Remove Melondrea Ads (Virus Removal Guide)

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Written by: Stelian Pilici

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Melondrea is an adware program that displays pop-up ads, advertisement banners and sponsored links within Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome.
Melondrea pop-up ads will be shown as boxes containing various coupons that are available or as underlined keywords, which when clicked will display an advertisement that states it is brought to you by Melondrea Deals or Melondrea Ads.
[Image: Melondrea Deals]

[Image: Melondrea Ads]
The Melondrea adware infection is designed specifically to make money. It generates web traffic, collects sales leads for other dubious sites, and will display advertisements and sponsored links within your web browser.
Melondrea it’s technically not a virus, but it does exhibit plenty of malicious traits, such as rootkit capabilities to hook deep into the operating system, browser hijacking, and in general just interfering with the user experience. The industry generally refers to it as a “PUP,” or potentially unwanted program.

Melondrea is an ad-supported (users may see additional banner, search, pop-up, pop-under, interstitial and in-text link advertisements) cross web browser plugin for Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome, and distributed through various monetization platforms during installation. Melondrea is typically added when you install another free software (video recording/streaming, download-managers or PDF creators) that had bundled into their installation this adware program. When you install these free programs, they will also install Melondrea as well. Some of the programs that are known to bundle Melondrea include 1ClickDownload, Superfish, Yontoo and FBPhotoZoom. Very often users have no idea where did it come from, so it’s not surprising at all that most of them assume that Melondrea is a virus.

Once installed, whenever you will visit Amazon, Best Buy, Youtube, Ebay and other websites, Melondrea will display on product images a See Similar button, which when clicked will show you ads by Melondrea.
Melondrea will also display advertising banners on the webpages that you are visiting, and as you browse Internet, it will show coupons and other deals available on different websites.

You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this Melondrea adware. Be very careful what you agree to install.
Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.

How to remove “Melondrea” (Virus Removal Guide)

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove “Melondrea” virus from your computer, and any other adware program that may have been installed during the setup process.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
STEP 1: Uninstall Melondrea from Windows
STEP 2: Remove “Ads by Melondrea” adware with AdwCleaner
STEP 3: Remove “Ads by Melondrea” virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
STEP 4: Double-check for the “Ads by Melondrea” malware with HitmanPro
(Optional) STEP 5: Reset Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome settings to remove “Melondrea” Ads

If you are using an Apple Mac OS X operating system, please follow this Remove virus from Apple Mac OS X (Pop-up Ads and Adware) guide to remove Melondrea adware.

STEP 1 : Uninstall Melondrea from Windows

In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious program that might be installed on your computer.

  1. To uninstall program from Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, click the “Start” button, then click on the “Control Panel” menu option.
    [Image: Control Panel in Windows Start Menu]
    If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, right-click in the screen’s bottom-left corner and choose “Control Panel” from the pop-up menu. Or simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for “control panel”
    Windows 8 Control Panel
  2. When the “Control Panel” window opens click on the “Uninstall a program” option under “Programs” category.
    [Image: Uninstall a program]
  3. When the “Programs and Features” or the “Uninstall a Program” screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and uninstall Melondrea.
    The malicious program may have a different name on your computer. To view the most recently installed programs, you can click on the “Installed On” column to sort your program by the installation date. Scroll through the list, and uninstall any unwanted or unknown programs.

    If you are having issues while trying to uninstall the Melondrea program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove this unwanted program from your machine.

    Remove Melondrea from Windows
    If you cannot find any unwanted or unknown programs on your machine, then you can proceed with the next step.

STEP 2: Remove “Ads by Melondrea” adware with AdwCleaner

The AdwCleaner utility will scan your computer and web browser for the “Melondrea” malicious files, browser extensions and registry keys, that may have been installed on your computer without your knowledge.

  1. You can download AdwCleaner from the below link.
    ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will download “AdwCleaner” on your computer)
  2. Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs and internet browsers, then double-click on the AdwCleaner icon.
    Start AdwCleaner
    If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
  3. When the AdwCleaner program will open, click on the “Scan” button as shown below.
    AdwCleaner Scan button
    AdwCleaner will now start to search for the “Ads by Melondrea” malicious files that may be installed on your computer.
  4. To remove the “Ads by Melondrea” malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the “Clean” button.
    Remove Ads by Melondrea with AdwCleaner
  5. AdwCleaner will prompt you to save any open files or documents, as the program will need to reboot the computer. Please do so and then click on the OK button.
    AdwCleaner removing adware

STEP 3: Remove “Ads by Melondrea” virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free uses industry-leading technology to detect and remove all traces of malware, including worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware, and more.
It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware works well and should run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.

  1. You can download download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from the below link.
    MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download “Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free”)
  2. Once downloaded, close all programs, then double-click on the icon on your desktop named “mbam-setup” to start the installation of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
    Start Malwarebytes Anti-Malware setup
    Picture of User Account Control You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
  3. When the installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation process.
    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Installer
    To install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on your machine, keep following the prompts by clicking the “Next” button.
    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final screen
  4. Once installed, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program, and that a scan has never been run on your system. To start a system scan you can click on the “Scan Now” button.
    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Scan Now
  5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for the Ads by Melondrea virus. When Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is scanning it will look like the image below.
    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Scanning for Malware
  6. When the scan has completed, you will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes Anti-malware has found, click on the “Remove Seletected” button.
    Remove Ads by Melondrea with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
    Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
  7. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now quarantine all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. When removing the files, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot your computer, please allow it to do so.
    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware asking to restart PC
    After your computer will restart, you should open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and perform another “Threat Scan” scan to verify that there are no remaining threats

STEP 4: Double-check for the “Ads by Melondrea” malware infection with HitmanPro

HitmanPro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security measures you have taken (such as anti-virus software, firewalls, etc.). HitmanPro is designed to work alongside existing security programs without any conflicts. It scans the computer quickly (less than 5 minutes) and does not slow down the computer.

  1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download “HitmanPro”)
  2. Double-click on the file named “HitmanPro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “HitmanPro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows). When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below.
    HitmanPro Installer
    Click on the “Next” button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.
    itmanPro while installing on PC
  3. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for Ads by Melondrea malicious files.
    HitmanPro scanning
  4. When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the “Next” button, to remove Ads by Melondrea virus.
    HitmanPro detected malware
  5. Click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
    Remove malware with HitmanPro

(Optional) STEP 5: Reset Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome settings to remove “Melondrea” Ads

If you are still experiencing issues with the Melondrea ads in Internet Explorer, Firefox or Chrome, we will need to reset your browser to its default settings. This step needs to be performed only if your issues have not been solved by the previous steps.

Reset Internet Explorer

You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your PC.

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the “gear icon” IE Icon Gear in the upper right part of your browser, then click again on Internet Options.
    [Image: Internet Options in Internet Explorer]
  2. In the “Internet Options” dialog box, click on the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
    [Image: Reset Internet Explorer]
  3. In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
    [Image: Reset Internet Explorer to its default settings to remove Melondrea]
  4. When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. You will now  need to close your browser, and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
    [Image Reset Internet Explorer settings]

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If you’re having problems with Firefox, resetting it can help. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history and open tabs.

  1. In the upper-right corner of the Firefox window, click the Firefox menu button ([Image: Firefox Menu button]), the click on the “Help” ([Image: Firefox Help button]) button.
    [Image: Click on the Menu button then Help]
  2. From the Help menu, choose Troubleshooting Information.
    [Image: Troubleshooting Information in Firefox]
  3. Click the “Reset Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
    [Image: Reset Firefox to its default settings to remove Melondrea]
  4. To continue, click on the “Reset Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
    [Image: Click on the Reset Firefox button]
  5. Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.

Note: Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.

Reset Google Chrome

  1. Click on the “Chrome menu button” (Chrome menu)  on the browser toolbar, select “Settings“, and then click on “Extensions“.
    Chrome Settings menu
  2. In the “Extensions” tab, remove Melondrea and any other unknown extensions, by clicking the trash can [Image: Remove an extension from Chrome] icon.
    Basically, if you have not installed an extension then you should remove it from Google Chrome.
    Remove adware extension from Chrome
Your computer should now be free of the Melondrea adware infection.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove “Ads By Melondrea” pop-ups from your machine, please do one of the following:

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

    lock sign

    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

    cursor sign

    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.

1 thought on “Remove Melondrea Ads (Virus Removal Guide)”

  1. Hi Stelian
    Thank you very much for the clear and systematically proposed options to get rid of the very irritating and invasive Melondrea disease. I’m not quite sure why it is called a PUP, that should be DUP, for Definetely Unwanted Program. I think it slipped into my father’s computer, while installing Libre Office. All kind of pop ups appeared, which only could be closed by using different ways: an “x” in the right upper corner, a nasty add about “Together we fight cancer / Fortuneo Bank” with no “X” but a “Close button” in the left lower corner, yet another add which only could be pushed sideways by clickin on a V shaped arrow. Other typical problem, Melondrea slipped continuously a number of links placed on top of the page, whenever a Google search was made.

    I really don’t understand companies that use this very agressive way of making publicity, as it only breeds irritation, and I really can’t imagine they will get new clients this way. All companies that use the Melondrea loophole should be put on a blacklist, so that they can be publicly or at least virtually be bombarded by rotten tomatoes. I’m throwing the first one on that “help defeat cancer” campaign, that was so irritating, I’m suspecting it is rather helping to increase the numbers of cancers in the next 20 years…. Smassssshhh…..

    I’ve followed your excellent step by step approach, at first glance it seems to have helped, but I will watch what happens in the following days, if that nasty cyberworm doesn’t pop up somewhere else. I’m using the 30 days trial for Hitmanpro, it also will be interesting to see if things won’t be affected afterwards, and if Adw and Malware Bytes together are enough to defend my father’s computer. Except for these programs, the computer is also defended by Microsoft Essentials, but as I’m completely illeterate about computers, I don’t know if that is sufficient, if I can combine it with let’s say a Norton anti virus program etc. and if adding such an anti virus program won’t clash with the presence of Adw / Malware Bytes etc. Maybe you should add a section explaining with which other computer defences (anti virus, firewall…) these programs can be combined.
    As I’m only here for the weekend, I’ll check my father’s computer again in 2 weeks, and will let you know if your remedies for this sick cyberpatient were effective. But I was already very happy I stumbled on your clear step by step approach, so thank you very much. By the way, I’m wondering if some of the “remove Melondrea” links on Google actually don’t send you to even more malicious places, that make more holes in stead of less in one’s computer defences. Have you ever checked that out ?
    Keep up the good work, it’s really appreciated. You should have by now 2400 positive comments, according to me !
    All the best
    Benoit Vanhees Antwerp Belgium

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