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Browse Safe Adware

Also Known As: Ads by Browse Safe
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Browse Safe?

Created by Intriguing App, Browse Safe is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to protect user-browsing by preventing malware and spyware infections.

Although this functionality may seem useful and legitimate, be aware that Browse Safe is considered to be adware since it employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to stealthily install on Internet browsers without users' consent.

Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Browse Safe generates numerous intrusive online advertisements including banner, coupon, interstitial, targeted video, pop-up ads, and download offers of other potentially unwanted programs also considered to be adware.

Clicking these advertisements is likely to cause high-risk adware or malware infections.

Browse Safe adware

Browse Safe also tracks users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information that may be personally identifiable. For example: search terms entered into search engines, URLs visited, pages viewed, IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, geo-locations, and other similar details.

Be aware that Browse Safe is similar to other potentially unwanted applications that use bundling as an installation method. Examples include Protect Surf, ProtectedBrowsing, and Browser Guard.

These browser add-ons are useless to the user - their purpose is to generate income by the display of intrusive online advertisements. The behavior of these PUPs may result in adware or malware infections.

Browse Safe is distributed in various ways, including fake downloads (Java updates, browser updates, etc.) and via other rogue browser extensions such as Safe Browse, Coupon Server, and savings and coupons related adware.

It is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites (such as download.com, soft32.com, and softonic.com). Most of these websites use download clients to monetize their free services by offering installation of promoted 'legitimate' browser extensions together with the chosen 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 free software download process and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered.

In addition, if you are installing downloaded software, choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.

If you have already installed Browse Safe, and observe intrusive online advertisements while browsing the Internet, read the following removal guide to uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.

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Quick menu:

Browse Safe adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

Browse Safe adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Browse Safe" (or other potentially unwanted applications - at time of testing, Browse Safe 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 Browse Safe ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Browse Safe adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing Browse Safe ads from Internet Explorer step 1

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Browse Safe", select this entry and click "Remove". Note that Browse Safe ads can be caused by other adware. In the Manage Add-ons window, remove all suspicious browser add-ons.

Removing Browse Safe ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by browse safe, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing Browse Safe ads from Google Chrome step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "Browse Safe", select this entry and click the trash can icon. Note that Browse Safe ads can be caused by other adware. In the "extensions" window of Google Chrome, remove all suspicious browser extensions.

Removing Browse Safe ads from Google Chrome step 2

If you are unable to remove Browse Safe (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 ads by browse safe, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing Browse Safe ads from Mozilla Firefox step 1

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove "Browse Safe". Note that Browse Safe ads can be generated by other adware. In the "Add-ons Manager" window, remove all suspicious browser add-ons.

Removing Browse Safe ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by browse safe removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

removing adware from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

removing adware from safari step 2 - removing extensions

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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.

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by browse safe, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of adware while downloading free software sampleCommonly, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on ads by browse safe or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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