TheAdBlock

Posted: May 27, 2015

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Ranking:	14,885
Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	103

First Seen:	May 27, 2015
Last Seen:	September 24, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

TheAdBlock is an adware-supported plugin created and developed by WebPick Internet Holdings Ltd. Adware-laced applications such as TheAdBlock is a Chrome extension that, while claiming to block advertisements, delivers additional ones to your browser. Since TheAdBlock's advertisements may cause performance or security issues, you usually should consider deleting TheAdBlock whenever its services are undesirable. Due to issues with TheAdBlock's chosen installation format and its included uninstaller, malware experts advise using dedicated anti-adware solutions for removing TheAdBlock from Chrome as efficiently as possible.

When Ad Blockers Deliver Advertisements of Their Own

Similar in branding to Vid Adblock, TheAdBlock is adware that claims to be able to block advertising content on your browser, but, in reality, modifies your browser to deliver new advertisements. Currently, malware experts only have seen TheAdBlock being installed in the Chrome browser, although others are just as vulnerable to virtually identical applications. Standard TheAdBlock installations have historically occurred automatically.

TheAdBlock may install itself in bundles with other, freely downloadable applications, via torrents and freeware websites. After doing so, TheAdBlock modifies the Chrome browser for the purpose of generating new advertising content. These advertisements may deliver themselves as:

Pop-up windows that launch automatically.
'Sponsored' links or search results.
Banners and other graphical elements injected into the Web page separately from its default content.

TheAdBlock isn't threatening (such as a Trojan), but some PC security products may mistakenly identify TheAdBlock as harmful software. Most anti-adware and anti-malware products that detect TheAdBlock also recognize it as a probable variant of Win32/Adware.MultiPlug, an adware program that previously has been a development platform for other adware extensions.

Blocking the Advertisements that Came with the Blocker

TheAdBlock claims to be a reputable browser add-on and even includes a personalized uninstaller utility. However, malware experts found TheAdBlock's bundled uninstaller to be unreliable, resulting in TheAdBlock often failing to remove itself from the modified browser. Standard software uninstall techniques also may lead to TheAdBlock's settings changes remaining untouched, letting Chrome display TheAdBlock's advertisements, even if you have expunged all other signs of TheAdBlock's presence. As per usual, specialized anti-adware products remain the most expedient solution for deleting TheAdBlock, and also may identify the bundles that may install TheAdBlock originally.

TheAdBlock is best noted as a continuation of the general trends of adware programs to distribute themselves automatically. Download sites with adware-bundled links, illicit torrents and other, equally poor reputation download resources are the most common, but not necessarily exclusive means of contact with this unwanted software. Since extensive contact with TheAdBlock advertisements and similar content may be a heavily-trafficked avenue for unsafe contact with online tactics and other attacks, prevention is clearly the ideal solution for any Chrome user.

Examples of some of the aliases your security programs may identify TheAdBlock extensions under include: Win.Adware.Mplug-52, Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT, TROJ_GEN.R047H05HE14 and BehavesLike.Win32.Downloader.fc.

TheAdBlock

Threat Metric

When Ad Blockers Deliver Advertisements of Their Own

Blocking the Advertisements that Came with the Blocker

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