Disasteroids Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Disasteroids?
Developed by Acute Angle Solutions, Disasteroids is a rogue browser extension claiming to enable users to play an addictive game called 'Asteroids'.
While this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Disasteroids 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 Internet browsers without users' consent.
Therefore, users often infect their computers with Disasteroids during download of free software. Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Disasteroids generates various intrusive online advertisement that include banner, pop-up/under, interstitial, and in-text ads. Clicking these advertisements is likely to cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, Disasteroids continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information.
For example: Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, unique identifier numbers, operating system and browser types, search queries entered, website URLs visited, pages viewed, system language settings, geo-locations, and other similar details that may be personally identifiable.
There are many potentially unwanted programs similar to Disasteroids such as Jewel Quest, Jumpy Bird, Pac-Man, Blasteroids, etc. 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 browser extensions may lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate Disasteroids adware from your computers.
Commonly, users infect their computers with Disasteroids during download of free software via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites including soft32.com, download.com, softonic.com, and many others.
Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of promoted 'legitimate' browser add-ons together with the chosen free software. Thus, careless download and installation of freeware risks computer infection with adware or malware.
Installation of Disasteroids, or other potentially unwanted applications, can be prevented by closely observing each step of the free software download process and clicking 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.
Furthermore, all software downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.
If you have already infected your computer with Disasteroids, and observe intrusive online advertisements while surfing the Internet, read the following removal guide to eliminate this extension from your Internet browsers.
Deceptive free software installer used in Disasteroids adware distribution:
Disasteroids installation setup:
Disasteroids adware generating intrusive in-text ads ('Disasteroids Ads'):
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Quick menu:
- What is Disasteroids?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Disasteroids application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Disasteroids ads from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Disasteroids advertisements from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Ads by Disasteroids from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Disasteroids extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Disasteroids 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 "Disasteroids", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Disasteroids ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Disasteroids 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 "Disasteroids", select this entry and click "Remove". Note that Disasteroids 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 ads by disasteroids, 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: "Disasteroids", select this entry and click the trash can icon. Note that Disasteroids 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 ads by disasteroids, 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 "Disasteroids". Note that Disasteroids 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 ads by disasteroids 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 ads by disasteroids, 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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