ShutDownTime Adware

What is ShutDownTime?

ShutDownTime is a rogue application that supposedly allows users to set a time for the computer to shut down. Initially, ShutDownTime may seem legitimate, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) stealth installation without permission; 2) display of intrusive online advertisements, and; 3) monitoring of users' Internet browsing activity.

Following infiltration, ShutDownTime delivers various intrusive online advertisements (full-screen pop-ups, banners, coupons, etc.) These often conceal underlying content of visited websites, significantly diminishing the browsing experience. Furthermore, they often lead to malicious websites - clicking them risks additional high-risk adware or malware infections.

As mentioned above, ShutDownTime tracks Internet browsing activity - it does this by continually recording various information that might be personally identifiable. The list of collected data includes (but is not limited to) Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, queries entered into search engines, and pages viewed.

ShutDownTime's developers share this recorded information with third parties, who misuse personally identifiable details to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app such as ShutDownTime can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you to uninstall ShutDownTime adware immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Shutdown Time adware
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.

ShutDownTime is virtually identical to dozens of other adware-type applications such as, for example, Bookmarks Access, Right-Click Search, Incognito Start Button, and Search Awesome. These apps offer different functionality, but have identical behavior. In fact, all adware-type apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Therefore, ShutDownTime, and other similar programs, deliver intrusive advertisements, continually record user-system information, and give no significant value for regular users.

How did ShutDownTime install on my computer?

ShutDownTime is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, this adware is also distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, ShutDownTime often infiltrates systems without consent. Bundling is stealth installation of third party software with regular programs.

Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes. Therefore, skipping this section can lead to inadvertent installation of rogue applications such as ShutDownTime.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be very careful when downloading and installing software. Closely analyze each step within the "Custom/Advanced" settings and decline offers to download/install third party programs. The key to computer safety is caution.

Screenshot of ShutDownTime adware:

ShutDownTime adware generating intrusive advertisements:

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

ShutDownTime 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 "ShutdownTime version 1.0", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove ShutDownTime 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 "ShutDownTime", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the shutdown time adware, 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 "ShutDownTime", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the shutdown time adware, 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 "ShutDownTime".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with shutdown time adware 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 shutdown time adware, 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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