Removal instructions for Unfriend Alert adware

What is Unfriend Alert?

According to the developers (Fun Technology), Unfriend Alert immediately notifies the user when someone removes him/her from the Facebook friend list. This application may seem legitimate and useful, however, Unfriend Alert is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Unfriend Alert is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software without users' consent. Therefore, many users inadvertently install this rogue app along with free software downloaded from freeware download websites.

Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, intrusive online advertisements including banner, pop-up, pop-under, and coupon ads are displayed. Some of these advertisements can redirect to rogue websites, and therefore, clicking them may result in further high-risk computer infections.

Most users are unaware that Unfriend Alert continually monitors their Internet browsing activity and gathers various browsing-related information including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geographic location, websites visited/pages viewed, search queries entered into search engines, etc.

Information recorded by this rogue app may be personally identifiable and lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Unfriend Alert is regular adware and similar to other applications of the same type.

For instance, Surprise Savings, FlashGameRockstar, Excellent Coupons, and EpsanDrive all offer features to enhance the Internet browsing experience in some way, however, they provide no real value for the user.

The purpose of adware-type applications is to generate revenue by displaying intrusive online advertisements and sharing collected data with third parties. Therefore, you should uninstall this PUP from your system immediately.

Most adware is distributed on freeware download websites such as downloads.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, etc. These websites employ small programs called 'download clients' as traffic and free services monetization tools.

Download clients (also called 'installers', 'download managers', 'download tools', etc.) supposedly ease the download process, however, they are developed to display offers to install additional programs together with the chosen (free) software. Although these promoted applications are described as '100% legitimate and virus-free', most are categorized as adware or malware.

To avoid this situation, closely inspect each step of the free software download procedure and ensure that only the chosen program is included.

In addition, install downloaded software using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' options - this will reveal any third party applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have installed Unfriend Alert adware, the following instructions will guide you through removal of this rogue app from your system.

Unfriend Alert adware installer set-up:

Screenshot of the Unfriend Alert adware application:

Unfriend Alert adware generating intrusive online ads ('Unfriend Alert Ads'):

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Quick menu:

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

Unfriend Alert 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 "UnfriendAlert", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Unfriend Alert adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Unfriend Alert 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 unfriend alert 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 unfriend alert 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 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with unfriend alert 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 unfriend alert 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What harm can adware cause?

The presence of adware on a device can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Advertising-supported software displays advertisements that can promote content capable of causing system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, and other serious problems. It is also considered a privacy threat, as adware usually collects sensitive user data.

What does adware do?

Adware is designed to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. It typically operates by displaying advertisements on visited websites or other interfaces. However, some adware types are also capable of force-opening webpages and gathering private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware generates revenue through content promotion. The developers/publishers may earn commissions from ad clicks, website visits, file downloads, product purchases, service subscriptions, or similar. Most of the profit comes from affiliate programs.

Will Combo Cleaner remove Unfriend Alert adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate installed adware-type apps. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without the aid of security programs) might not be an ideal solution. In some instances, after the adware has been manually removed – file leftovers remain hidden within the system. What is more, the remaining components might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, thorough software removal is paramount.

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