Ads by YouBoost

What is YouBoost?

YouBoost is a bogus application claiming to improve download speeds - "Enhance your multimedia files download by utilizing YouBoost's ad supported media compression engine." 

These claims often trick users into believing that YouBoost is a legitimate app, however, this application is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware. After stealthily infiltrating systems without users’ consent, YouBoost generates intrusive online advertisements and collects information relating to Internet browsing activity.

YouBoost generates advertisements using a ‘virtual layer’, which enables placement of third party graphical content on any visited website. Since none of these ads originate from the visited sites, they overlay website content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

Furthermore, some lead to malicious sites - clicking them can cause further high-risk adware or malware infections. In addition, YouBoost collects information regarding Internet browsing activity including IP addresses, websites visited, and pages viewed (these are just some examples from a large list of data types gathered by this adware).

The collected information might be personally identifiable, which the developers of YouBoost share with cooperating third party companies and is subsequently misused. Thus, the presence of this adware on your system can lead to serious privacy issues. For these reasons, you should eliminate YouBoost immediately.

Research shows that many adware-type applications share identical characteristics. As with YouBoost, Crime Watch, Sharp Angle, and hundreds of other apps also claim to significantly enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, these claims are false.

All adware is developed to generate revenue for the developers. Neither YouBoost, nor any of these other apps, provide the functionality promised. Adware-type programs simply generate intrusive online advertisements, cause unwanted browser redirects, and gather personally identifiable information.

How did YouBoost install on my computer?

YouBoost is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, it is also distributed as a 'bundle' with other software and, thus, many users install this application inadvertently.

Be aware that bundled applications are usually hidden within the 'Custom/Advanced' download and/or installation settings. By rushing these processes, and skipping this section, you expose your system to risk of infection and put your privacy at risk.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Pay close attention when downloading and installing software. Adware-type programs are often concealed and, therefore, you should closely analyze these processes using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Furthermore, never accept offers to download or install additional programs and opt-out of those already included.

Deceptive free software installer used in YouBoost adware distribution:

Screenshot of YouBoost application:

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Quick menu:

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

YouBoost 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 "YouBoost Media Accelerator", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove YouBoost adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, YouBoost 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 youboost 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 youboost 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 youboost 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 youboost 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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