An unusual malware we discovered recently is an adware that disguises itself as a cookie file and spams your browser with various sketchy and intrusive ads, no matter what site you are on. The adware in question is called Adnxs.com and many users have reported seeing a cookie with the same name reappear in their browser even after they’ve deleted it multiple times. This leads us to believe that there must be something else in the system that causes this rogue cookie to reappear and spam the users with its ads.
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From what information we were able to gather about Adnxs.com, it doesn’t seem to be a very dangerous form of malware. It’s similar to other ad-distributing adware apps like ToastForm or Kotalq App. However, its ability to show random ads and affect the content that appears in your browser is definitely a security risk which is why you should remove this adware if you’ve noticed it in your PC.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you follow the guide presented below or use the specialized SpyHunter 5 removal tool available on this page to get rid of Adnxs.com and secure your system and browser.
Adnxs.com Removal Tutorial
Adnxs.com is malware, but some people might be able to kick it off their system with just a few simple steps. If that doesn’t work, don’t panic—there are more advanced ways to deal with it. Start with the easy fixes first, and if Adnxs.com is still sticking around, it’s time to go deeper.
Quick Steps to Remove Adnxs.com
- 1.1Open your Start Menu, type “Apps & Features”, and press Enter. This will pull up a full list of everything installed on your computer.
- 1.2To make things easier, sort by installation date. Malware tends to be one of the newest entries.
- 1.3Now, take a close look at what’s on the list. Do you see anything that looks off? Maybe a program with a super generic name? Or an icon that doesn’t match anything you remember downloading?
- 1.4If something feels sketchy, trust your gut—select it and hit Uninstall.
- 1.5But don’t stop there. Head over to:
C:\Program Files
C:\Program Files (x86)
Find the folder where this program was installed and delete anything left behind. Malware loves to leave traces that help it come back.
Now, restart your computer. If Adnxs.com is still around, no worries—we’ve got more tricks up our sleeve.
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Important! Read Before Continuing
The Adnxs.com removal guide you’ll see next may feel a bit challenging to inexperienced users, which is why, in case you aren’t sure you can perform any of its steps, I recommend checking out SpyHunter 5. It can help you get rid of the adware and secure your browser in a quick, safe, and user-friendly way.
How to Remove the Adnxs Ads
If those quick fixes didn’t cut it, Adnxs is probably still hanging on. That means you need to make hidden files visible and get ready to delete some stubborn ones. Some of these files will fight back, but removing them is key. Without this step, the adware won’t be fully gone, and it might come back.
1. Adnxs.com Removal Preparatory Steps
- 1.1
First, let’s make sure you can see hidden files:
– Open File Explorer.
– Click the View tab and select Options (or Folder Options).
– In the new window, go to the View tab again and check “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.”
– Click Apply and OK. - 1.2Next, you’ll need a tool called LockHunter. Malware loves locking its files so you can’t delete them, but LockHunter forces them to go away.
Go ahead and download and install LockHunter—we’ll use it later.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Delete the Adnxs Virus Files
Adnxs is sneaky—it hides files all over your system to keep itself alive. To wipe it out for good, you’ll need to track down and delete everything tied to it. Check the usual malware hideouts and clear out anything suspicious. If you leave anything behind, Adnxs might just find a way to crawl back in.
2. How to Delete Adnxs.com Files
- 2.1Open File Explorer and check these locations:
– C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming
– C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
– C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Look for anything weird—randomly named files, strange icons, or things you don’t recognize. Delete anything suspicious. - 2.2
Now, let’s clear out your Temp folder:
– Go to C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Temp.
– Select everything (Ctrl + A).
– Delete it all—this won’t hurt your system, but it will get rid of anything shady hiding there. - 2.3Next, go to these folders:
– C:\Program Files
– C:\Program Files (x86)
Most of what’s in here is legit, but malware can disguise itself. If something looks off, research it. If it turns out to be malicious, delete it. - 2.4Some files might refuse to be deleted. That’s where LockHunter comes in:
– Right-click the stubborn file.
– Select “What’s locking it?” in LockHunter.
– Click on “Delete it“.
How to Delete Persistent Files with Lock Hunter
Remove Adnxs.com Malware Tasks From the Task Scheduler
Deleting Adnxs.com isn’t enough if it has set up automated tasks to reinstall itself. That’s right—this thing doesn’t go down easy. Open Task Scheduler and hunt down anything that looks connected to the adware. Delete those scheduled tasks, or you’ll be dealing with this malware over and over again.
3. How to Remove Adnxs.com Entries From the Task Scheduler
- 3.1
Open the Start Menu, type Task Scheduler, and press Enter. Then, go to Task Scheduler Library. - 3.2Look through the tasks one by one. Check the Actions tab—if a task is running a suspicious .exe or script file, it’s probably connected to Adnxs.com.
– Write down the file location.
– Delete the task. - 3.3Now, go to the file location you just noted down and delete that file.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Get Rid of Adnxs.com Ads Through the System Registry
Adnxs.com likes to dig deep into your system by messing with the Windows Registry. To fully get rid of it, you’ll have to track down and delete every entry linked to it. But be careful—deleting the wrong thing could mess up your system. If you’re unsure, let SpyHunter handle it for you.
4. How to Remove Adnxs.com Items From the Registry
- 4.1Open the Start Menu, type regedit, right-click the first thing, and select “Run as administrator“.
- 4.2Press Ctrl + F, search for Adnxs, and carefully examine anything that pops up. If it’s obviously linked to malware, delete it.
Repeat the search every time you delete an item to make sure nothing’s left behind. - 4.3
Manually check these registry locations: - 4.4If you see anything related to Adnxs.com in the right panel in each of these keys, delete it, but don’t touch the actual registry keys on the left.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Remove Adnxs.com Browser Policies
If Adnxs.com has taken over your browser, you might see “Managed by your organization” in your settings. That’s a huge red flag – the adware has locked in some policies that prevent changes. You’ll need to remove those policies before you can take back control. Otherwise, Adnxs will keep messing with your browser settings.
5. How to Remove Rogue Adnxs.com Policies
- 5.1
Open the Start Menu, type Edit Group Policy, and open the first result.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates. - 5.2
Right-click on the Administrative Templates folder, select Add/Remove, and clear the list. - 5.3Using Chrome? Download Chrome Policy Remover and run it as an administrator—it’ll reset everything for you.
- 5.4Windows might warn you about running the Policy Remover tool. Ignore it by clicking “More Info” > “Run Anyway.” The tool is safe.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Manual Group Policy Removal
Automatic Group Policy Removal
Uninstall Adnxs From Your Browser
Even after removing Adnxs policies, you’re not done yet. It likely messed with your homepage, search engine, and other settings. Go through everything and reset it back to normal. A full check ensures that the adware didn’t leave behind any surprises, and you can browse without any more interference.
6. How to Remove Adnxs.com From Your Browser
- 6.1Go to your browser’s Extensions page and delete anything suspicious or unfamiliar.
- 6.2
Clear your browsing data:
– Open Privacy and Security settings.
– Select All Time and delete everything except your saved passwords. - 6.3
Check your Site Settings and remove any sketchy permissions. - 6.4
Reset your search engine settings to a provider you trust. Under Manage Search Engines, delete any strange URLs. - 6.5Finally, go to “On Startup” and “Appearance” settings—make sure no weird URLs are hiding there.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
What Is Adnxs.com?
Adnxs.com is a tracking cookie linked to AppNexus, a company that handles online ad placement. It’s not technically a virus, but a lot of people have noticed that it keeps coming back even after being deleted.
That’s a major red flag. If you’re seeing weird ads, sketchy redirects, or aggressive pop-ups, Adnxs.com might be more than just a cookie—it could be tied to adware on your system. Some reports suggest that it’s not just tracking you but also messing with browser settings and forcing ads onto pages where they normally wouldn’t appear.
If it keeps reappearing, that likely means something else on your device is reinstalling it, meaning a simple cookie deletion won’t cut it. While it’s not as dangerous as full-blown malware, it’s still a security risk—especially if it’s pushing scam ads or interfering with your browsing experience.
The best way to deal with it? It’s shown in the guide on this page. And if even that doesn’t work and the ads won’t stop, you might need a malware removal tool like SpyHunter to track down the hidden files keeping Adnxs.com alive. Bottom line? It’s not the worst thing out there, but it’s annoying, persistent, and worth getting rid of before it redirects you to some scam site or malware-infested page.
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