Adware

Captcha-verification.systems is an untrustworthy and even dangerous website, that uses technical features of modern browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Edge, Safari) to push ads, pop-ups and notifications to users desktops. In particular, notifications function in those browsers, which was invented and developed for convenience on news and video sites, is exploited by third-party advertising cloacas, like Captcha-verification.systems and similar, for delivering unwanted and fairly annoying ads directly to the desktop. Often, this is a result of virus infection, but sometimes website just tricks users changing the settings by using deceptive phrases.

TamperMonkey by Jan Biniok is controversial browser extension, that can be installed in many browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer and some others. It allows users to install and maintain custom scripts in browsers, that can serve different purposes. For example, it may help download music and video content from social networks or filter ads. TamperMonkey also works in symbiosis with other popular plugins to perform certain tasks or expand functionality. However, along with pros users get unpleasant cons. In particular, many users complain, that TamperMonkey installs without their consent. Some users see third-party ads after installing this add-on. Generally, there are concerns about the security and privacy of this application, as it gets access to deep internal browser settings and has a large user database of 10 million users.

Top Results is bothersome advertising application for Mac. It installs without user's consent and installs as a desktop app and browser extension for Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. After installation adware may have an impact on browser search, modifying it to a third-party search engine. Top Results is also responsible for showing annoying ads in browsers in the form of pop-ups, banners, in-text ads, underlined words, drop-down menus. Often, such ads are signed as Powered by Top Results, Advertisements by Top Results, Brought to you by Top Results, Ads by Top Results or Ads powered by Top Results. Aside from injecting unwanted advertisements, adware collects browser's data and tracks the online activity of the users. This data may then be used for more targeted advertising and shared with online stores and ads-selling companies.

Ouo.io is a bogus website, that is a part of a huge advertising network. It displays fake pages of Adobe Flash updates, streaming sites, download portals and claims to provide access to restricted content after allowing notifications. Push-notifications is a feature in modern browsers, that allows users to get announcements about important information from online newspapers, Youtube or social networks. This function is exploited by adware to push promotional information via this channel. If you see ads, pop-ups or notifications from Ouo.io, there is a high possibility of malware infection or browser's settings hijack.

Mapsnow.co and Maps Now are, accordingly, unwanted search engine and browser add-on, that modifies and controls browser's settings in Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox on Windows or Mac. Hijacker overrides default or user-installed values of search engine, home page and new tab with www.mapsnow.co website, that, in its turn, redirects search queries to search.yahoo.com. Developers of Maps Now application claim, that it provides quick and convenient access to maps and directions from the start page of your browser. However, in fact, it creates third party search page, with links to well-known online maps, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps and MapQuest. Sole purpose of this extension is to earn on advertising revenue from redirecting to other search engine, and probably, from promoting other websites and programs.

MacSecurityPlus is advertising virus, that hits Mac systems. It aims Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers and wants to control these apps to display ads, pop-ups and get access to private user's data. MacSecurityPlus does not have any interface, but its activity can be spotted in Activity Monitor. It also generates fake system alerts and causes legal system messages to force users to grant access to browsers for MacSecurityPlus. As a result of virus activity, users may experience unstable browsers operation, modification of browser settings, such as default search engine and homepage, and annoying, unusual advertising. In addition to that, MacSecurityPlus access to browsing data (history, cookies, caches, bookmarks), opens gate to affected computer for advertisers of all kinds.

MacAppExtensions (Adware.MAC.Linkury.C) is malware related to Search.tapufind.com hijacker, that we described in some of our earlier articles. It works in MacOS and targets Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers. The main symptom is, that your browsers search and homepage settings change to search.tapufind.com, and this setting cannot be modified until MacAppExtensions is removed. However, this virus not only hijacks the browser, but also gathers private information about its user (collects data related to browsing activity: geolocations, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, IP addresses etc.).

Robotcaptcha.info is adverse domain, that may show unwanted pop-ups and ads in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer Safari or Edge browsers on Windows, Mac or Android operating systems. Landing pages from Robotcaptcha.info appear from nowhere and offer users to subscribe to notifications. This is feature in modern browsers, that help users get actual news in faster and convenient way. However, on the other side of this, when website is of advertising nature, users start receiving ads, pop-ups, tech support scam messages on their desktops. This is an element of social engineering, and clicking "Allow" button, actually, subscribes users to notifications. At the same time, Robotcaptcha.info initiates standard dialog box window with option to allow or block notifications from site you are visiting. If person clicks on the "Allow" button, users will start receiving unwanted pop-up ads from Robotcaptcha.info directly on the desktop even when browser is closed.