What to do if pages open by themselves: Guide to removing adware, viruses, and pop-ups

Recognizing if your device is infected is simple: if pages are opened without your consent or pop-ups appear recurrently, act as soon as possible. As an additional step to confirm the infection, start your device in safe mode and check if the anomaly persists.

• If the problem disappears in safe mode: You are still infected, but it can be removed using the methods provided below.
• If pages continue to open even in safe mode: There may be a hardware-related issue or an extremely advanced and persistent infection.

Enter safe mode to check if your computer is infected

El safe mode It allows you to start Windows with only essential services and drivers, disabling most startup programs, including many types of malware. This way, you can check if the problem with pages opening by themselves is caused by active malware.

For computers with Windows XP, Vista and 7

1. Click Start, click Shut down, select Restart, and then click OK.
2. While the system is restarting, repeatedly press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears.
3. On the Advanced Options screen, select “Safe Mode with Networking.”

For Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and 11

1. In the start menu, press and hold the key Shift while selecting Restart.
2. In the menu that appears, select "Troubleshoot," then "Advanced options," then "Startup Settings," and click "Restart."
3. Select the “Safe Mode with Networking” option.

Once in Safe Mode, see if the pages continue to open on their own. If not, the problem is clearly linked to recently added software or malware.

How to remove malware or viruses that open pages by themselves

If you confirm the infection after the above tests, it's time to act. Below we show you the most complete recommendations for remove any malicious software responsible for this type of behavior on both PC and mobile.

1. Uninstall suspicious programs from the Control Panel

1. Open the Control panel corresponding to your version of Windows.
2. Go to "Programs" and click "Uninstall a program" or "Add or Remove Programs."
3. Review the list and remove any unknown software, recently installed software, or software that coincides with the onset of these issues.
4. Confirm the uninstallation and restart your computer.

In many cases, this step is enough to remove the adware or spyware that causes unauthorized access to websites. Also, if you want to prevent future infections, you can consult The blacklist of fraudulent apps you should remove from your Android to review which applications to avoid installing.

2. Reset browser shortcuts and settings

1. Right-click the browser shortcut (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) on your desktop or taskbar.
2. Select “Properties” and go to the “Shortcut” tab.
3. In the "Target" field, remove any suspicious text after the browser's .exe.
4. Save the changes by clicking “OK.”

3. Remove extensions, add-ons and modify home pages

• Internet Explorer / Edge: Go to your add-ons or extensions settings, disable any suspicious items, and reset your homepage to its default state.
• Mozilla Firefox: Go to the Add-ons menu, locate and remove any extensions you don't remember installing, especially if they have strange names or are related to advertising.
• Google Chrome: Navigate to C:/Users/YOUR-USERNAME/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data and rename the folder “Default” to reset the settings (you’ll need to log back into your Google accounts).

Remember that some malicious add-ons may install with similar names to avoid detection, so carefully review the entire list of extensions or add-ons and also remove anything related to typical adware names, such as "Babylon." If you want to prevent them from reappearing, you can set up a adblocker on Android that blocks ads and pop-ups.

4. Reset your web browser to its original state

• In Google Chrome: Open the menu (“three dots”), go to “Settings” > “Advanced settings” > “Restore original default settings”.
• In Mozilla Firefox: Write about: support in the address bar and click the “Reset Firefox” button.
• In Microsoft Edge: Right-click the Edge icon, select "Apps & features," locate Edge in the list, go to "Advanced options," and press "Reset."

Related article:

Complete Guide to Removing Malware from Android: Methods, Symptoms, and Advanced Protection

Configuring protection against unwanted pop-ups and redirects

Once free of infections, it is important protect your browser against future threatsModern browsers include options to block pop-ups and notifications, elements commonly exploited by adware. You can also check out our guide on how to do this. change the language of the Google search engine and adjust settings to avoid redirects.

Google Chrome Settings

1. Open Chrome and access the menu, then go to “Settings.”
2. Click “Privacy & security” > “Site settings.”
3. Select “Pop-ups and Redirects” and choose “Block” as the default option.
4. To control permissions on specific sites, go to the page in question and, in the address bar, click the pop-up blocked icon to allow or block pop-ups individually.
5. You can also block unwanted notifications by going to your site settings and selecting "Don't Allow" next to the notifications option.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Access the menu and select “Options” or “Preferences.”
2. Go to the “Privacy & Security” section.
3. In the "Permissions" section, make sure the "Block pop-ups" box is checked.

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the menu and select “Settings.”
2. Go to the "Cookies and Site Permissions" section.
3. Select “Pop-ups and Redirects” and set it to “Block.”

Why does a computer or mobile phone get infected and how can it be avoided?

The main reason these infections reach computers is because users, often unintentionally, install deceptive software from unofficial pages, click on suspicious ads, accept downloads that pretend to be updates, or allow web notifications without checking their source. A good practice to detect potential threats is to consult What to do if pages open on their own on Android.

In addition, illegal download sites, fake prize pages and advertising banners outside of trusted websites are usually the places where the most adware is distributed. To minimize the risk of infection:

• Avoid installing programs outside of official websites from the developers.
• Don't click on flashy ads that promise prizes, gifts, or urgent updates.
• Before accepting notifications from a website, verify that it is a legitimate page.
• Keep your browser and operating system up to date, and preferably use a resident anti-malware.

Remove the virus that opens pages by itself on Android

On Android phones, this phenomenon has the same causes as on PCs: malicious apps that display ads or redirect your browsing. The way to fix it is as follows:

1. Go to Settings> Applications and check all installed apps.
2. Uninstall any application that you don't remember installing or that had suspicious behavior coinciding with the start of the pop-up pages.
3. Open the settings Google Chrome, tap “Force Stop,” then go to “Storage” and tap “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data.”
4. Select “Uninstall Updates” to return Chrome to its original state.
5. Restart your device, refresh your browser from the Google Play Store, and see if the abnormal behavior disappears.
6. Optionally, install a antivirus for android and performs an in-depth analysis.

In extreme situations where malware is persistent, you can resort to specific applications such as KMSPick to activate specialized removal features or tools. Remember that to completely remove threats from a rooted phone, you'll need to grant the app the appropriate permissions.

If after following all the steps above the problem is not solved, it is possible that:

• Your system is infected with a advanced malware that requires dedicated tools such as AdwCleaner, Malwarebytes or similar.
• There is a persistent infection at the operating system level, in which case it may be necessary to restore the system to a previous point or perform a clean reinstallation.
• In rare cases, it can be due to hardware issues such as faulty keyboards sending incorrect signals (more common on desktop computers).

As a last resort, on Android phones you can perform a factory reset after backing up your information. Similarly, on computers, a clean installation of Windows removes any malware residue.

The best defense is prevention. Don't limit yourself to just eliminating the current problem: adopt responsible browsing habits and keep all your devices protected and up-to-date. Rely on reliable antivirus utilities, perform regular cleanups, and set up pop-up blockers on all your browsers.

By following these tips and solutions, your digital experience will be much safer and free from the hassle caused by unintentional web pages, ads, or pop-ups. If the problem persists after applying all the recommended measures, consider consulting a specialized technical service for a more in-depth analysis of the system.

Related article:

A comprehensive guide to removing annoying ads on your Android phone: block adware, pop-ups, and intrusive ads.