SnapSearch Ads

What is SnapSearch?

SnapSearch is a dubious browser extension claiming to provide various useful features (including coupons and comparison shopping) and supposedly enhancing the Internet browsing experience -

"We're passionate about improving web by providing the best tools to enhance the browsing experience, from searching the web to comparing online deals to find the best prices. We've combined all of our great ideas into the SnapSearch product suite, a FREE set of tools that work to make your browsing experience... better!"

By giving these fake promises, SnapSearch aims to give the impression of legitimate and useful software. Despite this, SnapSearch is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware, since it exhibits rogue behavior that includes stealth installation, display of intrusive ads, and monitoring of Internet browsing activity.

SnapSearch displays a number of advertisement types such as pop-up, banner, search, coupon, interstitial, transitional, and full-page ads. To achieve this, the developers employ a virtual layer, which enables placement of any graphical content on visited sites.

The delivered ads do not originate from the visited website and conceal underlying content, thus diminishing users' Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, there is a high probability that some ads will lead to bogus sites containing infectious content. Therefore, clicking them can lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.

SnapSearch collects various information such as IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, unique identifier numbers, etc. Although the Privacy Policy of this PUP states that information tracked is not personally identifiable, the aforementioned types of data can clearly contain private details.

Thus, having an information-tracking app such as SnapSearch installed on your system might cause serious privacy issues. For the above reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall this adware immediately.

SnapSearch Privacy Policy statement regarding data collection:

We only share or sell your non-public personal information with non-affiliated third parties when we believe doing so is permitted by you or authorized by this Privacy Policy. In addition, the Company may share your personal information with our parent, subsidiary or affiliate companies without restriction.

The developers of SnapSearch (SuperWeb LLC) have released a number of identical PUPs including Super Great, Gem Grab, Blazer Deals, and other adware.

Although they supposedly improve Internet browsing, none provide any real value to the user. SuperWeb LLC aim to generate as much revenue as possible, and therefore, SnapSearch and other applications merely display advertisements and collect data - they have no other use.

How did SnapSearch install on my computer?

As with other regular adware, SnapSearch is mostly distributed as a 'bundle' with other (usually free) software. Applications such as this are often hidden within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' download/installation settings. Many users skip this section, thus, exposing their systems to risk of infection.

The developers are only concerned with the amount of revenue generated, which is dependent on the number of distributed apps, and hence, they do not properly disclose installation of rogue apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Express caution during download and installation of all applications. Pay close attention during these processes, follow each step, and opt-out of any third party software included. Furthermore, download and installation should be performed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any concealed potentially unwanted apps listed for installation and enable you to cancel them.

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove snapsearch 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 "SnapSearch", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the snapsearch 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 "SnapSearch", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the snapsearch 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 "SnapSearch".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with snapsearch 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 snapsearch 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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