PlayLunar Adware

What is PlayLunar?

PlayLunar is a deceptive application that claims to allow users to play various Flash games. These claims often trick users to install, however, be aware that this app often infiltrates systems without users’ permission.

Furthermore, PlayLunar continually records various user/system information and delivers various intrusive online advertisements. For these reasons, this app is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

PlayLunar employs a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar advertisements. Note that none originate from users' visited websites and often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the web browsing experience. In addition, these displayed ads often lead to malicious websites containing infectious content.

Thus, clicking them is risky and can result in further adware or malware infections. PlayLunar monitors users' web browsing activity by gathering IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar information that might be personally identifiable.

Most of this collected data is shared with third parties who misuse private data to generate revenue. Thus, having an information-tracking app installed on your system might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You should eliminate PlayLunar adware from your system immediately.

Research shows that there are dozens of potentially unwanted programs identical to PlayLunar. Examples include FunOnlinePlay, Gamesopolis, and GamesCake. All offer identical functionality, however, none provides any real value. PlayLunar, and these other apps, are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than providing any value for users, they record personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third parties) and deliver intrusive online advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model).

How did PlayLunar install on my computer?

This application has an official download website, however, it is also distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. For this reason, many users install PlayLunar adware inadvertently. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of PUPs with regular software.

Developers hide third party programs within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings of the download/installation processes and, therefore, users who skip this section, often install bogus programs inadvertently.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be cautious when download/installing software. Closely analyze each step within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings and opt-out of all additionally-included programs listed for download/installation.

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Quick menu:

• What is PlayLunar?
• STEP 1. Uninstall PlayLunar application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove PlayLunar adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove PlayLunar ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by PlayLunar' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove PlayLunar ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

PlayLunar adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for "PlayLunar", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes PlayLunar ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove PlayLunar adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, PlayLunar did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by playlunar, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by playlunar, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by playlunar removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by playlunar, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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