Shopping Sidekick Adware

What is Shopping Sidekick?

Shopping Sidekick is an unwanted browser extension developed by 215 Apps. This browser add-on promises to display relevant coupon ads when users visit online shopping websites such as Expedia, Target, Walmart, GameStop, etc. Unfortunately, the developers use a deceptive marketing method for distribution of this software called 'bundling'.

Many computer users report that Shopping Sidekick was installed on their computers without their consent. Such unwilling installation may be caused by reckless free software installation habits.

Freeware download websites and free software developers often bundle their free software downloads with browser add-ons in order to monetize their programs or downloads. Internet users should be aware of these monetization methods and always carefully inspect each installation step.

To avoid installation of Shopping Sidekick and other unwanted browser add-ons or toolbars, always choose the 'Custom Installation' option, rather than 'Typical', when installing free software. Opt-out of any additional installs and disallow any suggested changes to your Internet browser/s settings.

Note that some dubious download websites use 'silent installers' to install additional browser add-ons on users' computers. Therefore, ensure you download free software from legitimate websites only. Shopping Sidekick is a potentially unwanted program, which causes annoying coupon ads. Thus, you are advised to eliminate this add-on from your Internet browsers.

The most common source of unwanted browser plug-ins is freeware. Whilst Shopping Sidekick may appear legitimate, the deceptive promotion methods categorize this browser extension as adware. Other known potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) created by 215 Apps include Solid Savings, Savings Vault, Lucky Savings, and many others. 

If you feel that the Shopping Sidekick add-on was installed on your Internet browser/s (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla FireFox) without your consent, use the removal guide provided to eliminate it from your computer.

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Quick menu:

• What is Shopping Sidekick?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Shopping Sidekick application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Shopping Sidekick add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Shopping Sidekick plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Shopping Sidekick extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Shopping Sidekick extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Shopping Sidekick 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 "Shopping Sidekick", select this entry and click " Uninstall" or "Remove"

After uninstalling Shopping Sidekick, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.

Remove Shopping Sidekick from browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for Innovative Apps related entries ("Shopping Sidekick Plugin") and disable it.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the shopping sidekick virus, 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 on "Extensions".  Locate: "Shopping Sidekick Plugin", select it and click on the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the shopping sidekick virus, 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable this add-on: "Shopping Sidekick Plugin".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with shopping sidekick virus 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 shopping sidekick virus, 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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