Total Deal Search Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Total Deal Search?
Total Deal Search is a rogue application identical to Teriffic Shopper, Torpedo Deals, Price-Hero, and a number of others applications. Developers claim that Total Deal Search helps to save time and money by providing coupons and notifications of special deals/discounts on various online shops.
Therefore, many users believe that Total Deal Search is legitimate and useful, however, this app usually infiltrates systems without users' consent. In addition, Total Deal Search delivers intrusive online advertisements and continually gathers various information. For these reasons, Total Deal Search is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
Research shows that Total Deal Search employs a "virtual layer" to generate pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar ads. "The virtual layer" enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. The displayed ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.
In addition, they often redirect to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. Be aware that Total Deal Search continually monitors Internet browsing activity by collecting various information that might be personally identifiable including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.
The data is later shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private details to generate revenue. Thus, having an information-tracking app installed on your computer can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall Total Deal Search adware immediately.
The Internet is full of adware-type applications, all of which are very similar. By offering various 'useful features', apps such as Total Deal Search trick users into believing that they are legitimate and useful. Be aware, however, that these apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than providing any value for regular users, adware-type apps collect personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third parties) and deliver intrusive online advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model).
How did Total Deal Search install on my computer?
Total Deal Search has an official download website, however, it is also distributed via deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, users often install Total Deal Search inadvertently, without their consent. Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip many steps.
Therefore, bundled programs are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue apps.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be very cautious when downloading and installing software. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, closely analyze each step, and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. The key to computer safety is caution.
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Quick menu:
- What is Total Deal Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Total Deal Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Total Deal Search adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Total Deal Search ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Total Deal Search' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Total Deal Search extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Total Deal Search 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 "Total Deal Search", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Total Deal Search ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Total Deal Search adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Total Deal Search 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 totaldealsearch, 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 totaldealsearch, 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 totaldealsearch 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 totaldealsearch, 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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