BrowserProtector Ads

What is BrowserProtector?

Developed by a company called 'Intriguing Apps', BrowserProtector is a rogue browser extension claiming to protect user-browsing by preventing spyware and malware infections from malicious websites.

Although this browser add-on may appear legitimate and useful, be aware that it is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP) 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, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Browser Protector generates intrusive online advertisements and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.

These intrusive advertisements include coupon, banner, interstitial, pop-up, targeted video, and download offers of other rogue browser plug-ins also considered to be adware. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, this potentially unwanted application continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity, since it records software and hardware information including IP addresses, geo-locations, unique identifier numbers, search queries entered into search engines (Bing, Google, etc), website URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar details that may be personally identifiable.

BrowserProtector is similar to other potentially unwanted browser add-ons. Browser Guard, Browser Secure, Protect Surf, and Surf Safely are just a few examples among many others. None of these add any real value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.

The behavior of these PUPs may result in serious privacy issues or identity theft, and for this reason, you are strongly advised to eliminate BrowserProtection adware from your Internet browsers.

At time of research, BrowserProtector was distributed in several ways. For example: fake downloads (Java updates, browser updates, etc.) and via other potentially unwanted programs such as Browser Guardian, Safe Browse, and coupons and savings related adware.

BrowserProtector is mostly distributed during download of free software via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites including download.com, soft32.com, and softonic.com Download managers are used by these websites as free service monetization tools, since they offer installation of promoted (according to Intriguing Apps, '100% virus-free') browser extensions together with the chosen free software.

Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections. Installation of BrowserProtector, or other potentially unwanted applications, can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the free software download process and clicking 'Decline' when installation of any additional programs is offered.

If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them. If you have already installed BrowserProtector adware, follow this removal guide to eliminate it from your Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in BrowserProtector adware distribution:

Browser Protector adware generating intrusive online ads ('Ad by BrowserProtector'):

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Quick menu:

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

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

Remove BrowserProtector 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 "BrowserProtector", select this entry and click "Remove". Note that BrowserProtector 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 browser protector 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: "BrowserProtector", select this entry and click the trash can icon. Note that BrowserProtector 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 BrowserProtector (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 browser protector 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 "BrowserProtector". Note that BrowserProtector 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 browser protector 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 browser protector 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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