Unico Browser Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Unico Browser?
Created by ClaraLabs S.A., Unico Browser is a dubious application claiming to enable features of a regular Internet browser. On initial inspection, Unico Browser may seem to be a legitimate and useful application (it is based on a 'Chromium' project), however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) or adware.
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 Unico Browser to install on Internet browsers without users' consent. Following successful infiltration, Unico Browser tracks browsing activity and delivers intrusive online advertisements.
Advertisements generated by Unico Browser include (but are not limited to) banner, in-text, interstitial, and pop-up ads (most commonly marked as 'Ads by Unico Browser'). There is a high probability that clicking advertisements delivered by this rogue application will cause further computer infections.
Furthermore, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since Unico Browser collects various software and hardware information that may be personally identifiable.
For example: Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine users' geo-locations), time and date, operating system, browser type and data (website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.), and other similar details.
This information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and for these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall Unico Browser from your system.
Unico Browser is similar to other rogue applications that employ bundling as an installation method. Examples include bobrowser, taplika, dregol, and palikan among many others.
Neither Unico Browser, nor any of these other applications, provide any value to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and by sharing collected data with third parties.
Research shows that most adware (including Unico Browser) is generated via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, and many others.
Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services and traffic by offering installation of additional programs together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.
To avoid installation of Unico Browser, or other similar adware, follow each step of the free software download procedure and never accept installation of any additional programs offered.
Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Regular' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any concealed applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.
If you have installed Unico Browser, your Google Chrome shortcut has been deleted from the desktop, and you experience intrusive online ads while surfing the Internet, follow this removal guide to uninstall Unico Browser adware from your system.
Deceptive free software installers used in Unico Browser adware distribution:
Unico Browser application screenshot:
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Quick menu:
- What is Unico Browser?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Unico Browser application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Unico Browser adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Unico Browser ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Unico Browser' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Unico Browser adware from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Unico Browser 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 "Unico Browser", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Unico Browser ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Unico Browser adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Unico Browser 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 rogue browser plug-ins, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the unico browser ads, 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 browser extensions, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the unico browser ads, 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 browser add-ons.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with unico browser ads 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 unico browser ads, 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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