Ads by SquirrelWeb
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is SquirrelWeb?
Created by SuperWeb LLC, SquirrelWeb is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to improve users' Internet browsing experience by enabling comparison shopping, coupons, and other functions. While this browser plug-in may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that SquirrelWeb is categorized as adware.
The developers of this PUP employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to install SquirrelWeb on Internet browsers without users' permission.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, SquirrelWeb generates numerous intrusive online advertisements such as banner, search, in-text, transitional, interstitial, and full-page ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, this potentially unwanted program continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information including IP addresses (to determine users' geo-locations), unique identifier numbers, search queries entered into search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.), website URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar details that are likely to be personally identifiable.
SuperWeb LLC has released over two hundred rogue browser add-ons identical to SquirrelWeb. Rad Rater, KingThink, PlumoWeb, and SunriseBrowse are just a few examples among many others. Neither SquirrelWeb, nor any of these other rogue browser extensions provide any real value for the user.
This company intentionally releases identical browser plug-ins under different names to avoid detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.
The purpose of these plug-ins is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements. In addition, the behavior of these PUPs may result in serious privacy issues or identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall SquirrelWeb from your Internet browsers.
Close examination of SquirrelWeb reveals that it is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com soft32.com, and many others.
Be aware that download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services and traffic by offering installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') browser add-ons together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
To avoid installation of SquirrelWeb, or other similar adware, pay close attention during the download of free software and never accept installation of any additional programs offered. Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.
If you have already installed SquirrelWeb, and observe 'Ads by SquirrelWeb', 'SquirrelWeb Deals', and 'Powered by SquirrelWeb' advertisements when surfing the Internet, read the removal instructions provided and eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers'.
Deceptive free software installer used in SquirrelWeb adware distribution:
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Quick menu:
- What is SquirrelWeb?
- STEP 1. Uninstall SquirrelWeb application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove SquirrelWeb plug-in from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove SquirrelWeb add-on from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove SquirrelWeb extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove SquirrelWeb extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
SquirrelWeb 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 "SquirrelWeb", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes SquirrelWeb ads) scan your computer for any left unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove SquirrelWeb 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 "SquirrelWeb", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the squirrelweb 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: "SquirrelWeb", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the squirrelweb 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 "SquirrelWeb".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with squirrelweb 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 squirrelweb 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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