In the vast world of the internet, numerous tools, extensions, and software promise convenience, but not all are genuine, and some can be harmful. One such deceptive program is POPER BLOCKER. If you have noticed abnormal browser behavior or unauthorized changes to your browser settings, you might have encountered a browser hijacker like POPER BLOCKER. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of POPER BLOCKER and how to remove it.
What is POPER BLOCKER?
POPER BLOCKER presents itself as a convenient homepage option, claiming to offer a seamless browsing experience to users. However, beneath its surface, this program functions as a browser hijacker. It modifies your web browser settings without your permission, such as altering the default search engine and redirecting the new tab’s homepage to its own.
Why is POPER BLOCKER Harmful?
While POPER BLOCKER may appear harmless or useful initially, its primary intent is data collection. It gathers various data from your web activities, including search histories, visited websites, interactions on specific sites, location, IP address, and more. This data is actively monetized, often sold to advertising networks, resulting in intrusive and disruptive tailored ads. Additionally, POPER BLOCKER operates without explicit user consent, classifying it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that can pose risks and annoyances to users.
How Does POPER BLOCKER Spread?
POPER BLOCKER often spreads through bundled software installations. When users install software from the internet, especially freeware, additional unwanted programs are installed without clear knowledge or consent. The Internet Start browser extension, associated with POPER BLOCKER, can embed itself into popular browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Edge. Notably, no major browser developer has flagged this hijacker as unwanted, allowing it to propagate with limited resistance.
Step-by-Step Removal Guide
Step 1: Remove the POPER BLOCKER browser extension
To remove the browser extension of POPER BLOCKER, follow these instructions based on your default browser:
- Google Chrome: Open Chrome, type
chrome://extensions/in the address bar, search for the “POPER BLOCKER” extension, and click “Remove.” - Firefox: Open Firefox, type
about:addonsin the address bar, search for the “POPER BLOCKER” add-on, and click “Remove.” - Microsoft Edge: Open Edge, type
edge://extensions/in the address bar, search for the “POPER BLOCKER” extension, and click “Remove.” - Safari: Open Safari, go to Safari Preferences, click on the Extensions tab, and find the “POPER BLOCKER” extension to uninstall it.
Step 2: Remove POPER BLOCKER notifications
To remove notifications from POPER BLOCKER, follow these steps according to your browser:
- Google Chrome: Open Chrome, click the three dots in the top-right corner, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site settings > Notifications, find POPER BLOCKER and click the three dots next to it to remove.
- Android: Open Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site settings > Notifications, find the POPER BLOCKER domain and click Clean & Reset.
- Firefox: Open Firefox, click the menu in the top-right corner, go to Options > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Settings next to Notifications, select POPER BLOCKER and set it to Block.
- Microsoft Edge: Open Edge, click the three dots in the top-right corner, go to Site permissions > Notifications, find POPER BLOCKER, and remove it.
- Safari on Mac: Open Safari, go to Safari Preferences, click on the Websites tab, select Notifications on the left, find POPER BLOCKER, and click Deny.
Step 3: Uninstall POPER BLOCKER software
In this second step, we will check your computer for adware software. In many cases, adware is installed by users unknowingly when they download free software from the internet. Here are steps to uninstall the software based on your Windows version:
- Windows 11: Click Start, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for unknown or unused software, right-click, and select Uninstall.
- Windows 10: Click Start, go to Settings > Apps, search for unknown or unused software, click on the app, and select Uninstall.
Step 4: Scan your PC for POPER BLOCKER
Use reputable anti-malware and anti-adware tools to scan your PC for any remnants of POPER BLOCKER.
Conclusion
In the ever-expanding digital landscape, the internet is brimming with a multitude of tools, extensions, and software that promise convenience, but not all of them are what they seem. Among these deceptive programs, POPER BLOCKER stands out as a browser hijacker that often infiltrates your browser settings without consent, leading to an abnormal browsing experience. This guide has delved into a comprehensive understanding of POPER BLOCKER, its harmful effects, and a step-by-step removal process to help users regain control of their browsers.
POPER BLOCKER, on the surface, presents itself as a convenient homepage option, luring users with promises of seamless browsing experiences. However, beneath this façade, it operates as a browser hijacker, clandestinely modifying your browser settings, including altering the default search engine and taking control of the new tab’s homepage, redirecting it to its own domain.
The real danger of POPER BLOCKER lies in its data collection practices. It actively gathers a wealth of data from your online activities, encompassing search histories, visited websites, interactions on specific sites, location data, IP addresses, and more. This harvested data is not just stored; it is actively monetized by selling it to advertising networks. The result is an onslaught of tailored, often intrusive ads, which can slow down your browsing experience and expose you to potential threats.
POPER BLOCKER is considered a potentially unwanted program (PUP) because it extracts data without explicit user consent, posing risks and annoyances to users. Its spread often occurs through bundled software installations, where additional unwanted programs are installed alongside it, without the user’s full understanding or consent. What’s more, the browser extension associated with POPER BLOCKER can embed itself into popular browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Edge, with no major browser developer classifying it as unwanted, allowing it to proliferate with limited resistance.
The step-by-step removal process detailed in this guide offers users a method to regain control of their browsers and eliminate the unwanted presence of POPER BLOCKER. By following these instructions, users can not only remove the browser extension and notifications but also check for adware on their computer and employ reputable anti-malware tools to ensure a clean and secure browsing experience. This guide serves as a valuable resource for safeguarding your online presence and ensuring a hassle-free browsing experience.
