Outobox Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is OutoBox?
The OutoBox browser add-on is developed by Super Web LLC. The plugin claims to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling easy multiple site searches and displaying website ratings. Whilst such added functionality may seem legitimate, in fact, the OutoBox add-on is categorized as a potentially unwanted application or adware.
Super Web LLC, the company responsible for this plugin, release numerous browser extensions with identical functionality under different names in order to avoid detection by antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
To distribute these rogue extensions, Super Web LLC uses a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', thus, users commonly install this plugin without their consent together with free software downloaded from the Internet. At time of research, Outobox was distributed via a 'download client' employed by the free software download website, download.com
Today, most freeware download websites use download clients to monetize their free download services. Download clients are small programs, which manage the downloading process of the chosen free software and are also used to monetize process by offering installation of advertised browser plugins.
Whilst Outobox is not a virus or malware, you are advised to eliminate it from your Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox), since it causes unwanted ads and can lead to privacy issues.
After installation, OutoBox generates various unwanted ads including search, banner, text link, transitional, interstitial, and full page advertisements. Moreover, it tracks Internet browsing habits by recording IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, operating systems, browser information, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, and other information.
Previous variants of this adware were named Spring Smart, SkyWebber, BatBrowse, amongst many others. To avoid installation of such potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), carefully check each step when downloading free software. If you are encouraged to install browser add-ons, opt-out of installation by clicking the 'decline' button.
When installing downloaded programs, choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any intended installation of bundled browser extensions. If you observe "Ads by OutoBox", "Powered by OutoBox", or "OutoBox Deals" advertisements when browsing the Internet, use the removal instructions provided to eliminate this adware from your Internet browser/s.
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Quick menu:
- What is Outobox?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Outobox application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Outobox add-on and homepage from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Outobox plugin and homepage from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Outobox extension and homepage from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Outobox manually by deleting filles and registry entries.
- STEP 5. Remove Outobox extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
OutoBox 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 "OutoBox", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling OutoBox, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.
Remove OutoBox from Internet 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 "OutoBox" and disable it.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the outobox ads, 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: "OutoBox", select it and click the trash can icon.
If the OutoBox extension is greyed-out and you cannot remove it ("This extension is managed and cannot be removed or disabled"), follow this removal guide - how to remove a managed Google Chrome extension?
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the outobox ads, 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: "OutoBox".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with outobox ads 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 outobox ads, 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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