Ads by Tom

If you often shop online, you probably have several “assistants” in the shape of browser add-ons and extensions that notify you of various deals and sales. Ads by Tom could also be considered as something akin to such extensions, but this application is highly suspicious, as it might enter your computer when you expect it the least. If you did not mean to install this adware program on your PC, it would be for the best to remove Ads by Tom right now. Adware programs will not destroy your system, but they can easily expose you to potentially harmful content that could lead to a variety of computer security problems.

We would like to point out that Ads by Tom is not malicious by nature. The program simply displays commercial content when you browse the web. Most of the time, the application will offer you a number of commercial links at the top of your Google search results. These links will be labeled as “Ads by Tom.” Also, we would like to point out that there could be many other versions of the same app out there, and the labels might differ. The known variants include “Brought to you by Tom,” “by Tom Ads,” “Powered by Tom,” “Brought by Tom,” “Tom Ads,” and so on. Although it is not exactly clear who or what “Tom” is, it is obvious that this program may inadvertently redirect you to dangerous websites that could be associated with malware distribution.

It might take some time before you notice that this adware application is installed on your browser. It does not ask for your permission to be added to your browser, or you simply do not read all the steps in third-party installation wizards. However, this extension can be added to almost all browsers out there (including Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer), so if this adware application manages to enter your system, you can be sure to experience various discrepancies sooner rather than later.

So how does the Ads by Tom program enter your system? Since the application is not a malicious Trojan, it does not do that behind your back. However, at the same time, users are often confused as to how they could have allowed this adware to enter their PCs. This usually happens because adware programs and other potentially unwanted programs often come bundled with freeware. This freeware gets installed on target computers because users choose to download and run these programs themselves. What they do not notice, however, are additional applications that come with the programs they wanted.

In some cases, it should be possible to avoid installing Ads by Tom and other adware apps by simply going through the installation wizard step-by-step. There is a chance that third-party installers inform users about the additional apps, and there is an option that allows you to deselect the unnecessary applications. Of course, for that, you need to go with the custom installation, rather than the general or fast one. If you fail to do that, it is only natural that adware programs and other potential threats land on your PC.

Now, what is so dangerous about Ads by Tom if the program itself cannot do much? Our main security concern associated with this adware application is the fact that it can be easily exploited by cyber criminals. The program offers advertising space where third parties can promote their content. For the most part, it happens to be commercial content from various online stores. However, in the worst case scenario, this space can be misused by cyber criminals who embed outing links, leading users to a dangerous website. The most frustrating thing in this is that Ads by Tom cannot do anything about it because the add-on is not responsible for the third-party content security. Therefore, you are left to deal with this security issue on your own.

Luckily, it is not complicated to terminate Ads by Tom for good. Simple restore your browser settings to default, and that should be enough to delete this add-on, and any other potentially unwanted extension. As for other programs that might have entered your PC together with the adware, you can get an entire list of potential threats by scanning your PC with the SpyHunter free scanner. Do not hesitate and deal with it today!

How to Delete Ads by Tom

Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+T and select Internet options.
2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset.
3. Select Delete personal settings and click Reset.
4. Press Close.

Firefox

1. Press Alt+H and go to Troubleshooting information.
2. Press Refresh Firefox on the new tab.
3. Click Refresh Firefox on the confirmation box and press Finish.

Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and open Settings.
2. At the bottom of the page, click Show advanced settings.
3. Click the Reset settings button at the bottom of the page.
4. Press Reset to confirm.