Phrase Finder Adware

What is Phrase Finder?

Developed by Delaware Corporation, Phrase Finder is a dubious browser add-on claiming to allow searches and translations of text directly from a web page. On initial inspection, this browser extension may seem legitimate and useful, however, Phrase Finder 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 Phrase Finder to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' permission.

After successful infiltration, Phrase Finder generates intrusive online advertisements and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.

Intrusive online advertisements generated by Phrase Finder include (but are not limited to) in-text, coupon, comparison shopping, in-text link, and other similar ads.

Additionally users' Internet browsing activity is continually tracked, since Phrase Finder records various software and hardware information such as computer type, operating system, IP addresses, browser type and data (URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, cookies, web beacons, etc.), and other details.

Although Phrase Finder is not technically considered to be a virus or malware, the generated ads may lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. In addition, the collected information is shared with third parties, which may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to eliminate Phrase Finder from your Internet browsers.

Phrase Finder is similar to other rogue applications that use bundling as an installation method. QuickRef, Click Caption, and Coupon are just some examples among many others. None are useful to the user - they are developed to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected data with third parties.

Today, most popular freeware download websites such as softonic.com, download.com, soft32.com, and many others, use small download programs (called 'installers', 'download managers', 'download clients', etc.) to monetize their free services and traffic by offering installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') applications or browser extensions together with the chosen free software.

Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections. Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have installed Phrase Finder, follow the removal guide provided to eliminate this adware immediately.

Deceptive free software installer used in Phrase Finder adware distribution:

Phrase Finder adware installer set-up:

Screenshot of Phrase Finder application:

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Quick menu:

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

Phrase Finder 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 "Phrase Finder", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Phrase Finder ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Phrase Finder adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Phrase Finder 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 ads by phrasefinder, 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 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 ads by phrasefinder, 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by phrasefinder 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 phrasefinder, 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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