SurfDefense Adware

What is SurfDefense?

Developers present SurfDefense as a legitimate application that enhances the Internet browsing experience by protecting users from various malware infections and malicious websites.

Judging on appearance alone, SurfDefense may appear legitimate and useful, however, this application tracks Internet browsing activity and delivers various advertisements. In addition, it often infiltrates systems without users' consent. For these reasons, SurfDefense is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

Following infiltration, SurfDefense collects various data relating to Internet browsing activity including, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, search queries, URLs visited, pages viewed, and so on. This collected data might contain personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

There is a high probability that personal details will be misused to generate revenue. Therefore, having an information-tracking app installed on your computer can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. SurfDefense employs a "virtual layer" to generate pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar advertisements.

The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.

In addition, some might redirect to malicious websites - even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall SurfDefense adware immediately.

SurfDefense is similar to dozens of other adware-type applications. As with SurfDefense, apps such as Note-up, AnySend, VuuPC, and many others, also offer various 'useful features'. Although the functionality offered differs, these apps have identical behavior.

Research shows that adware-type applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. These apps provide no significant value for regular users. SurfDefense, and other similar adware, collects personal information and delivers intrusive online advertisements.

How did SurfDefense install on my computer?

SurfDefense is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, many users install this PUP inadvertently, without their consent. This is due to a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", which is used to distribute SurfDefense. "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party software with regular applications/programs.

Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Users often rush and skip this section, often leading to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs such as SurfDefense.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two simple steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings and closely analyze each step. Secondly, opt-out of all additionally-included programs and cancel offers to download/install them. Never install bundled programs.

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove SurfDefense adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, SurfDefense 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 surfdefense, 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 surfdefense, 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 surfdefense 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 surfdefense, 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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