SourceApp Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is SourceApp?
Created by SuperWeb LLC, SourceApp is a rogue browser add-on claiming to improve the Internet browsing experience by enabling comparison shopping, coupons, and other features. Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that SourceApp is considered to be adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
This rogue application employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software) to install on Internet browsers without users' permission.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, SourceApp generates intrusive online advertisements and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.
Advertisements generated by SourceApp include (but are not limited to) search, interstitial, transitional, pop-up, search, and full-page ads. It is highly probable that clicking ads delivered by this PUP will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, SourceApp continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various information, which is likely to be personally identifiable.
For example: Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (used to determine geographic locations), web browser data (URLs visited, search queries entered into search engines, pages viewed), unique identifier numbers, and other similar details. This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft. SuperWeb LLC has released several hundred PUPs identical to SourceApp.
Examples include BrowseStudio, Krab Web, Eye Perform, and Middle Pages among many others. These browser plug-ins (including SourceApp) are useless to the user - the developers of this rogue plug-in release identical browser extensions under different names with the intention of avoiding detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.
The purpose of these applications is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads, enforcing unwanted browser redirects, and sharing collected data with third parties. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.
Close examination of SourceApp 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 managers are used by these websites as free service and monetization tools, since they offer installation of advertised (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') browser extensions together with the chosen software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often leads to high-risk adware or malware infections.
To avoid installation of SourceApp, or other similar PUPs, be attentive when downloading free software and click 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.
If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.
If you have installed SourceApp, and you experience 'Powered by SourceApp', 'Ads by SourceApp', and 'SourceApp Deals' when browsing the Internet, follow the removal instructions provided to uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.
Deceptive free software installers used in SourceApp adware distribution:
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Quick menu:
- What is SourceApp?
- STEP 1. Uninstall SourceApp application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove SourceApp plug-in from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove SourceApp add-on from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove SourceApp extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove SourceApp redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
SourceApp 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 "SourceApp", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes SourceApp ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove SourceApp 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 "SourceApp", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by sourceapp, 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: "SourceApp", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by sourceapp, 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 "SourceApp".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by sourceapp 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 ads by sourceapp, 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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