Useful Program Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Useful Program?
Created by SuperWeb LLC, Useful Program is a dubious browser plug-in claiming to enhance the Internet browsing experience by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, and other similar features. While this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Useful Program 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 Useful Program to install on Internet browsers without users' permission.
After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Useful Program generates intrusive online advertisements such as banner, coupon, interstitial, search, transitional, pop-up, full-page, etc. These advertisements may lead to further high-risk adware or malware infections.
Additionally, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since various software and hardware information (that may be personally identifiable) is collected. Useful Program records information such as IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, unique identifier numbers, etc.
This behavior may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. SuperWeb LLC (the developers of this plug-in) have released hundreds of rogue applications identical to Useful Program. Box Green, Key Shift, Teal Kitty, and Match Pal are just some examples.
None of these applications are useful to the user. Useful Program and other applications created by this company are developed to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected data with third parties.
SuperWeb LLC releases them under different names to prevent detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus programs. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall Useful Program from your Internet browsers.
Research results shows that most adware (including Useful Program) is distributed via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, and soft32.com.
Download managers are employed as free services and traffic monetization tools, since they offer installation of additional programs or browser plug-ins together with the chosen software. Although these promoted applications are said to be '100% legitimate and virus-free', reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
To avoid this situation, pay close attention during download of free software and decline any offers to install additional applications.
Furthermore, when installing downloaded programs, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If your computer is infected with Useful Program, read the following removal guide and eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.
Useful Program adware installer setup:
Useful Program adware generating intrusive online ads ('Ads by useful program'):
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Quick menu:
- What is Useful Program?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Useful Program application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Useful Program adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Useful Program ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Useful Program' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Useful Program extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Useful Program 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 "Useful Program", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Useful Program ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Useful Program 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 "Useful Program", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by useful program, 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 "Useful Program", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by useful program, 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 "Useful Program".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by useful program 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 useful program, 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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