Ads by Safe Web

What is Safe Web?

Developed by Acute Angle Solutions Ltd, Safe Web is a rogue browser extension claiming to allow users to monitor any parties who may be tracking their Internet browsing activity. Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Safe Web is categorized as 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 Safe Web employs to install on Internet browsers without users' permission.

After successful infiltration on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome), Safe Web generates numerous intrusive online advertisements that include (but are not limited to) banner, pop-up, pop-under, interstitial, and text ads. It is highly probable that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.

In addition, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since this rogue application collects various software and hardware information that may be personally identifiable.

For example: operating system types, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, device identifiers, browser type and data such as browsing history, cookies, URLs visited, search queries entered into search engines, pages viewed, geo-locations, and other similar details.

There is a high probability that information tracking such as this may lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. There are many applications similar to Safe Web. Email Tracker, Storm Alert, QuickLink, and Health Alert are just some examples among many others.

These applications are useless to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected data with third parties. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Safe Web from your Internet browsers.

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

Download programs are used by these websites as free services and traffic monetization tools, since they offer installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% 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 such as Safe Web.

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

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

Deceptive software installer used in Safe Web adware distribution:

Official Safe Web adware installer setup:

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Quick menu:

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

Safe Web 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 "Safe Web", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Safe Web adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Safe Web did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your 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 browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the safe web 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: all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the safe web 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with safe web 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 safe web 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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