PennyBee Ads
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is PennyBee?
Developed by Pay By Ads LTD, Penny Bee is a rogue browser extension claiming to save time and money by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, and displaying special deals/discounts available on shopping websites.
Although such functionality may seem legitimate, be aware that PennyBee is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application since it employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) to install on users' Internet browsers without permission.
After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, PennyBee generates intrusive online advertisements including banner, sponsored link, in-text, interstitial, and pop-up ads. It is likely that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, this potentially unwanted browser extension continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting diverse information, which may be personally identifiable. For example: search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, cookies, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geographic locations, and other similar details.
This behavior may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate PennyBee adware from your Internet browsers.
This rogue browser extension is similar to other potentially unwanted applications (such as RopeInSavings, Majestic Coupons, and Savings Champion) claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling certain functions. None of these add any real value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.
During research, PennyBee was distributed via fake downloads (Java updates, browser updates, etc.) and free software 'download managers' employed by freeware download websites.
Most users inadvertently infect their computers with adware during the download of free software on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, and many others.
Small download programs (download managers) are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering an installation of promoted browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, careless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
This situation can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the freeware download process and clicking 'Decline' when installation of any additional programs is offered.
Furthermore, Internet users who have installed downloaded software should choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.
If you have already installed PennyBee and observe "Ads by PennyBee" advertisements when surfing the Internet, follow this removal guide to eliminate PennyBee adware from your Internet browsers.
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Quick menu:
- What is PennyBee?
- STEP 1. Uninstall PennyBee application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove PennyBee ads from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Ads by PennyBee from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove PennyBee adware from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove PennyBee extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
PennyBee 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 "playnowradio", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes PennyBee ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove PennyBee ads 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 "PennyBee", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the pennybee 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 "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "PennyBee", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the pennybee 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.
If you are unable to remove PennyBee and it is greyed-out ("Installed by enterprise policy"), follow this removal guide - how to remove a Google Chrome extension that is "Installed by enterprise policy"?
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 "PennyBee".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with pennybee 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 pennybee 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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