Ghtlidings.co.in is a deceptive website that manipulates users into enabling browser push notifications under false pretenses. Once permission is granted, it bombards users with intrusive pop-up ads promoting adult content, fake software updates, and potentially harmful software. These notifications can appear even when the browser is closed, leading to a disruptive user experience and potential security risks.
Threat Overview
Ghtlidings.co.in operates by exploiting browser notification features to deliver unwanted advertisements and potentially malicious content. Users are typically redirected to this site through malicious ads, compromised websites, or adware infections. The site’s primary objective is to gain permission to send notifications, which it then uses to deliver spam and potentially harmful links.
Threat Summary
Attribute | Details |
---|---|
Threat Type | Adware / Browser Hijacker |
Associated Domain | ghtlidings.co.in |
Detection Names | Phishing, PUP, Adware (varies by AV provider) |
Symptoms of Infection | Intrusive pop-up ads, decreased browsing speed, unexpected redirects, spam notifications even when browser is closed |
Damage | Decreased computer performance, privacy issues, potential additional malware infections |
Distribution Methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, misleading prompts, bundled software |
Danger Level | Moderate |
Removal Tool | SpyHunter |
Detailed Analysis
How Did I Get Infected?
Users typically encounter Ghtlidings.co.in through:
- Malicious Advertisements: Clicking misleading ads on unsafe websites can trigger redirects.
- Compromised or Rogue Websites: Some websites may serve auto-redirects to scam pages.
- Adware or Browser Extensions: Installed software may push redirects to this domain.
- Fake Download or Play Buttons: These often lead to deceptive pages like Ghtlidings.co.in.
- Spam Emails or Messages: Contain links that redirect to potentially harmful sites.
What Does It Do?
After gaining permission, Ghtlidings.co.in sends spam notifications promoting:
- Adult content sites
- Deceptive online games
- Fake system or browser updates
- Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)
These pop-ups often link to dangerous or suspicious domains, increasing the risk of malware infections or phishing.
Should You Be Worried?
Yes. While the notifications might seem like a minor annoyance, they can lead to dangerous consequences including:
- Exposure to phishing and scam sites
- Installation of malware or PUPs
- Privacy intrusion and data tracking
It’s critical to revoke the site’s notification access and remove any related adware from your system.
Manual Adware Removal Process (Windows & Mac)
Step 1: Identify and Uninstall Suspicious Applications
For Windows Users
- Open Task Manager by pressing
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
. - Navigate to the “Processes” tab and search for unknown or high-resource-consuming processes.
- If you detect anything suspicious, right-click and select “End Task.”
- Go to
Control Panel
>Programs
>Programs and Features
. - Locate and uninstall any unfamiliar programs.
For Mac Users
- Open
Finder
and click onApplications
. - Identify and move any suspicious applications to the
Trash
. - Empty the
Trash
. - Check
System Preferences
>Users & Groups
>Login Items
for unknown startup programs and remove them.
Step 2: Remove Malicious Browser Extensions
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome, click
Menu
(three dots) >Extensions
. - Locate and remove unknown extensions.
- Reset Chrome:
Settings
>Reset settings
> “Restore settings to their original defaults.”
Mozilla Firefox
- Click
Menu
>Add-ons and themes
. - Remove suspicious extensions.
- Reset Firefox:
Help
>More troubleshooting information
> “Refresh Firefox.”
Safari (Mac)
- Open Safari, go to
Preferences
>Extensions
. - Delete unknown extensions.
- Reset Safari:
History
> “Clear History.”
Microsoft Edge
- Click
Menu
>Extensions
. - Remove any unfamiliar extensions.
- Reset Edge:
Settings
>Reset settings
> “Restore settings to their default values.”
Step 3: Delete Adware-Associated Files and Folders
For Windows Users
- Press
Win + R
, type%AppData%
, and press Enter. - Locate and delete suspicious folders.
- Repeat for
%LocalAppData%
,%ProgramData%
, and%Temp%
.
For Mac Users
- Open Finder and press
Shift + Command + G
, then enter~/Library/Application Support/
. - Remove any suspicious folders.
- Repeat for
~/Library/LaunchAgents/
,~/Library/LaunchDaemons/
, and~/Library/Preferences/
.
Step 4: Flush DNS Cache to Remove Adware Traces
For Windows Users
- Open
Command Prompt
as Administrator. - Type
ipconfig /flushdns
and press Enter.
For Mac Users
- Open
Terminal
. - Enter
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
and press Enter.
Step 5: Restart Your System
Perform a reboot to apply the changes and ensure the removal process is complete.
Automatic Adware Removal Using SpyHunter (Windows & Mac)
For an effortless and effective solution, use SpyHunter, a powerful anti-malware tool designed to detect and remove adware completely.
Step 1: Download SpyHunter
Click the link to download SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter Here.
Step 2: Install SpyHunter
Follow the installation guide based on your operating system:
For Windows Users
- Run the downloaded
.exe
file. - Follow the installation instructions.
- Launch SpyHunter and allow it to update its malware database.
For Mac Users
- Open the downloaded
.dmg
file. - Drag and drop SpyHunter into
Applications
. - Open SpyHunter and let it update its database.
Step 3: Scan and Remove Adware
- Open SpyHunter.
- Click
Start Scan
. - Wait for the scan to complete.
- Click
Fix Threats
to remove detected malware.
Step 4: Restart Your Computer
After SpyHunter removes all threats, restart your system to ensure all adware components are fully removed.
Conclusion
Ghtlidings.co.in is a browser-based scam that abuses push notification permissions to spam users with misleading and potentially harmful ads. The risks it introduces range from constant annoyance to more severe security threats. If you have interacted with this domain or are receiving pop-ups from it, remove notification permissions immediately and clean your system using a trusted malware removal tool like SpyHunter.