Ads by Safe Browsing

What is Safe Browsing?

Safe Browsing is a deceptive application claiming to improve Internet browsing safety by blocking various malicious attacks - "Safe Browsing This browser application is designed to secure your browser, while surfing the internet".

Some users may believe that this app is legitimate and useful, however, Safe Browsing is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware. One of the reasons for these negative associations is stealth installation - Safe Browsing infiltrates systems without users' permission.

After successful installation, this adware delivers intrusive online advertisements and gathers various Internet browsing-related information.

This PUP collects the following data: geographic location, time zone, language settings, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, operating system and browser types, default search providers, and browsing details (websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.).

This information might contain personally identifiable information, which is sold to third party companies who can misuse it to generate revenue, thus, resulting in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Furthermore, Safe Browsing generates a number of intrusive online advertisements.

Although this app claims to protect systems, the advertisements generated can redirect to infectious sites - clicking them might cause high-risk adware or malware infections. The ads are displayed using a virtual layer and conceal visited website content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

If you are concerned with your privacy and Internet browsing safety, uninstall this PUP immediately.

Safe Browsing has similar characteristics to other regular adware including Tiny Media Player, Super Media Converter, Temperature Scout, and RecommendationBox. These claim to enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, adware-type applications are designed solely to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than providing useful functionality, these apps generate advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click' - PPC - advertising model) and collect personally identifiable information (which is later shared with third parties to generate revenue).

How did Safe Browsing install on my computer?

Although Safe Browsing adware is available for download on its official website, many users install this application inadvertently. The developers employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of PUPs with regular software/apps), and therefore, Safe Browsing often infiltrates systems without users' consent.

Many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software - they rush these processes and skip most/all steps. For this reason, developers conceal apps such as Safe Browsing within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. By skipping this section, users often install PUPs without their knowledge.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent infiltration of adware-type apps, be attentive when downloading and installing software. Use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options during these processes - this will enable you to opt-out of any third party applications listed for installation. The key to computer safety is caution. Never rush when downloading and installing software.

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Quick menu:

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

Safe Browsing 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 "Safe Browsing", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Safe Browsing adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Safe Browsing 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 safe browsing 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 safe browsing 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 safe browsing 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 safe browsing 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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