Prime Updater Adware

What is Prime Updater?

Prime Updater (also known as "PrimUp!") is a deceptive application that supposedly allows users to update installed software. Judging on appearance alone, Prime Updater may appear legitimate and useful, however, this application often infiltrates systems without consent.

Furthermore, it proliferates rogue applications, delivers intrusive advertisements, and continually records various user-system information. For these reasons, Prime Updater is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

The Prime Updater app displays a list of applications that supposedly need to be updated, however, the list is fake. Rather than updating these applications, Prime Updater downloads and installs a number of other malicious applications. Furthermore, it displays pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar ads.

To achieve this, developers employ a "virtual layer" - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

In addition, the displayed ads might redirect to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Furthermore, Prime Updater continually tracks Internet browsing activity by recording various information (Internet Protocol addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, etc.) that might contain personal details.

Prime Updater's developers share this collected information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue. Having an information-tracking app installed on your system can result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Prime Updater immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by Prime Updater
Threat Type	Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are dozens of adware-type apps virtually identical to Prime Updater. The list of examples includes WebDiscover, ScreenUp, FirePlayer, and ShareWithUs. Note that all offer different functionality, however, these applications have identical behavior.

The only purpose of all adware is to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no value. Adware-type applications merely deliver intrusive online advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model) and continually record various user-system information (which is later sold to third parties).

How did Prime Updater install on my computer?

Developers proliferate Prime Updater by employing a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", since they know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Aware of this, developers hide bundled apps within the "Custom/Advanced" settings.

By carelessly skipping this section, users often expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

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 carefully analyze each step. Secondly, decline offers to download/install additional applications and cancel those already included.

Screenshot of a potentially unwanted program, "Prime Updater":

Official Prime Updater installer set-up distributing adware (such as "WebDiscover", "InstantSupport", and others):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

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

Prime Updater 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 "PrimeUpd", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Prime Updater adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Prime Updater 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 prime updater, 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 prime updater, 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 prime updater 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 prime updater, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on ads by prime updater or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion