Web Shield Adware

What is Web Shield?

Irrational Number Applications (the developers of Web Shield) claim that their product allows users to observe who is tracking their personal information and to improve Internet browsing performance by disabling certain browser functions.

On initial inspection, some users may find this functionality legitimate and useful, however, be aware that Web Shield is classed as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

The main reason for these negative associations is a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software) employed to distribute the Web Shield extension.

After infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox without users' consent, Web Shield generates intrusive online advertisements including text and in-text ads, banners, pop-ups, pop-unders, interstitial, and other ad types.

Clicked advertisements often redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content, thereby exposing your computer to risk of infection.

Another important downside of this application is that it tracks various Internet browsing-related information that may be personally identifiable. Types of recorded information include geographic location, IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, website URLs visited, pages viewed (and activity on those pages), browsing history, and so on.

Tracking of personally identifiable information can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Web Shield is similar to other applications claiming to enable various useful features.

For example, Coupon Alert, Shopzy, iShopper, CorAdviser, and WebSmart App also claim to save time and money, however, these adware-type applications (including Web Shield) are developed solely to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected data with third parties. You are strongly advised to eliminate Web Shield from your Internet browsers immediately.

Web Shield is often distributed via small programs called 'download managers' (also called 'download clients', 'installers', etc.) used by freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, and softonic.com.

Although download managers supposedly ease the download process, they simply offer installation of additional programs to monetize the freeware download websites' traffic and free services. Additional applications presented are often described as 'legitimate and virus-free', however, they are likely to be adware or malware.

Such computer infections can be avoided by closely analysing each step of the free software download procedure to ensure that no additional applications are included. Furthermore, all programs downloaded from the Internet should be installed 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 Web Shield, the following instructions will guide you through the removal of this bogus app from your system.

Deceptive free software installers used in Web Shield adware distribution:

Web Shield adware generating intrusive online ads ('Web Shield Ads'):

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Quick menu:

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

Web Shield 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 "Web Shield", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Web Shield adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Web Shield 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 ads by web shield, 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 ads by web shield, 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 ads by web shield 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 web shield, 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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