Ads by Less2Pay
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Less2Pay?
The Less2Pay rogue browser plug-in claims to save time and money by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, displaying special deals/discounts, and providing other features. On initial inspection, this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, be aware that Less2Pay is considered to be adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
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 the developers of Less2Pay to install Internet browsers without users' permission.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Less2Pay tracks users' Internet browsing activity and delivers intrusive online advertisements.
Advertisements generated by Less2Pay include (but are not limited to) in-text, coupon, and banner ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, users' Internet browsing is continually monitored, since this potentially unwanted program collects various software and hardware information including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, unique identifier numbers, search queries entered, and other similar data, which may be personally identifiable.
This behavior could result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.
Less2Pay is similar to other PUPs, which use bundling as an installation method. ApptoU, BrowserAppProPlus, Popcornew, and CinemaPlusPro are just some examples among many others. None of these provide any real value for the user - their purpose is to generate income by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected information with third parties.
Internet users should be aware that most adware is distributed via small download programs (called 'download managers', 'installers', 'download clients', etc.) on freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, and many others.
Download programs are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of advertised (according to the developers, '100% legitimate') browser add-ons together with the chosen software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often leads to high-risk adware or malware infections.
To prevent installation of Less2Pay, or other similar adware, be attentive when downloading free software and click 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.
Furthermore, during installation of downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them. If your computer is infected with Less2Pay, read the removal guide provided and uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.
Intrusive online advertisements generated by Less2Pay adware ('Ad by less2pay' and 'Ad by SharkManCoupon'):
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Quick menu:
- What is Less2Pay?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Less2Pay application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Less2Pay ads from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Less2Pay advertisements from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Less2Pay' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Less2Pay extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Less2Pay 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 "less2pay", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Less2Pay ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Less2Pay 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 "Less2Pay", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the less2pay 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: "SharkManCoupon", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the less2pay 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 "dealster".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with less2pay 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 less2pay 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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