Ads by SafeGuard

What is SafeGuard?

Created by Alerts LLC, the SafeGuard application claims to provide the latest weather forecasts. According to the developers, this app is legitimate, however, it 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 apps together with the regular software) employed to distribute SafeGuard. Users often install this adware inadvertently together with free software from freeware download websites.

After system infiltration, users of Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox experience intrusive online advertisements (search, pop-up/under, etc.) that often redirect users to bogus websites and may even cause further high-risk adware or malware infections.

After successful installation, SafeGuard tracks user-information that may include personally identifiable details including URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, cookies, IP addresses (to users' determine geographic locations), and so on. This information can lead to privacy issues.

SafeGuard is just one of many adware-type apps with similar behavior. Desktop Temperature Monitor, Current Weather Alert, WeatherBug are examples of applications offering useful features, however, they merely generate intrusive online ads and share collected data with third parties to generate revenue. You are strongly advised to eliminate SafeGuard from your system.

SafeGuard, and other adware applications, are mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, and many others. Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services and traffic by offering installation of other applications together with the chosen software.

These advertised applications are described as '100% legitimate and virus-free', however, they are mostly categorized as adware or malware. Infiltration can be avoided by inspecting each step when downloading free software and never accepting installation of any other apps offered.

Furthermore, install all downloaded applications using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have installed SafeGuard, follow this guide to eliminate adware from your system.

Deceptive free software installers used in SafeGuard ('SafeGurd Alerts') adware distribution:

Screenshot of the SafeGuard application:

Intrusive online advertisements (pop-up ads) generated by SafeGuard adware ('Ad by SafeGurd'):

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove SafeGuard adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, SafeGuard 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 safeguard 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 safeguard 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 safeguard 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 safeguard 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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