Ads by Clean Browse

What is Clean Browse?

Created by Intriguing Apps, Clean Browse is a potentially unwanted application claiming to protect users' Internet browsing by preventing installation of malware or spyware on malicious websites. Although this functionality may seem useful and legitimate, be aware that this application is categorized as adware.

Clean Browse employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' permission.

Following successful infiltration on these browsers, Clean Browse generates numerous intrusive online advertisements including banner, interstitial, pop-up, sponsored link, targeted video, and download offers of other rogue browser plug-ins (which are also considered to be adware).

In addition, Clean Browse monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information, which may be personally identifiable. For example: operating systems, browser types, search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, unique identifier numbers, geographic locations, and other similar details.

This behavior may result in serious privacy issues or identity theft, and for this reason, you are strongly advised to uninstall Clean Browse from your Internet browsers.

At time of research, Clean Browse was distributed via fake downloads (Java updates, browser updates, etc.) and other potentially unwanted applications, which generate download offers of promoted browser extensions. For example: Web Security App, Wifi Protector, and other Savings and Coupon related ads.

There are many rogue browser add-ons similar to Clean Browse such as ProtectedBrowsing, Browser Guardian, Trust Media Viewer, etc. None of these plug-ins add any real value for the user - they merely generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.

Most users infect their computers with adware when downloading free software via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, softonic.com, download.com, amongst many others.

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, careless download and installation of free software frequently results in adware or malware infections.

To avoid installation of Clean Browse or other potentially unwanted applications, be attentive during the download of any freeware and click 'Decline' when installation of any additional programs is offered.

In addition, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications and allow to remove them from the installation list. Internet users who have already installed Clean Browse should read the following removal guide to remove this adware from their Internet browsers. 

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Quick menu:

• What is Clean Browse?
• STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Clean Browse ads from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Clean Browse advertisements from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Ads by Clean Browse from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Clean Browse extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Clean Browse ads 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 "Clean Browse" (or other potentially unwanted applications - at time of testing, Clean Browse ads were generated by various coupon ads-displaying adware), select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Clean Browse ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Clean Browse 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 "Clean Browse", select this entry and click "Remove". Note that Clean Browse ads can be caused by other adware. In the Manage Add-ons window, remove all suspicious browser add-ons.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the clean browse 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: "Clean Browse", select this entry and click the trash can icon. Note that Clean Browse ads can be caused by other adware. In the "extensions" window of Google Chrome, remove all suspicious browser extensions.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the clean browse 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 Clean Browse (or any other add-on) 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 "Clean Browse". Note that Clean Browse ads can be generated by other adware. In the "Add-ons Manager" window, remove all suspicious browser add-ons.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with clean browse 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 clean browse 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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