Cheapster Ads

What is Cheapster?

Created by Koyote-Lab Inc, Cheapster is a rogue browser extension claiming to save time and money by displaying special deals, discounts, enabling coupons, and comparison shopping. On initial inspection, this may seem legitimate and useful functionality, however, be aware that Cheapster 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 programs together with the chosen software) employed by Cheapster to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' permission.

Following successful infiltration, Cheapster delivers intrusive online ads such as banner, in-text, interstitial, pop-up/under, and coupon ads among others. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, Cheapster continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information including IP addresses, browser types, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, unique identifier numbers, and other details that may be personally identifiable.

This information tracking may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft. Cheapster is similar to other rogue applications that employ bundling as an installation method. For example, Popcornew, Sky Saver, and Nextcoup.

None of these applications (including Cheapster) are useful to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by sharing collected data with third parties and delivering intrusive online ads. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall Cheapster adware from your Internet browsers.

Close examination of Cheapster reveals that it is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, and many others.

Download clients are used by these websites as free services monetization tools, since they offer installation of advertised (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') browser add-ons together with the chosen free software. Thus, careless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.

To prevent installation of Cheapster, or other similar adware, pay close attention when downloading free software and never accept installation of any additional programs offered.

Furthermore, software downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.

If you have installed Cheapster, and you observe intrusive online ads when surfing the Internet, read the following removal guide and uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installer used in Cheapster adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

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

Cheapster 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 "Cheapster for Firefox", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Cheapster 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 "Cheapster", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by cheapster, 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 "Extensions". Locate: "Cheapster", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by cheapster, 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 "Cheapster".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by cheapster 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 cheapster, 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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