Ads by berrybesearch
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is berrybesearch?
Created by SuperWeb LLC, berrybesearch is a rogue browser extension claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling comparison shopping, coupons, and other functions.
This add-on employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with other software) to install on Internet browsers without users' permission. Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that berrybesearch is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) or adware.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, berrybesearch generates various intrusive online advertisements including text-link, interstitial, banner, search, transitional, and full-page ads. It is highly probable that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since berrybesearch records various software and hardware information such as IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, search queries entered into search engines (Google, Bing, etc.), website URLs visited, pages viewed, and other details that may be personally identifiable.
This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. The developers of this PUP (SuperWeb LLC) have released several hundred rogue browser add-ons identical to berrybesearch (for example, HypeNet, UpperFind, and Donkick).
This company releases identical browser plug-ins under different names with the intention of avoiding detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.
Neither berrybesearch, nor any of these other potentially unwanted programs, are useful to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads. Therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate berrybesearch from your Internet browsers.
Close examination of berrybesearch reveals that this PUP is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, etc.
Download managers are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of promoted '100% virus-free' browser plug-ins together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware risks computer infection with adware or malware.
Installation of berrybesearch, or other similar adware, can be prevented by paying close attention during the download of free software and clicking 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.
Furthermore, 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 opt-out.
If your system is infected with berrybesearch, and you observe 'Powered by berrybesearch', 'berrybesearch Deals', and 'Ads by berrybesearch' advertisements when browsing the Internet, read the following removal guide to uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.
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Quick menu:
- What is berrybesearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall berrybesearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove berrybesearch plug-in from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove berrybesearch add-on from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove berrybesearch extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove berrybesearch extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Berrybesearch 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 "Berrybesearch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes berrybesearch ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove berrybesearch 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 "berrybesearch", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the berrybesearch 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: "berrybesearch", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the berrybesearch 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 on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove "berrybesearch".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with berrybesearch 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 berrybesearch 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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