GeniusBox Adware

What is GeniusBox?

Developed by TGF Interactive, GeniusBox is a browser extension (an add-on) claiming to enhance the Internet search experience by displaying quick search results from many websites such as Flickr, YouTube, eBay, and Amazon.

While this added functionality may seem useful, there is a downside to using GeniusBox: this browser extension tracks users' browsing habits and displays unwanted ads when visiting popular search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo! These unwanted ads are labelled 'About this GeniusBox ad' and 'TGF Interactive'.

Users often install this browser add-on without their consent, since developers of this browser plug-in employ a marketing method called 'bundling', and in most cases it is installed together with free software downloaded from the Internet.

Today, many popular download websites (including download.com, softonic.com, etc.) use 'download clients' offering installation of additional programs with the downloaded free software.

Commonly, these promoted programs are potentially unwanted browser add-ons and toolbars, which add little value to the browsing experience and cause redirect problems, unwanted ads, and privacy issues. Genius Box is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that causes diminished browser performance.

Using this add-on may lead to security and privacy issues, and therefore, you are strongly advised to remove it from your Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox).

Genius Box is identical to another browser add-on created by TGF Interactive called The Genius Factory. The following removal guide is effective in eliminating either of these browser extensions. Note that Genius Box is not a virus or malware, however, due to its deceptive promotion methods (including browser tracking and unwanted ads), it is categorized as adware.

This software is similar to other potentially unwanted browser add-ons such as LessTabs, WebCake, SelectionLinks, and many others.

To avoid unwilling installation of browser add-ons, be attentive when downloading free software, ensuring that you decline installation of additional programs and disallow any suggested changes to browser settings (homepage, default search engine, etc.) To eliminate Genius Box adware, use the removal guide provided below.

GeniusBox adware can install in these different names - “GeniusBox Media”, “GeniusBox Music”, “GeniusBox Videos”, “GeniusBox Movies”, “GeniusBox Books”, “GeniusBox Games” and “GeniusBox News”:

Screenshot of GeniusBox application:

Deceptive free software installers used in GeniusBox adware distribution:

GeniusBox adware generating intrusive ads in Google Internet search results ('Ad by GeniusBox'):

GeniusBox adware generating intrusive banner ads ('Powered by GeniusBox'):

GeniusBox adware generating coupon ads in online shopping websites ('Ads by GeniusBox'):

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Quick menu:

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

GeniusBox 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 "GeniusBox 2.0", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove GeniusBox 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 "GeniusBox" ( or any other recently installed suspicious plug-ins) and disable it.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by geniusbox, 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: "GeniusBox" (or any other recently-installed suspicious plugins), select it and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by geniusbox, 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 the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable "GeniusBox" (or any other recently-installed suspicious plug-ins).

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by geniusbox 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 geniusbox, 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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