Ads by Security Alert

What is Security Alert?

Developed by Mathematical Applications, Security Alert is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to inform users of the latest Internet security-related world events. Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Security Alert is categorized as adware.

These associations are made due to a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' employed by Security Alert developers to install this adware on Internet browsers.

Bundling allows developers to stealthily install their applications together with other software, and therefore, most users inadvertently install Security Alert together with software downloaded from freeware download websites.

Once infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome is successful, Security Alert delivers intrusive online advertisements and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.

Advertisements generated by Security Alert include (but are not limited to) in-text, interstitial, pop-up/under, and banner ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to further computer infections.

Furthermore, this PUP continually tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information, which may be personally identifiable.

For example: operating system and browser types, website URLs visited, search queries entered, pages viewed, unique identifier numbers, IP addresses (to determine geo-locations) and other similar data.

This information tracking may result in serious privacy issues or identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Security Alert from your Internet browsers.

There are many rogue applications similar to Security Alert. None of these (including Security Alert itself) provide any real value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads. Some examples are Breaking News Alert, FlexibleShopper, and TicTaCoupon among many others.

Research shows that this adware is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, download.com, and softonic.com.

Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of advertised (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.

This situation can be prevented by closely observing each step of the free software download procedure and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered.

In addition, if you have downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Regular' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.

If you have installed Security Alert, and you observe intrusive online ads while surfing the Internet, read this removal guide and eliminate Security Alert adware from your Internet browsers.

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Quick menu:

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

Security Alert 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 "Security Alert", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Security Alert 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 any recently-installed suspicious plug-ins, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the security alert ads, 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 plug-ins, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the security alert ads, 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with security alert ads 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 security alert ads, 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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