TheBrowser Adware

What is TheBrowser?

TheBrowser is a dubious application claiming to be a legitimate web browser. It is identical to previously-discovered adware named BoBrowser and BrowserAir.

This app may appear identical to other regular Internet browsers, however, due to its behavior, TheBrowser is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware. Firstly, it infiltrates systems without users’ permission. Secondly, it tracks Internet browsing activity and delivers intrusive online advertisements.

Research shows that TheBrowser gathers IP addresses, Internet service provider (ISP), web browser type and browsing details (URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, cookies, etc.), and other browsing-related data.

Many users believe that this data is insignificant, however, it will contain personally identifiable details that the developers of TheBrowser share with cooperating third party companies.

These companies can misuse personal information to generate revenue and, therefore, TheBrowser poses a direct threat to your privacy - having an information tracking app installed can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

Furthermore, TheBrowser employs a 'virtual layer' to generate various advertisements that significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience. The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any visited web page - displaying ads, which conceal underlying website content.

Furthermore, some generated ads redirect to bogus sites containing infectious content - clicking them is risky and may cause further adware or malware infections. You are strongly advised to uninstall TheBrowser adware immediately.

TheBrowser Privacy Policy regarding data tracking:

TheBrowser may use certain trusted third party companies and individuals to help it provide, analyze and improve the Website and Browser (including but not limited to data storage, maintenance services, database management, web analytics, information processing and improvement of the Website's features and services. These third parties may have access to your information only for purposes of performing these tasks on behalf of TheBrowser and under obligations similar to those in this Policy.

TheBrowser is not the only application giving fake promises to trick users to install. There are hundreds of other PUPs with identical behavior. As with TheBrowser, apps such as FlashBeat, Wooden Seal, LolliScan, and Middle Rush also claim to provide useful features.

None provide any real value for users. Adware-type programs are designed to generate revenue for the developers - they merely generate intrusive online advertisements and track personally identifiable information.

How did TheBrowser install on my computer?

As mentioned previously, TheBrowser is mostly distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. This allows developers to install their bogus apps without users' consent.

Many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing programs and, therefore, developers conceal applications such as TheBrowser within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Unaware of this, users often rush these processes and skip most/all steps, thereby inadvertently installing potentially unwanted programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

You can prevent installation of adware-type programs by following each step of the software download and installation processes.

Always perform them using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical'. This will reveal any bundled programs listed for download/installation and allow you to opt-out. Third party apps are often rogue and should never be installed.

Deceptive free software installers used in TheBrowser adware distribution:

Screenshot of TheBrowser application:

TheBrowser adware desktop search bar redirecting to the www-mysearch.com website:

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

Remove TheBrowser adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, TheBrowser 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 thebrowser 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 thebrowser 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 thebrowser 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 thebrowser 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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