Gerbilio Ads
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Gerbillio?
Developed by SuperWeb LLC, Gerbillio is a potentially unwanted browser extension claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, and adding other useful functionality. Although Gerbillio may seem a legitimate browser extension, it is considered to be a potentially unwanted application or adware.
Gerbillio employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications along with the chosen software) to install on browsers without users' permission.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Gerbillio generates various intrusive online advertisements including interstitial, transitional, banner, text-link, search, and full page ads.
Furthermore, users' Internet browsing activity is continually tracked, since this rogue browser add-on records diverse software and hardware information such as search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, and other similar information.
This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or malware infections. At time of research, SuperWeb LLC has released over one hundred rogue browser plug-ins identical to Gerbillio including, for example, WebSpades, ConstaSurf, and StormVade.
This company releases identical browser extensions under different names to avoid the detection by legitimate anti-virus and anti-spyware software. None of these provide any real value for the user. The purpose of these add-ons is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.
Most potentially unwanted applications are distributed via small programs called 'download clients' within freeware download websites including download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, and many others. These websites use download clients to monetize their free services by offering installation of promoted browser extensions together with the chosen free software.
Thus, careless download and installation of freeware often leads to adware or malware infections. This can be prevented by closely observing each step during the download of free software and never accepting installation of any additional applications offered.
If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Regular' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for stealth installation, and you will be able to decline them.
Users who have already installed Gerbillio and observe "Ads by Gerbillio", "Gerbillio Deals", and "Powered by Gerbillio" advertisements when browsing the Internet, should follow this removal guide to eliminate Gerbillio adware from their Internet browsers.
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Quick menu:
- What is gerbilio?
- STEP 1. Uninstall gerbilio application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove gerbilio add-on from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove gerbilio plugin from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove gerbilio extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove gerbilio extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Gerbillio 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 "Gerbillio", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Gerbillio ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove gerbillio 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 "Gerbillio", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the gerbillio 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: "Gerbillio", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the gerbillio 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 the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove "Gerbillio".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with gerbillio 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 gerbillio 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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