How to remove AdsExhaust

What is AdsExhaust

AdsExhaust is a sophisticated piece of adware that infiltrates systems, masquerading as legitimate software. Unlike typical adware that displays ads on various interfaces, AdsExhaust operates by specifically targeting the Microsoft Edge browser to perform stealthy ad clicks and site visits. This malicious extension ensures its persistence by dropping VBScript and PowerShell files, one of which collects system data and captures screenshots. It monitors user activity and ceases operations when it detects interaction, further hiding its actions with overlays. By automatically opening new browser tabs and accessing hardcoded URLs, AdsExhaust generates revenue for its developers through affiliate programs and ad clicks. Its behavior not only poses risks of additional malware infections but also jeopardizes user privacy by collecting sensitive data. Although primarily observed on Microsoft Edge, care should be taken across all browsers to avoid potential bundling with other adware.

How AdsExhaust infects computers

AdsExhaust adware typically infiltrates computers through deceptive means, often masquerading as legitimate software to trick users into downloading it. One common method involves SEO poisoning, where users searching for popular terms like “Oculus installer” are led to malicious websites. These sites host a ZIP archive containing a batch file that, once executed, drops various VBScript and PowerShell scripts onto the system. These scripts ensure the adware’s persistence and facilitate the collection of system data, geolocation, and even screenshots. Furthermore, AdsExhaust can also spread through software bundling, where it is packaged with freeware from unverified sources. Users often unwittingly install the adware by rushing through installation processes without reading the terms or opting out of additional software.

1. Download AdsExhaust Removal Tool
2. Remove AdsExhaust from Control Panel and Applications
3. Remove AdsExhaust extensions from browsers
4. Reset browser search and homepage settings
5. Alternative way to remove AdsExhaust search redirects
6. Clean browser shortcuts from AdsExhaust
7. How to protect from threats like AdsExhaust

Remove AdsExhaust manually for free

Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full AdsExhaust removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of the AdsExhaust an installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Note: AdsExhaust can be installed as Google Chrome extension as Administrator (you may see Installed by enterprise policy or Your browser is managed by your organization inscription near it), and this will not allow removal. Therefore, before starting removal process, perform these actions:

1. Start the Command Prompt by clicking the Start menu button and typing command prompt (or just searching for “command prompt” in Windows 10 search field). Right click on the Command Prompt result and choose Run as Administrator.



2. Type in and execute the following commands:

   
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
gpupdate /force

Remove AdsExhaust from Control Panel or Applications

To start removing AdsExhaust you should uninstall it using Control Panel. It can be present by different names – “AdsExhaust”. It should uninstall correctly, however, we recommend you to use IObit Uninstaller to clean leftover items after uninstalling. Here are instructions for Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac.

Remove AdsExhaust from Windows XP:

1. Click on Start button.
2. Choose Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Find AdsExhaust-related or other suspicious program.
5. Click Uninstall.

Remove AdsExhaust from Windows 7:

1. Click Start button.
2. Then go to Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a Program.
4. Find AdsExhaust-related or other suspicious program and click Uninstall.

Remove AdsExhaust from Windows 8:

1. Hover mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner to see Menu.
2. Click Search.
3. After that click Apps.
4. Then Control Panel.
5. Click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
6. Find AdsExhaust-related or other suspicious program, click Uninstall.

Remove AdsExhaust from Windows 10:

There are 2 ways to uninstall AdsExhaust from Windows 10

Way one

1. Click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Settings.
3. Click on the System tile.
4. Click Apps & features and locate AdsExhaust-related or other suspicious program in the list.
5. Click on it and then click Uninstall button near it.

Way two (classic)

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Programs and Features.
3. Locate AdsExhaust-related or other suspicious program in the list.
4. Click on it and then click Uninstall button above.

Remove AdsExhaust from Windows 11:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Settings.
3. Click on the Apps tab on the left side.
4. Click Apps & features and locate AdsExhaust-related or other recently installed suspicious program in the list.
5. Click on 3-dots icon near it and then click Uninstall button near it.
6. Depending on the type of application (Windows Store app or classic Win32 app) it will be removed immediately or you will need to confirm the action and go through standard uninstall procedure.

Remove AdsExhaust from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. AdsExhaust might have an Uninstaller.
3. Otherwise, drag AdsExhaust from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall AdsExhaust in Windows

In some cases, AdsExhaust won’t uninstall and gives you the message, that “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall AdsExhaust. Please, contact your system administrator” when you try to remove it from Control Panel or “Access denied” error when removing the AdsExhaust folder and files. This happens because the process or service does not allow you to do it. In this case, I will recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes or uninstall AdsExhaust in Safe Mode. To boot in Safe Mode do the following:

1. Reboot your computer.
2. While it starts booting press F8 button.
3. This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
5. Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program and remove AdsExhaust or other suspicious program

>> See detailed instructions and video tutorial on how to boot in Safe Mode

Cannot uninstall AdsExhaust in MacOS

If you can’t uninstall AdsExhaust using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of AdsExhaust. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag AdsExhaust from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with AdsExhaust.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove malicious add-ons from your browsers

Uninstalling AdsExhaust from Control Panel or Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It sometimes has a browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove AdsExhaust extension from your browsers manually.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find AdsExhaust extension.
4. Click the Remove button to remove them.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Find AdsExhaust extension.
4. Click three-dots icon near it and choose Remove in the menu.
5. In opened dialog window click Remove button to confirm the action.
6. Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find AdsExhaust extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Start Microsoft Edge browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) edge://extensions.
3. Find AdsExhaust extension.
4. Click Remove link under the name of extension.
5. In opened dialog window click Remove button to confirm the action.
6. Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

Note: There is no feature to remove browser extensions from browser in latest version of Internet Explorer. To remove AdsExhaust from Internet Explorer, please, perform instructions for uninstalling program from Control Panel. To disable AdsExhaust, please, do the following:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu Manage Add-ons.
4. Select Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Click Disable AdsExhaust or other suspicious extensions.
6. Also disable other suspicious extensions from the list.

Opera Browser:

Generally, AdsExhaust does not install in Opera browser however you can always double check. Do the following:

1. Start Opera browser.
2. Go to Tools > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
3. Find AdsExhaust or other suspicious extensions.
4. Click Uninstall button.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Reset browsers settings (homepage, default search)

AdsExhaust installs a search engine, that hijacks your browsers. Here is the instruction to reset your browser’s homepage, new tab, and search engine to default values.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. On the left panel expand Advanced options.
4. Choose Reset and clean up.
5. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults link and confirm by clicking Reset button.

Google Chrome > Settings > Advanced

Reset and clean up

Reset Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox button in opened dialog window to confirm.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Start Microsoft Edge browser
2. Click on 3-dots icon in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
3. On the left panel find and click Reset settings option.
4. Click on Restore settings to their default values link and confirm by clicking Reset button.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu choose Internet options.
4. Click Advanced tab.
5. Click Reset button.
6. Choose Delete personal settings and click Reset.

Opera Browser:

1. Start Opera browser and click on Opera icon in the top-left corner.
2. Choose Settings and click Advanced on the left side and choose Browser.
3. Scroll down to the very bottom and click on Restore settings to their original defaults link.
4. Confirm by clicking Reset button.

How to block ads and pop-ups, promoting AdsExhaust


AdGuard main window

AdGuard general settings

AdGuard browser assistant

AdsExhaust, in most cases, is promoted by ads and pop-ups on doubtful websites. These sites can redirect users’ browsers to AdsExhaust ads, generating advertising revenue for the attackers. The malware is often offered through these ads, leaving users puzzled about the origin of the software. In some cases, users may unknowingly install the AdsExhaust extension, which then injects advertisements into the websites they visit and redirects their search queries. Additionally, the malware can be distributed through other channels such as peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, misleading ads, and compromised or shady websites that trigger automatic downloads To protect your PC and browsers from phishing websites, pop-up ads, banners, malicious scripts it is recommended to use AdGuard. Download free trial here:

Download AdGuard for Windows

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect from threats, like AdsExhaust, in future


SpyHunter 5 Dashboard

SpyHunter 5 Results

SpyHunter 5 System Guard

Be careful surfing the internet and downloading software, as programs like AdsExhaust may become a real headache as they are hard to remove and break your privacy. To keep safe from such threats we recommend you always use antivirus and one of the anti-malware programs available on the market. One of the best anti-virus programs is SpyHunter 5. It can protect your PC from threats like AdsExhaust.

Download SpyHunter for Windows

Download SpyHunter for Mac