Icarus Adware

What is Icarus?

Created and released by Superweb LLC, Icarus is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and browser extension that claims to improve the Internet browsing experience by enabling various features such as coupons and comparison shopping. Although some users may find this functionality useful and legitimate, be aware that Icarus is categorized as adware.

The developers distribute this PUP using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party apps together with the chosen software) to install Icarus on the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers without users' permission.

After successful infiltration, Icarus displays intrusive online advertisements including banner, pop-up, interstitial, transitional, search, coupon, and full-page.

Although these advertisements may seem harmless, there is a high probability that some will redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content. Therefore, clicking them exposes your system to high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since the Icarus plug-in collects information such as IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries entered into the search engines, unique identifier numbers, and other similar data that might be personally identifiable.

Having information information tracking applications installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Icarus is identical to other applications developed by SuperWeb LLC.

This company releases identical browser add-ons under different names (for example, Screen Flip, Back to Back, Any Angle, and Bold Letters) to avoid detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus suites. The main purpose of these applications is to trick users into installation by promising various useful features.

After accepting installation, none of these features are delivered - the apps simply display ads and share collected data with third parties to generate revenue. You are strongly advised to uninstall Icarus from your Internet browsers immediately.

Research shows that most applications similar or identical to Icarus are distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as downloads.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, etc.

According to these sites, download clients ease the download process, however, their purpose is to monetize freeware download websites' traffic and free services by offering installation of additional programs together from the chosen (free) software.

These promoted applications are described as 'genuine and virus-free', however, installation often results in adware or malware infections. To avoid this situation, closely analyse each step of the free software download procedure and ensure that no other applications are included with the chosen software.

Furthermore, applications downloaded from the Internet should be installed with the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have installed Icarus adware, the following guide will help you to eliminate this problem from your system.

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove Icarus adware from 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 "Icarus", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by icarus, 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 "Icarus", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by icarus, 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 plug-ins 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 "Icarus".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by icarus 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 icarus, 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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