How do I get rid of AdChoices on Safari?

JoinerFamily wrote:

Hi! I have the same issue (see John.A screen shots) and I have run your Adware Removal program which helped but I still have some issues. Some words on webpages are highlighted green and have a pop up ad when you scroll over it. Do you have any additional advice?

Yes, if AdwareMedic doesn't solve the problem, it's either not adware or it's not adware that I've ever seen before. Either way, you'll find the next set of steps you need to take here:

http://www.adwaremedic.com/kb/unsolved.php

(Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my sites, TheSafeMac.com and AdwareMedic.com.)

Nice tool. I'm normally pretty careful about what I install but obviously there are a lot of genuine companies adding this stuff in. Not a happy person. I'd rather pay a little for the software and avoid all of this junk.

You didn't provide a description of your problem, and your output from Linc's script shows no adware. That makes it difficult to advise you very specifically. I'd recommend reading all the other posts on this topic and see if any of them answer your question, and if not, please post details about exactly what you're seeing.

My apologies - I am at work and trying to fix this while working. My problem is that I have ad choices everywhere on websites I am using via safari. Not so much with chrome. I have not tried anything other than running this diagnostic first. I would like to find a way to remove these -they're incredibly annoying.

Well, as some earlier responses indicate, AdChoices ads may be perfectly normal, depending on the site. The difference between Safari and Chrome may simply come down to something like an ad blocker you have in Chrome.

However, just to be sure, I don't see any Safari extensions listed in your earlier post. Is that correct? Go to Safari's preferences window and click the Extensions icon... is there anything there, and if so, what?

From the menu bar, select

 ▹ System Preferences... ▹ Network ▹ Advanced... ▹ DNS

Under DNS Servers you should have one or more numerical addresses, such as “192.168.1.1” or “10.0.0.1”. What are those addresses?

Hello Linc,

There is a DNS, its number is 192.168.1.xxx.

XXX is a three digit number. It is safe for me to pass it on to you through the forum?. Although I might trust you everyone is able to see the forum.

I tried to run the test you posted before, however, there is a paragraph I do not understand.

3. Below are instructions to run a UNIX shell script, a type of program.

Where can I find the program?

Thanks,

Alejandro.

There is a DNS, its number is 192.168.1.xxx.

That's the address of your router, which is acting as a DNS proxy. I think you're probably seeing normal web content, but if you want to make sure, see below. There is no reason to run the test script I posted earlier in this thread.

Back up all data.

Unlock the Network preference pane, if necessary, by clicking the lock icon in the lower left corner and entering your password. Cllck Advanced, open the DNS tab, and change the server addresses to the following:

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

That's Google DNS. Click OK, then Apply.

In Safari, select

Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data

and confirm. If you’re using another browser, empty the cache. Test. Any difference?

Notes:

1. If you lose Internet access after making the above change to your network settings, delete the Google servers in the Network preference pane, then select the TCP/IP tab and click Renew DHCP Lease. That should restore the original DNS settings; otherwise restore them yourself. Remember that you must click Apply in order for any changes to take effect.

2. I don't use Google DNS myself, though I have tested it, and I'm not recommending it or any other DNS provider; the server addresses are offered merely for testing purposes. There may be privacy and technical issues involved in using that service, which you should investigate personally before you decide whether to keep the settings. Other public DNS services exist.

Your girlfriend may have an ad blocker installed, or there may be some other difference between her system and yours.

I wouldn't waste further time trying to troubleshoot a DNS problem that I don't believe you have. I'd set your DNS settings back to the way they were and, if these particular ads bother you, consider installing an ad blocker, like uBlock.

I block ads, so I don't necessarily know what is or is not normal advertising. Do you see these ads only on Youtube?

Your screenshot shows an ad banner covering up part of the video. Does that ever go away when you start playing it?

This worked like a charm! Thanks!

Thanks, worked great! Cleaned up Safari and Firefox.

Can you explain how you found the adchoice link

I called Apple support and they told me it was a virus and I had to wipe my whole computer and reinstall the operating system. It fixed the problem for me

I clicked on the "opt out" option and immediately quit Safari and reopened it and no longer see any green text. I think this may have fixed it.