Ads by BetterDeals
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is BetterDeals?
BetterDeals is a dubious browser extension created by Virtue Interactive Ltd. This plug-in claims to display special deals/discounts available on shopping websites and to enable various features such as coupons or comparison shopping, all of which are stated to save time and money.
This functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, BetterDeals is considered to be adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The developers of this rogue application employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to install BetterDeals on Internet browsers without users' consent.
Bundling allows developers to distribute their applications together with other software, and for this reason, most users inadvertently install BetterDeals with their chosen free software.
After successful infiltration on browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) this PUP tracks users' Internet browsing activity and generates intrusive online advertisements.
Information collected includes IP addresses, operating system type, unique identifier numbers, and browsing data (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and default search engine). This information tracking may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft.
Furthermore, generated advertisements (such as banners, pop–ups, pop-unders, coupons, price comparison, in-line text, and display ads) can lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall BetterDeals from your system.
BetterDeals is similar to other applications that employ bundling as an installation method and offer identical features. Examples include LolliScan, DownSave, FindBestDeal, and SaveLots among hundreds of others.
None of these applications are useful to the user - BetterDeals and other adware-type extensions are developed to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements and sharing collected data with third parties.
Close examination of BetterDeals reveals that it is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download managers' on freeware download websites such as softonic.com, soft32.com, and download.com.
Download managers are employed to monetize these websites' traffic and free services by offering installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Despite these claims, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
To prevent installation of BetterDeals, or other similar PUPs, be attentive during download of free software and decline any additional applications offered.
Furthermore, downloaded applications should be installed using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to uncheck them. If you have installed BetterDeals, follow the guide below to eliminate this adware from your system immediately.
Deceptive free software installer used in BetterDeals adware distribution:
Intrusive advertisements generated by BetterDeals adware:
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Quick menu:
- What is BetterDeals?
- STEP 1. Uninstall BetterDeals application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove BetterDeals adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove BetterDeals ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by BetterDeals' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove BetterDeals extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
BetterDeals 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 "BetterDeals", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes BetterDeals ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove BetterDeals adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, BetterDeals 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 betterdeals 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 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 betterdeals 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with betterdeals 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 betterdeals 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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