Ads by Infonaut

What is Infonaut?

Infonaut is a rogue application claiming to enhance the Internet browsing experience by allowing users to search the Internet directly from any website. Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, Infonaut 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) to install on Internet browsers without users' consent.

After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Infonaut generates intrusive online ads (including in-text, transitional, coupon, comparison shopping, targeted ads, etc.) that may lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, this rogue browser add-on records various software and hardware information that may be personally identifiable.

For example: IP addresses, operating system, browser type and data (web beacons, cookies, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, default search engine, browsing history,  etc.), unique identifier numbers, time zone, geo-location, and other details.

This information tracking may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. There are many applications similar to Infonaut including Intelliterm, TheAnswerFinder, Term Tutor, WordProser, and Search Snacks.

None of these (including Infonaut) provide any significant value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements (commonly labelled 'Ads by Infonaut') and sharing collected data with third parties.

Close examination of Infonaut reveals that it is mostly distributed via small 'download programs' (also called 'installers', 'download managers', 'download clients', etc.) employed by freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, and many others.

Download programs are used by these websites as free services and traffic monetization tools, since they offer installation of additional (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') applications or browser plug-ins together with the chosen free software.

Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections. This situation can be prevented by closely observing each step of the free software download procedure and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered.

Furthermore, all software downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.

If you have installed Infonaut, and you observe intrusive online advertisements while surfing the Internet, follow the removal guide below to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in Infonaut adware distribution:

Infonaut adware installer setup:

Infonaut adware generating intrusive online ads ('Ads by Infonaut'):

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Quick menu:

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

Infonaut 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 "Infonaut 1.10.0.13", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Infonaut adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Infonaut 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 infonaut 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 infonaut 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 infonaut 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 infonaut 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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