Apps Hat Adware

What is Apps Hat?

Apps Hat is presented as an application allowing users to download or buy various Android applications with huge discounts - "Apps hat is the cool new Android app store that helps you discover hot new apps, both free and discounted."

These false claims often trick users into believing that Apps Hat is a legitimate app that provides valuable functionality, however, it is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

There are a number of reasons for these negative associations: stealth installation without users' permission, display of intrusive online ads, and continual tracking of Internet browsing activity.

This app mostly generates coupon, pop-up and banner ads. It employs a 'virtual layer' to generate these ads, and therefore, none originate from the visited web pages. Unaware of this, users continually encounter intrusive online advertisements and are forced to avoid clicking them.

Note that some redirect to malicious sites containing infectious content - clicking them may lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. Furthermore, third party ads overlay website content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience. In addition, Apps Hat gathers various software and hardware information relating to Internet browsing activity.

For example, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, IP addresses (to determine geographic location), etc.

Some of this information is personally identifiable and shared with third party companies who misuse it to generate revenue, Thus, having Apps Hat installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you are concerned with your privacy and Internet browsing safety, eliminate this adware immediately.

There are hundreds of PUPs sharing similarities with Apps Hat adware. All adware-type applications deliver false claims to enhance the browsing experience simply to trick users to install. The real purpose of applications such as Apps Hat is to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than enabling the functionality promised, these apps display intrusive online advertisements, and collect personally identifiable details.

How did Apps Hat install on my computer?

As with other regular adware, Apps Hat is also distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Developers hide bundled programs within the 'Custom/Advanced' download or installation settings. Unaware of this, users rush these processes and skip the aforementioned section.

This results in inadvertent installation of PUPs - behavior which exposes systems to risk of infection and compromises users' privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

This situation can be prevented by taking two steps. Firstly, do not rush the download or installation processes - select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings and closely analyze each step. Secondly, bundled software is mostly rogue, and therefore, no third party applications should be installed.

Screenshot of Apps Hat application:

Deceptive free software installer used in Apps Hat PUP distribution:

Apps Hat adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

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

Apps Hat 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 "AppsHat Mobile Apps", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Apps Hat 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 "MinibarBHO" and "Visit AppsHat.com", select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the apps hat 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 "Apps Hat", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the apps hat 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 "Apps Hat".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with apps hat 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 apps hat 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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