CandyBox Adware

What is CandyBox?

According to the developers, the CandyBox application saves time and money while shopping online. Many users believe that this application is legitimate and useful, however, CandyBox is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

There are a number of reasons for these negative associations including stealth installation - CandyBox often infiltrates systems without users' permission. Furthermore, this app monitors users' Internet browsing activity and displays intrusive advertisements.

CandyBox mostly generates coupon, banner, pop-up, and site-under ads. This adware employs a virtual layer to display these ads, none of which originate from the visited websites. The ads conceal underlying web content and diminish the Internet browsing experience.

Although many of these advertisements may seem harmless, some redirect to malicious sites containing infectious content. Therefore, clicking them can result in high-risk computer infections. Another downside of this adware is information tracking. CandyBox records IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data.

The developers (Link Up Advertising s.r.o.) are aware that some of this information contains personal details, and thus, they sell it to third party companies. This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall CandyBox immediately.

CandyBox EULA towards online advertising:

By way of this Software, the User shall receive deals, promotions and special discounts in a browser window. By downloading this application free of charge, the User will also benefit from a selection of the Internet's best deals in banner/pop-under/pop-up/site-under format.

This PUP is similar to other regular adware apps such as FirstOffer, PriceFountain, and SaveDeals, which also claim to save time and money.

These false claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimate software. The developers are concerned only with the amount of revenue generated, and therefore, these applications are designed solely to display advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click'  - PPC - advertising model) and collect data (which is later sold to third parties). Users receive no real value.

How did CandyBox install on my computer?

CandyBox is often distributed as a 'bundle' with other applications. Bundling is stealth installation of additional programs with regular software/apps.

Rogue apps such as CandyBox are usually hidden within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' download/installation settings. By skipping this section, users often inadvertently install PUPs, thus exposing their systems to risk of infection.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

All users are responsible for their own computer safety. Closely analyze the download and installation processes, cancelling any third party applications listed for installation. Use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings - this will reveal any rogue apps and enable you to opt-out.

Deceptive free software installer used in CandyBox adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove CandyBox adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, CandyBox 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 candybox ads, 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 candybox ads, 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 candybox ads 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 candybox ads, 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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