SeekPriv Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is SeekPriv?
SeekPriv is a deceptive application that infiltrates systems without consent. Following successful infiltration, SeekPriv causes unwanted redirects (to goto.maxdealz.com), delivers intrusive online advertisements, and continually records various information relating to Internet browsing activity.
For these reasons, SeekPriv is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
To deliver pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar ads, SeekPriv employs a "virtual layer". This tool enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, the displayed ads often conceal content of underlying websites, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
Furthermore, some might redirect to websites containing malicious content - clicking them risks further adware or malware infections. SeekPriv continually monitors browsing activity by gathering various user-system information that might contain personal details.
This information (IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal details to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of data-tracking app can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, SeekPriv adware must be uninstalled immediately.
SeekPriv shares many similarities with CondRed, Cookies Control, Tigers Deal, Prime Updater, and hundreds of other adware-type applications. By offering various 'useful features', PUPs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, these applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no significant value.
In fact, adware-type applications merely deliver intrusive online advertisements, record various user-system information and, in this case, cause unwanted redirects.
How did SeekPriv install on my computer?
SeekPriv is distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" method. Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore, they hide bundled apps within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of these processes. Skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue applications such as SeekPriv.
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, decline offers to download/install additional applications and cancel those already included.
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Quick menu:
- What is SeekPriv?
- STEP 1. Uninstall SeekPriv application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove SeekPriv adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove SeekPriv ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by SeekPriv' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove SeekPriv extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
SeekPriv 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 "SeekPriv", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes SeekPriv ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove SeekPriv adware from 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 "SeekPriv", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the goto.maxdealz.com redirect, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "SeekPriv", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the goto.maxdealz.com redirect, 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 "SeekPriv".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with goto.maxdealz.com redirect 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 goto.maxdealz.com redirect, 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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