Ads by Shopping Assistant
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Shopping Assistant?
Developed by a company called SuperWeb LLC, Shopping Assistant is a rogue browser extension claiming to improve users' Internet browsing experience by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, and other functions.
Although this functionality may seem legitimate, be aware that Shopping Assistant 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 browsers without users' permission.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Shopping Assistant generates numerous intrusive online advertisements including banner, search, text-link, interstitial, transitional, and full-page ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, this rogue browser add-on continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information, which may be personally identifiable. For example: IP addresses, search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, unique identifier numbers, and other similar details.
This behavior may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and for this reason, you are strongly advised to eliminate Shopping Assistant from your Internet browsers.
The developers of this potentially unwanted application (SuperWeb LLC) have released over one hundred rogue browser add-ons identical to Shopping Assistant (for example, PursuePoint, EnhanceEmpire, BrowsePro, DizzyDing, etc.) None of these add any real value for the user.
SuperWeb LLC releases identical browser extensions under different names to avoid detection by legitimate anti-virus and anti-spyware suites. The purpose of these add-ons is to generate income by the display of intrusive online advertisements.
Most Internet users inadvertently install adware such as Shopping Assistant during the download of free software via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites (such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, etc.)
Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of promoted 'virus-free' browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
This situation can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the free software download process and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered. If you are installing downloaded software, select 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 Shopping Assistant and observe "Ads by Shopping Assistant", "Powered by Shopping Assistant", and "Shopping Assistant Deals" advertisements, follow this removal guide to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.
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Quick menu:
- What is Shopping Assistant?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Shopping Assistant application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Shopping Assistant plug-in from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Shopping Assistant add-on from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Shopping Assistant extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Shopping Assistant extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Shopping Assistant 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 "Shopping Assistant", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Shopping Assistant ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Shopping Assistant 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 "Shopping Assistant", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shopping assistant 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 Assistant", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shopping assistant 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 "Shopping Assistant".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with shopping assistant 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 assistant 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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