How to remove ads from Skype, uTorrent and Steam

User question

Hello.

Please tell me how to remove ads in Skype: a block is shown above and on the side, which sometimes gets in the way.

I tried to edit the hosts file, as I was advised - only I can't open it with administrator rights (writes "No access").

Good day!

In fact, sometimes there are so many advertisements in some applications (websites) that it becomes almost impossible to work with them! I’m not talking about the quality of advertising: sometimes it’s displayed such that it’s embarrassing if someone accidentally notices your screen 😎 ...

At all, you can remove ads from various applications in different ways:

buy a license (in many programs, advertising disappears immediately);
change the hosts file (if you know what and how to change ...);
use special utilities for blocking (removing) ad units.

I will consider several ways in this article ...

👉 Note!

If you want to remove ads in the browser - I recommend this article

Ways to hide ads in popular apps

Universal auto-method

To hide ads on all sites and most popular applications without unnecessary hassle (and even in automatic mode 👌) - you must use special software. One of the best programs in this segment is Adguard !

👉 Adguard

Developer site: //adguard.com/ru/

A simple and effective program for removing ads in all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, IE, etc.), Skype, torrent programs (uTorrent), and in general, any other software.

By the way, there are specials in Adguard. section where you can add any program and all ads in it will start filtering in forced mode!

Fully supports Russian, works in all popular Windows: Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10.

👉 How to remove ads using Adguard:

After installation - in the tray, next to the clock, you will see the program icon... By clicking on it - go to the main program window;
At the bottom of the Adguard window - there is a link to customization , we go on it;
Next, open the section Filterable Applications ;
Then click on the link "Select executable file" ;
We select it;
We press the open button;
Everything! Thus, you can add any program to Adguard!

Blocking ads in BitTorrent / Adguard

👉 Now about the results ...

For example, on my computer, after installing Adguard, ads in Skype disappeared completely (screenshot below). In uTorrent, she's gone too. There are a number of other applications in which it is shown, but I do not use them so often and have not added them to the list of blocked in Adguard (just too lazy ✌).

Why this method is good: there is no need to delve into the settings of each individual program, everything is done quickly and efficiently. Below in the article I will consider "manual" removal of ads (for those who do not want to install additional applications).

With and without Adguard (Skype main window) // Clickable

From Skype (manually)

If you do not want to install additional applications, and you need to remove ads, you can get by with "manual" means. True, it will take a little longer ...

First you need to open "Properties: Internet" ... It makes it simple: you need to press WIN + R , enter the command inetcpl.cpl and press Enter(arrow-1 on the screenshot below);
Then open the tab "Safety" ;
Then open the zone "Dangerous sites" ;
The final touch is to add a line apps.skype.com to the list of dangerous sites. Next, you need to save the settings and restart Skype.

How to block ads on Skype

After restarting Skype - you should see no ads, but not no ad slots 👌 (example below).

Advertising space left

To remove these places for ad units, you need to go to the following address:

C: \ users \ [username] \ AppData \ Roaming \ Skype \ [your Skype username]

Then find the file there config.xml... Open it in notepad and delete the line containingAdvertPlaceholder (she is the only one in this file). Delete the line completely! See screenshot below. Next, we save the modified file.

Remove banner / Skype location

Also, so that during further work this file is not replaced / updated, you need to open the properties of this file and set the attribute - only reading (see below for an example).

Set the attribute to read only

Actually, that's all! Now there are no advertisements in the program at all.

👉 Pros / cons of this method:

no ads in chat and during conversations;
no need to edit the hosts file (which is what I was asked to do ...);
the Skype process "eats" less computer resources;
the Adobe Flash plugin is not used in the background;
Skype home page does not work (if you need it, you will need to delete the address apps.skype.com from the list of dangerous sites, i.e. do the reverse procedure).

From uTorrent (manually)

👉 By the way!

UTorrent can be replaced with analogues: many of them have no ads at all! Isn't it an option ?!

By default, uTorrent includes several ad units: usually there are 2 of them - one above the torrent list, the other at the bottom in the corner. An example is shown below.

2 ad units / uTorrent default settings

These blocks can be disabled quite easily. To do this, open the uTorrent settings:

Settings> Program settings> advanced

Or, if you have an English version:

Options> Preferences> Advanced

Next, you need to find two parameters (shown below) and set them to false.

sponsored_torrent_offer_enabled
gui.show_plus_upsell

Changing settings in uTorrent

After setting such settings, ads should stop showing in your torrent program.

👉 Alternative way to configure uTorrent

If you find it difficult to find and make changes to the above parameters (or you did not manage to remove ads in this way), you can use ready-made scripts, the developers of which always adjust the necessary parameters.

The link below is for one of these scripts. All you need to do is click once on the button "Pimp My uTorrent" , and agree to change the settings in the program. Everything!

Website: //schizoduckie.github.io/PimpMyuTorrent/#/

Make changes to uTorrent

From Steam (manually)

In general, there should be no ads on Steam (at least for today 😎). This happens, most often, due to the infection of the browser with various toolbars, extensions, adware.

As a rule, the antivirus in this case is "silent" and finds nothing. I will give a couple of tips on how to be in this case.

1) Delete cookies in your Steam browser settings

In many cases, such a simple procedure allows you to get rid of ads (unless, of course, your PC is seriously infected with virus and adware).

Delete Cookies / Steam

2) Check your computer with antivirus software

I recommend the following antivirus utilities: AdwCleaner, AVZ, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. All of them can work "in parallel" with the classic antivirus. A detailed description of how to work with them is given at the link below.

👉 To help!

How to remove viruses and adware from Windows if classic antivirus is helpless ...

3) Restore and clear the hosts file

If a virus or adware writes "its" lines in this system file, then advertisements may start to pop up not only on Steam, but also in any other applications.

The easiest way to restore it is to use 👉 the AVZ program: open the section File / System Restore and mark clearing hosts ... It's that simple!

👉 To help!

How to modify and restore the HOSTS file

4) Are the router's DNS "poisoned"?

Some viruses can change the settings of the router. If your PC has been fully checked, ad blocking software is installed, but it still pops up - I recommend checking the router settings as well.

The treatment in this case is as follows:

check DNS servers in 👉 router settings;
if you do not know how to do step 1 - ьте reset the router settings (this will also reset the DNS, which is what we need!);
if the advertisement does not disappear, you will have to 👉 reflash the router (if you reflash, follow the instructions given strictly!). I do not consider this topic here, tk. it is quite extensive ...

If you somehow solved the issue differently - let me know in the comments (thanks in advance!).

This completes my struggle with advertising.

(I hope yours too👌)

Good luck!

👋

First publication: 12/17/2016

Correction: 01/30/2020