quickly detect and remove Counterflix from the PC.
Of course, you can uninstall adware without security software. If you are interested in manual Counterflix removal method, you should scroll down to the end of the article. There you will find an illustrated step-by-step guide.
Go to 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, open 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, click on Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen to open 'Quick Access Menu'. Then click 'Control Panel' and select 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right-click every suspicious program and select 'Uninstall'
Click on 'Go' to open a drop-down menu and select 'Applications'.
Click on each malicious application and select 'Move to Trash'
Open browser menu and go to 'Manage add-ons'
To eliminate malicious applications, right-click on each of them and click 'Disable'
Delete suspicious URL, type in your preferable site name and click 'Apply' to save
In 'Advanced' tab, click 'Reset'. Then tick 'Delete personal settings' and click 'Reset'.
Open Settings and click on 'Choose what to clear' button
Click 'Clear'
Right-click the Start button again and choose 'Task Manager'
Right-click on 'Microsoft Edge' and choose 'Go to details' option
If 'Go to details' option does not show up, choose 'More details' instead
Locate all entries that relate to Microsoft Edge and click 'End Task'
Open Microsoft Edge folder on your PC, click every entry with the right mouse button and select 'Delete'
Locate where Windows PowerShell is, right-click on it and click on 'Run as administrator' option
Copy and then paste the necessary command and hit 'Enter'
Open browser menu and go to 'Add-ons'
Go to 'Extensions' and locate malicious browser add-ons. Hit 'Remove' button to delete each entry
Open menu by clicking on the indicated icon and on '?'. Then select 'Troubleshooting Information'.
Hit 'Reset Firefox' button a few times
Open browser's menu, then click 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Find malicious extensions and click on the Trash bin icon to remove them
Once you open browser's 'Settings', click on 'Manage search engines...' button
Remove malicious search sites by clicking 'X'
When in 'Settings', click Show advanced settings and then find 'Reset browser settings' button. Click on it.
Click 'Reset' to finish the removal process.
Click on 'Safari' and then select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and remove untrustworthy extensions
Click on 'Safari' and then select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all checkboxes and click 'Reset'
A sneaky way to infiltrate the system
Despite the fact that this application has an official website, it’s not the only way how users can learn about this DNS utility. Developers also use another sneaky distribution method that allows stepping inside the device secretly.
The Counterflix hijack might occur during the installation of various free programs that you can download from the Internet. Therefore, freeware and shareware that you can easily download from torrents or file-sharing networks might bring this annoying PUP (and many others) to your PC.
Fortunately, you can stop undesired apps by performing freeware’s installation properly:
- Opt for Advanced or Custom settings.
- Read Privacy Policy, EULA, and other provided documents attentively.
- Monitor the installation process by reading all notifications.
- Unmark pre-selected “additional downloads.”
Removal of the Counterflix virus
First of all, this program is not the real virus. Technically, it’s a potentially unwanted program that should not be hard to remove. Nevertheless, this cyber infection cannot cause direct damage to the system or files; you should still get rid of it ASAP.
Counterflix removal can be performed either manually or automatically. Manual elimination guidelines are prepared below. Thus, if you would like to terminate this pest on your own, you should not hesitate and check what tasks are waiting for you.
However, if you want quicker and easier elimination solution, you should obtain a reputable anti-malware program. You will be able to remove Counterflix within several minutes by running a system scan with an updated security tool.
If you want to uninstall Counterflix automatically, you can use one of these programs: Reimage, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Malwarebytes Anti Malware Computer security experts recommend these programs because they can detect and remove potentially unwanted programs and viruses from your computer, including all dangerous and malicious components related to them. Besides, these programs guarantee immediate and ongoing system protection.
Manual Counterflix Ads Removal Instructions:
Uninstall Counterflix in Windows systems
After the attack, you should not only get rid of the Counterflix, but reset DNS settings too. In order to do that, follow these steps:
- Access Network Connections (Windows 7 users should go to Network and Sharing Center) via Control Panel.
- Here you will see your current connection. Right-click it and choose Properties.
- Click Properties and select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
- Then select Properties.
- Choose Obtain IP address automatically and Obtain DNS Server Automatically options.
- Now you have to launch Command Prompt (you can find it using Windows search feature). Right-click the program appeared in the search results list and choose Run as Administrator.
- Type these commands to the Command Prompt. Enter them one by one, clicking Enter after each of them:
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /release
- ipconfig /renew
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Go to Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, open Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, click on Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen to open Quick Access Menu. Then click Control Panel and select Uninstall a Program.
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Remove Counterflix and programs related to it
Now, take a look at the list of programs and find Counterflix or other programs that you do not remember installing. -
Right-click on these programs and select "Uninstall." Then click OK to save changes.
Uninstall Counterflix in Mac OS X system
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Users who use OS X should click on Go button, which can be found at the top left corner of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Counterflix or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Counterflix from Internet Explorer (IE)
Follow the steps to get rid of adware-related components from the Internet Explorer.
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Delete suspicious browser add-ons
Launch Internet Explorer, and then open IE by clicking on the Gear icon, which is located at the top right corner of the Internet browser. Then, click Manage Add-ons. -
Manage Add-ons window will appear on your screen. Now, search for Counterflix and other questionable browser add-ons. Right-click them on each of them and select Disable.
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If virus altered your homepage, change it:
Click the Gear icon at the top right corner of the Internet browser and then click Internet Options. Stay in General section. -
Now, delete malicious URL and enter
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Reset all Internet Explorer settings
Click on Gear icon and then opt for Internet options. Then go to Advanced section. - Click Reset.
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A new window appears, and then you have to tick Delete personal settings and click Reset to finalise Counterflix removal.
Delete Counterflix ads from Microsoft Edge browser
After the hijack, you should make sure that you can continue using Microsoft Edge safely:
Reset settings in Microsoft Edge (Technique No.1):
- Open Microsoft Edge browser, then click on More button, which is situated at the top right edge of the screen
- Select Settings from the drop down menu.
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When the Settings panel appears, find Clear browsing data section and hit Choose what to clear button.
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Then mark all components that you wish to delete and after that hit Clear.
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Right-click the Start button (that has Windows logo on it) and choose Task Manager.
- Go to Processes tab and look for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and select Go to details. If there is no Go to details option, select More details and carry out previous instructions.
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Once Details tab appears, look for entries that contain Microsoft Edge name. Right-click on such individual entries and choose End Task option to terminate them.
Reset Microsoft Edge (Technique No.2):
In case the Technique No.1 did not help you to fix the problem, use advanced Edge reset option.
- Important: you must backup your files before you use these tips
- Locate this folder on your PC:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select all items in this folder and right-click with your mouse. Select Delete.
- Click on the Start button (that has Windows Logo on it) and in Search my stuff field, type in window power.
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With the right button of your mouse, click on every entry and select Run as administrator.
- Once you get Admin's rights, Windows PowerShell window should show up shortly. Paste this line:
after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and hit Enter.Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
After completing these steps, Microsoft Edge should be Counterflix-free.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariDelete Counterflix from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
These instructions will help you to delete Counterflix virus from the Mozilla Firefox:
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Delete suspicious browser extensions
Launch Mozilla Firefox, and then open menu (click a button at the top right corner). Then, go to Add-ons → Extensions. -
Now, locate Counterflix and other suspicious extensions. Click Remove to eliminate them.
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Reset all Mozilla Firefox settings
Click on the Firefox at the top left corner and then click the question mark. Then, select Troubleshooting Information. -
Reset Firefox to its default state message should appear then. You will see Reset Firefox button. Click this button a few times and finalise Counterflix removal.
Delete Counterflix from Google Chrome
If Counterflix adware sneaked to your PC, you should check Google Chrome as well. There you might find some virus-related components.
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Remove malicious extensions
Launch Google Chrome, and then open menu (click a button at the top right corner). Then, go to Tools → Extensions. -
Now, look for Counterflix and other suspicious extensions and then click the trash icon to remove them.
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Open Chrome menu and go to Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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In Search Engines..., configure default search engine settings. Remove untrustworthy ones. We advise you to leave only Google or another reputable website of your choice.
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Reset all Google Chrome settings
Open menu by clicking the button at the top right corner of Google Chrome, and go to Settings. -
Scroll down to find Reset browser settings button. Click on it.
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Click Reset to approve this action and finish Counterflix removal.
Delete Counterflix from Safari
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Delete suspicious browser extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Counterflix or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Reset all Safari settings
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Counterflix removal process.