Ads by TinderTop

What is TinderTop?

Identical to InstaTime, TinderTop is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to allow use of Tinder and Facebook directly from the desktop.

On initial inspection, TinderTop looks may seem a legitimate and useful program, however, this PUP often infiltrates systems without users’ permission. Furthermore, TinderTop continually delivers various advertisements and tracks Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, TinderTop is categorized as adware.

TinderTop generates pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar intrusive online advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ a 'virtual layer' - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site.

Displayed advertisements (that clearly do not originate from visited websites) often conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Research also shows that these ads might redirect to malicious websites - clicking them risks further adware or malware infections. Users' web browsing activity is continually monitored.

TinderTop gathers Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geo-locations), websites visited, search queries, pages viewed, and other similar information that might be personally identifiable. Furthermore, TinderTop's developers share these details with third parties, who often attempt to generate revenue by misusing personal information.

The presence of an information-tracking app such as TinderTop on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to eliminate this PUP adware from your computer immediately.

There are hundreds of adware-type applications similar to TinderTop. Examples include Ghostify, VidSquare, ArcadeSwim, and DestinyScope. Research shows that all adware offers 'useful features' to supposedly improve the browsing experience. In fact, these apps provide no significant value for regular users.

The claims are merely attempts to trick users to install. The real purpose of adware is simply to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than enabling the functionality promised, TinderTop, and other similar apps, collect personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third parties) and deliver intrusive online ads (via the "Pay Per Click" [PPC] advertising model).

How did TinderTop install on my computer?

TinderTop is distributed via an official download website, and using a deceptive software marketing method called "bundling". Aware of this, developers often install TinderTop inadvertently, without their consent. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of third party applications with regular software/apps.

Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Rushing and skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

PUPs are distributed using the bundling method. Therefore, never rush the download or installation processes. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each step. Furthermore, opt-out of all additionally-included programs and decline all offers to download/install them. The key to computer safety is caution.

TinderTop adware installer set-up:

Screenshot of TinderTop application:

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Quick menu:

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

TinderTop 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 "TinderTop", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove TinderTop adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, TinderTop 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 tindertop adware, 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 tindertop adware, 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 tindertop adware 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 tindertop adware, 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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