Ads by Desktop-play

What is Desktop-play?

Desktop-play is a rogue browser plug-in claiming to enable users to find, download, and play various games directly from the desktop. Although some users might find this functionality legitimate and useful, Desktop-play is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

The developers of this dubious browser add-on employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software.

Once Desktop-play installs on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent, this plug-in generates intrusive online advertisements and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.

Banner, pop-up, and in-text are just some examples of advertisements generated by this adware, some of which often redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content, thereby exposing computers to risk of infection.

Furthermore, information collected by this rogue application (IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) is likely to be related to system software/hardware and may contain personally identifiable details. Therefore, having Desktop-play installed on your system may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft.

For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall Desktop-play from your Internet browsers immediately.

There are hundreds of other bogus applications similar or identical to Desktop-play. For instance, System Notifier, Number Ascend, ZoomApp, and PayYou also claim to provide various features to improve the Internet browsing experience. None provide any real value to the user.

Adware-type applications such as Desktop-play display various intrusive online advertisements and share collected data with third parties to generate revenue. Most adware is distributed using small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, softonic.com, download.com, and many others.

Download clients supposedly ease the software download process, however, they offer installation of third party applications together with regular software, or simply hide installation of them under the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options. Developers describe these applications as 'legitimate and virus-free', however, most are adware or malware.

To avoid these computer infections, closely analyse each step when downloading free software and opt-out of any third party applications included. Furthermore, software downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any concealed applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

If you have installed Desktop-play, the following instructions will guide you through the removal of this PUP from your system.

Deceptive free software installers used in desktop-play adware distribution:

Desktop-play adware installer set-up:

Screenshot of Desktop-play application:

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Quick menu:

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

Desktop-play 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 "Desktop-play 000.042010151", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Desktop-play adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Desktop-play 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 desktop-play 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 desktop-play 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 desktop-play 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 desktop-play 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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