Ads by LookThisUp

What is LookThisUp?

Developed by Sea Bug LLC, LookThisUp is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by providing an advanced search feature. While this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that LookThisUp is considered to be adware.

These associations are made due to a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) employed by LookThisUp to install on browsers without users' consent.

Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, LookThisUp generates numerous intrusive online advertisements that include search, banner, in-text, and pop-up ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.

In addition, LookThisUp continually tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information such as operating system and browser types, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, unique identifier numbers, search queries entered into search engines (Bing, Yahoo, Google, etc.), website URLs visited, pages viewed, cookies, browsing history, and other details that are likely to be personally identifiable.

This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft. LookThisUp is similar to other rogue browser extensions that employ bundling as an installation method. WalletBee, Play now Radio, and PlumoWeb are just a few examples among many others.

Neither LookThisUp, nor any of these other browser plug-ins are useful to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads, enforcing random browser redirects, and sharing collected information with third parties. Therefore, Internet users are strongly advised to uninstall LookThisUp from their Internet browsers.

Research shows that most adware is distributed via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites such as softonic.com, download.com, soft32.com, etc.

Be aware that download managers are used by these websites as free service and traffic monetization tools since they offer installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% legitimate') browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless 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 additional programs offered.

Furthermore, all software downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them. If your computer is infected with LookThisUp, follow this removal guide to eliminate it from your Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in LookThisUp adware distribution:

LookThisUp adware  installer:

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Quick menu:

• What is LookThisUp?
• STEP 1. Uninstall LookThisUp application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove LookThisUp ads from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove LookThisUp adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by LookThisUp' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove LookThisUp extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

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

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

Remove LookThisUp adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, LookThisUp 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 lookthisup 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 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 lookthisup 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 any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with lookthisup 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 lookthisup 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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