Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What is Unfriend Alert?

According to the developers (Fun Technology), Unfriend Alert immediately notifies the user when someone removes him/her from the Facebook friend list. This application may seem legitimate and useful, however, Unfriend Alert is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Unfriend Alert is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software without users' consent. Therefore, many users inadvertently install this rogue app along with free software downloaded from freeware download websites.

Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, intrusive online advertisements including banner, pop-up, pop-under, and coupon ads are displayed. Some of these advertisements can redirect to rogue websites, and therefore, clicking them may result in further high-risk computer infections.

What is Shopsafer?

Shopsafer claims to enable features such as comparison shopping, coupons, display of special deals/discounts on shopping websites to save time and money while shopping online. This browser extension may seem legitimate and useful, however, be aware that Shopsafer is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

The developers distribute Shopsafer using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', which allows them to stealthily install Shopsafer together with regular chosen software.

After infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Shopsafer generates various online advertisements (such as coupon, pop-up, etc.) that can redirect to bogus websites, thereby causing high-risk computer infections.

What is ViewPlay?

ViewPlay, a deceptive browser extension, attempts to trick users into installation by promising to enable various features such as coupons and comparison shopping to improve the Internet browsing experience. This functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, ViewPlay is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Commonly, ViewPlay is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software. This method allows ViewPlay to install on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers without users' consent.

After successfully infiltration, ViewPlay displays intrusive online advertisements and collects various Internet browsing-related information.

What is Icarus?

Created and released by Superweb LLC, Icarus is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and browser extension that claims to improve the Internet browsing experience by enabling various features such as coupons and comparison shopping. Although some users may find this functionality useful and legitimate, be aware that Icarus is categorized as adware.

The developers distribute this PUP using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party apps together with the chosen software) to install Icarus on the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers without users' permission.

After successful infiltration, Icarus displays intrusive online advertisements including banner, pop-up, interstitial, transitional, search, coupon, and full-page.

Although these advertisements may seem harmless, there is a high probability that some will redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content. Therefore, clicking them exposes your system to high-risk adware or malware infections.

What is Buzzdock?

Developed by Alactro LLC, the Buzzdock browser extension claims to enhance the Internet search experience by displaying additional results beneath a favoured search bar. Following installation of this browser add-on, the Buzzdock tab appears below the search bar when the user visits Google to search the Internet. 

This toolbar displays additional search results from Yahoo, YouTube, Twitter, Amazon, etc. Although this functionality may seem useful, there is a downside to using this browser plug-in: Buzzdock displays unwanted ads (banner ads and text link), and furthermore, this extension causes redirects to search.buzzdock.com

What is Windesk Winsearch?

PCSoftware, the company responsible for the development and release of Windesk Winsearch, claim that their product allows users to search the Internet directly from the desktop. Some users may find this functionality legitimate and useful, however, Windesk Winsearch is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

This application is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software) to install without users' permission.

Once installed, Windesk Winsearch tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various information such as IP addresses, websites visited, search queries, pages viewed, etc. Some of this collected data might be personally identifiable, and therefore, having this PUP installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

What is SurpriseSavings?

The SurpriseSavings browser plug-in is presented as a tool to significantly improve the online shopping experience by enabling features such as coupons, comparison shopping, and the display of special deals/discounts available on shopping websites.

Despite these claims, users are often tricked into believing that this browser plug-in is legitimate and virus-free, however, SurpriseSavings is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

The main reason for these negative associations is a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' employed by the developers to distribute SurpriseSavings. Bundling allows stealth installation of SurpriseSavings on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) together with regular software.

Therefore, most users inadvertently install this bogus extension. After successful infiltration, various intrusive online advertisements are displayed and users' Internet browsing activity is tracked.

What is websearch.searchtotal.info?

The websearch.searchtotal.info browser hijacker installs on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) together with free software downloaded from the Internet. After successful infiltration, this adware modifies Internet browser settings including the homepage and default search engine domains.

Furthermore, it installs several browser 'helper objects', which block attempts to roll back these changes. At time of research, this browser hijacker was 'bundled' with free programs and files available for download from free file sharing websites.

Developers of freeware promote this browser hijacker using a deceptive installer, which tricks unsuspecting computer users into installing browser settings-modifying adware together with the free software.

What is FlashGamesRockstar?

FlashGamesRockstar is an adware-type app. According to the developers, it allows users to play arcade Flash games. Some users may feel that this application is legitimate and useful, however, be aware that it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

FlashGamesRockstar is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party apps together with the selected software) - this allows infiltration on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent.

Following installation, FlashGamesRockstar generates a variety of intrusive online advertisement types including coupons, pop-unders, interstitial, banner, and targeted video ads. These can redirect to untrusted websites, and thus, clicking them may result in high-risk computer infections.

What is Excellent Coupons?

Excellent Coupons provides features to display coupons and special deals/discounts available within online stores to supposedly save time and money while shopping online. Although some users may feel that Excellent Coupons is a legitimate and useful browser add-on, be aware that it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware. 

Excellent Coupons is identical to Deal Cola, Savings Plugin, and many other applications developed by a company called Engaging Apps. Excellent Coupons is often distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' and is the main reason for these negative associations.

Bundling allows stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software, and therefore, Excellent Coupons usually installs on Internet browsers without users' permission. Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, intrusive online advertisements are displayed and users' Internet browsing activity is tracked.