SideTerms Ads

What is SideTerms?

Created by SuperWeb LLC, SideTerms is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to improve the Internet browsing experience by enabling features such as comparison shopping and coupons. This may seem legitimate and useful functionality, however, be aware that SideTerms is considered to be adware or a potentially unwanted program.

This rogue extension employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent.

After successful infiltration on Internet browsers, SideTerms generates numerous intrusive online advertisements including transitional, search, pop-up, interstitial, full-page, and banner ads. Clicking advertisements generated by SideTerms is likely to cause further high-risk adware or malware infections.

Additionally, this rogue application tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information that may be personally identifiable. For example: search queries entered into search engines, website URLs visited, pages viewed, unique identifier numbers, IP addresses (to determine geographic locations), and other similar details.

This information tracking may result in serious privacy issues or identity theft. The developers of this PUP have released over one hundred rogue extensions identical to SideTerms. Green Wall, Boxed Books, DigiHelp, Faster Light are just some examples among many others.

These applications (including SideTerms) are useless to the user - SuperWeb LLC releases identical browser extensions under different names with the intention of avoiding detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus suites.

The purpose of these applications is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected data with third parties. Internet users are strongly advised to uninstall SideTerms from their Internet browsers.

Research shows that most adware is distributed via small download programs (called 'download managers', 'installers', 'download clients', etc.) used by freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, and softonic.com.

Download programs are used to monetize these websites' free services and traffic by offering installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') browser plug-ins 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 clicking 'decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered. Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

If you have installed SideTerms, and you see 'Ads by SideTerms', 'Powered by SideTerms', and 'SideTerms Deals' advertisements while browsing the Internet, follow the removal instructions provided to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.

SideTerms adware installer set-up:

SideTerms adware generating intrusive online ads:

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

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

Optional method:

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

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the sideterms 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "SideTerms".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with sideterms 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 sideterms 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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