Ads by salus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Salus?
Salus (or Salus Internet Protector) is a potentially unwanted application that installs on computer systems via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, and many others.
The developers of this rogue application employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software), and therefore, Internet users often inadvertently install Salus together with downloaded free software.
This application claims to enhance user-browsing protection by preventing malware and spyware infections on malicious websites, and although the program appears useful and legitimate, be aware that Salus is categorized as adware.
Following successful infiltration on Internet browsers, this potentially unwanted program generates various intrusive online advertisements and monitors users' Internet browsing activity.
These intrusive online advertisements include banner, interstitial, coupon, sponsored link, targeted video ads, and offers to download other potentially unwanted programs also considered to be adware. Clicking these generated ads is likely to cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
In addition, this software tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information including operating systems and browser types, default search engines, search queries entered, URLs visited, web pages viewed, IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, geo-locations, and other similar details that may be personally identifiable.
Note that Salus is useless, since its purpose is to generate income by the display of intrusive online advertisements. The behavior of Salus may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall this adware from your computer.
At time of research, Salus was distributed via fake downloads (Java updates, browser updates, etc.) as well as other rogue browser extensions such as Mezaa, SpeedSave, Coupon Addon, and TinyWallet. Users often inadvertently install Salus via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites.
Download managers are used by these websites as free service monetization tools, since they offer installation of advertised browser add-ons together with the chosen free software. Thus, careless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
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.
If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.
If you have already installed Salus, and observe intrusive online advertisements ('Ads by salus') when surfing the Internet, follow this removal guide to eliminate it from your computer.
Deceptive free software installers used in Salus adware distribution (some download clients disclose it as 'Salus Net Protector'):
Salus adware generating intrusive online ads ('Ads by salus'):
Deal ads by Salus:
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Quick menu:
- What is Salus?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Salus application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Salus ads from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Salus advertisements from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Ads by Salus from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Salus extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Salus 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 "Salus", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Salus ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Salus adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Salus installed no browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gears" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the salus internet protector, 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 any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the salus internet protector, 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 any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with salus internet protector 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 salus internet protector, 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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