Surf Safely Ads

What is Surf Safely?

Developed by Intriguing Apps, Surf Safely is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to protect user-browsing by blocking malware and spyware infections. Although this rogue browser add-on may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Surf Safely is considered to be adware.

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

Following successful infiltration, Surf Safely generates various intrusive online advertisements including interstitial, banner, targeted video, pop-up ads, and offers to download other PUPs considered to be adware. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.

Surf Safely continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information including search queries entered into search engines (Bing, Google, etc.), URLs visited, pages viewed, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to track geographic locations), unique identifier numbers, and other similar details that may be be personally identifiable.

Surf Safely is similar to other rogue browser add-ons claiming to improve users' Internet browsing experience by enabling certain functions. Safe Browse, Browse Secure, Protect Surf, and Web Safeguard are just a few examples amongst many others.

None of these, including Surf Safely, add any real value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements. The behavior of these rogue browser add-ons may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Surf Safely from your Internet browsers.

At time of research, Surf Safely was distributed via fake downloads (Java updates, browser updates, etc.) and other rogue browser plug-ins such as Coupon Server, Browser Guardian, Solid Savings, and other savings and coupon related adware.

It was also distributed via small download programs called 'download clients' used by freeware download websites including download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, etc.

Download clients are employed to monetize these websites' free services, since they offer installation of advertised (according to Intriguing Apps, '100% virus-free') browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, careless download and installation of freeware risks computer infection with adware or malware.

This situation can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the freeware download process and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered.

If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them. Internet users who have already installed Surf Safely should read the following removal guide to eliminate this adware from their Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in Surf Safely adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

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

Surf Safely 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 "Surf Safely" (or other potentially unwanted applications - at time of testing, Surf Safely 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 Surf Safely ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Surf Safely adware 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 "Surf Safely", select this entry and click "Remove". Note that Surf Safely 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 surfsafely 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: "Surf Safely", select this entry and click the trash can icon. Note that Surf Safely ads can be caused by other adware. In the "extensions" window of Google Chrome, remove all suspicious browser extensions.

If you are unable to remove Surf Safely (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"?

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the surfsafely 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.

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 "Surf Safely". Note that Surf Safely 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 surfsafely 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 surfsafely 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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