PodoWeb Ads

What is PodoWeb?

Developed by SuperWeb LLC, PodoWeb is a rogue browser add-on claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling comparison shopping, coupons, and other functions. The add-on employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent.

Bundling allows developers to stealthily distribute their applications together with other software - for this reason, most users inadvertently install PodoWeb together with software downloaded from freeware download websites.

Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that PodoWeb is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP). Following stealth installation, PodoWeb tracks users Internet browsing activity and generates intrusive online advertisements.

These intrusive advertisements include banner, search, interstitial, transitional, text-link, and full-page ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. In addition, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since this PUP records various information that is likely to be personally identifiable.

For example: Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, search queries entered, website URLs visited, pages viewed, unique identifier numbers, and other similar details. This company has released several hundred potentially unwanted programs identical to PodoWeb including BrowsePro, allgenius, Webrunn, etc.

Neither PodoWeb, nor any of these other browser extensions, are useful to the user. SuperWeb LLC intentionally releases identical browser add-ons under different names to prevent detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus programs. The purpose of these PUPs is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads.

The behavior of PodoWeb may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.

PodoWeb is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, and many others.

Download clients are used by these websites as free service monetization tools, since they offer installation of promoted '100% virus-free' browser plug-ins 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 free software download process and clicking 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.

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

Internet users who have already infected their computers with PodoWeb adware, and observe "Powered by PodoWeb", "Ads by PodoWeb", and "PodoWeb Deals" advertisements, should follow this removal guide to uninstall this add-on from their Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in PodoWeb adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is PodoWeb?
• STEP 1. Uninstall PodoWeb application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove PodoWeb plug-in from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove PodoWeb add-on from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove PodoWeb extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove PodoWeb extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

PodoWeb 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 "PodoWeb", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove PodoWeb adware from Internet browsers:

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

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "PodoWeb", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the podoweb 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: "PodoWeb", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the podoweb 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 "PodoWeb".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with podoweb 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 podoweb 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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