ScreenShared Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ScreenShared?
ScreenShared is a deceptive application claiming to allow users to share their screens. On initial inspection, this functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, ScreenShared often infiltrates systems without permission.
Furthermore, this app delivers intrusive online advertisements and continually records various information relating to web browsing activity. For these reasons, ScreenShared is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
Following infiltration, ScreenShared employs a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar ads. The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites, thereby significantly diminishing Internet browsing.
In addition, they might redirect to malicious websites - clicking them is risky and can result in further computer infections. Furthermore, ScreenShared displays various pop-ups that offer installation of third party applications, which are also categorized as adware.
Another downside is information tracking. Be aware that ScreenShared continually gathers IP addresses, search queries, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar information. This collected data might contain personal details that developers share with cooperating third party companies who misuse private data to generate revenue.
Therefore, having an information-tracking app installed on your computer can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly advise you to uninstall ScreenShared adware immediately.
ScreenShared shares similarities with hundreds of other adware-type applications such as SocialHub, Zwhip, and MarvelSound. All claim to provide a number of useful features, however, PUPs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
All promises to enable 'useful functionality' are merely attempts to trick users to install. In fact, apps such as ScreenShared provide no significant value for regular users. They deliver intrusive advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model) and continually collect various information (which is later sold to third parties).
How did ScreenShared install on my computer?
This PUP has an official download website, however, it is also distributed by employing a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, users often install ScreenShared inadvertently, without their consent. Bundling is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software.
Developers hide bundled PUPs within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation process. Users often rush and skip this section, thereby exposing their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be very cautious when downloading and installing software. Closely analyze each step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Secondly, decline offers to download/install third party applications and cancel those already included. The key to computer safety is caution.
Deceptive free software installer distributing ScreenShared:
Official ScreenShared installation set-up:
Screenshot of ScreenShared application:
ScreenShared displaying pop-ups that offer installation of third party apps (additional adware):
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Quick menu:
- What is ScreenShared?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ScreenShared application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ScreenShared adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove ScreenShared ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by ScreenShared' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove ScreenShared extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
ScreenShared 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 "ScreenShared version 1.7", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes ScreenShared ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove ScreenShared adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, ScreenShared 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 screenshared, 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 screenshared, 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 screenshared 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 screenshared, 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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