Ponuadema
Ponuadema is a rogue browser extension which generates massive amounts of online advertisements during web browsing sessions. In order to actively promote its advertisements, Ponuadema incorporates ad-generating and page-redirecting elements into the main web browser.
If various pop-up messages, banners, and notifications “powered by Ponuadema ” have started to interrupt your web surfing, then most definitely you have been faced with a browser hijacker program called Ponuadema . This program is created by a community of developers who endorse it as a free tool that enhances the browsing experience for users.
Ponuadema can be easily attached to browsers like Firefox, Chrome or Edge, but this most commonly happens when you download and automatically install some free applications or browser add-ons on your computer. The hijacker is often bundled in different free software installers and is promoted as additional or an optional component to the main application.
When Ponuadema gets installed in the computer, it affects the way the default web browser is configured. The first thing it normally does is changes the homepage address with a new one and replaces the default search engine. In addition to that, the hijacker may add some third-party plugins, add-ons and buttons in the browser’s taskbar without your permission. Following that, a stream of hundreds of intrusive advertisements (pop-ups, banners, redirect links, etc.) start to appear on your screen. These advertisements are typically very hard to remove and cannot be stopped with an ad-blocker. When clicked on, they usually redirect you to other pages or open new tabs that prompt you to install updates, or additional apps or invite you to purchase some new products/ services or software.
Some of the ads that Ponuadema displays may claim to help you save money while shopping online. Others may invite you to register in some platforms to get a discount code. Nonetheless, it is not a smart idea to click on all of the unknown links that pop on your screen since threats like Trojans, ransomware and other dangerous viruses often use the method of malvertising to infect web users. One wrong click or an accidental redirect may cost you a very close and unpleasant encounter with a dangerous malware, thus, it is much better to avoid the risk by uninstalling the browser hijacker from your system.
The Ponuadema Virus
The key aim of the Ponuadema malware intrusive advertising is to reroute you to websites of third parties who are trying to boost their rankings, advertise their goods or services and increase their visibility through the Internet. The Ponuadema Malware purpose is not to harm your machine, thus, categorizing it as dangerous malware or a virus is wrong.
Nonetheless, owing to its annoying ad interruptions and the unwanted homepage and search engine changes that take place in the main browser, many users choose not to retain such apps on their device and instead use manual guidance or professional removal tools (such as the ones that you can find below) to permanently uninstall the intrusive software. Furthermore, they prefer to remove programs like Ponuadema or Main Captcha Top and all their related components in order to eliminate the possibility of interacting with sketchy materials that may potentially deliver ransomware, Trojans and other malware to their machine.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Ponuadema |
| Type | Adware/Browser Hijacker |
| Danger Level | Medium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk) |
| Symptoms | Some of the prominent symptoms include ads and pop-ups on every page that you visit, page redirects to random sites and new search engine or homepage settings in the browser. |
| Distribution Method | Browser hijackers may often be found inside free software packages, torrents, spam messages and program bundles. |
| Detection Tool |
Remove Ponuadema Virus
To try and remove Ponuadema quickly you can try this:
- Go to your browser’s settings and select More Tools (or Add-ons, depending on your browser).
- Then click on the Extensions tab.
- Look for the Ponuadema extension (as well as any other unfamiliar ones).
- Remove Ponuadema by clicking on the Trash Bin icon next to its name.
- Confirm and get rid of Ponuadema and any other suspicious items.
If this does not work as described please follow our more detailed Ponuadema removal guide below.
If you have a Windows virus, continue with the guide below.
If you have a Mac virus, please use our How to remove Ads on Mac guide.
If you have an Android virus, please use our Android Malware Removal guide.
If you have an iPhone virus, please use our iPhone Virus Removal guide
Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.
Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).
WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!
Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab (the “Details” Tab on Win 8 and 10). Try to determine which processes are dangerous.
Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:
After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders.
Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections.
Hold together the Start Key and R. Type appwiz.cpl –> OK.
You are now in the Control Panel. Look for suspicious entries. Uninstall it/them.
Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:
Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer or otherwise look suspicious.
Hold the Start Key and R – copy + paste the following and click OK:
notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts
A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:
If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.
Open the start menu and search for Network Connections (On Windows 10 you just write it after clicking the Windows button), press enter.
- Right-click on the Network Adapter you are using —> Properties —> Internet Protocol Version 4 (ICP/IP), click Properties.
- The DNS line should be set to Obtain DNS server automatically. If it is not, set it yourself.
- Click on Advanced —> the DNS tab. Remove everything here (if there is something) —> OK.
- After you complete this step, the threat will be gone from your browsers. Finish the next step as well or it may reappear on a system reboot.
Right click on the browser’s shortcut —> Properties.
NOTE: We are showing Google Chrome, but you can do this for Firefox and IE (or Edge).
Properties —–> Shortcut. In Target, remove everything after .exe.
Remove Ponuadema from Internet Explorer:
Open IE, click 
—–> Manage Add-ons.
Find the threat —> Disable. Go to —–> Internet Options —> change the URL to whatever you use (if hijacked) —> Apply.
Remove Ponuadema from Firefox:
Open Firefox, click 
——-> Add-ons —-> Extensions.
Find the adware/malware —> Remove.
Remove Ponuadema from Chrome:
Close Chrome. Navigate to:
C:/Users/!!!!USER NAME!!!!/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data. There is a Folder called “Default” inside:
Rename it to Backup Default. Restart Chrome.
Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter.
Inside, press CTRL and F together and type the threat’s Name. Right click and delete any entries you find with a similar name. If they don’t show up this way, go manually to these directories and delete/uninstall them:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—–Random Directory. It could be any one of them – ask us if you can’t discern which ones are malicious.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—-Windows—CurrentVersion—Run– Random
HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—Internet Explorer—-Main—- Random
If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!
Leave a Comment