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I take security and privacy pretty seriously. After all, I am the Security Editor for MakeUseOf, so it stands to reason I’m keenly aware of malware and other threats.
But during a recent antivirus scan on my main computer, I was surprised to find a bunch of adware lurking on my device. Where did it come from? And most importantly, how did I get rid of it?
How I Found Adware On My Computer
In short, I found adware on my computer after I ran a Malwarebytes scan. The short scan option uncovered adware in my Downloads folder—which makes sense, as adware is typically introduced to your system through a download.
It foundadware.elex, a generic adware family thought to have originated in China.
What surprised me about finding this adware on my machine is that it didn’t display any other signs of issues. Typically, when adware is installed on your machine, you may expect to notice issues like excessive pop-ups, unexpected changes to your browser, internet search redirects, and similar.
However, in my case, there were no notable changes to my system, browser, or otherwise.
Where Did the Adware Come From?
In truth, I’m not one hundred percent sure. I don’t pirate games, films, or other software, so avoid sites and downloads that may contain viruses. Similarly, my general browsing is mostly limited to “safe sites,” meaning the most popular sites in the world.
Of course, that’s no guarantee, but the major websites are generally safe, and any data breaches or security issues are well documented.
How to Remove Adware.Elex From Your Computer
Thankfully, removing adware.elex is a simple process that any antivirus tool can take care of. Once you complete your system scan, check the box alongside any instances of the adware, and delete it. This goes for any adware, not just adware.elex.
Note that you should close your browser before removing adware or other types of malware. This will give you the best chance of removing the adware without issue.
This process removed the adware Alex from my system, but there are numerous reports that Google Chrome Sync can cause it to reappear. Because Google Chrome syncs browser data across multiple devices, you can accidentally reinfect your device. If you notice this happening to you, thisMalwarebytes explanationcan guide you through the extra steps required.
