Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What is New Zealand Police?

The New Zealand Police message blocks computer screens and demands payment of a $100 NZD fine. This is a scam, a ransomware infection making false accusations regarding copyright law infringements, viewing or distributing pornography, spam distribution, etc. in an attempt to scare unsuspecting PC users into paying a bogus fine.

If you pay this fine, your money will be transferred to cyber criminals responsible for creating and distributing this rogue message. The New Zealand Police ransomware originates from a family of screen lockers called Urasy. Ransomware infections from this family are localized and exploit the names and graphics of various authorities from around the world.

What is PlayBryte?

The PlayBryte.com website offers users the ability to play Flash games. On initial inspection, this site may seem legitimate, however, there is a downside of using playbrite.com: to play the listed Flash games, users are forced into downloading a browser add-on called PlayBryte - a potentially unwanted program, which leads to unwanted pop-ups and text ads displayed within various websites.

Furthermore, this browser add-on may self-install together with additional freeware downloaded from the Internet.

Computer users should express cation when installing freeware, since many installers offer download of free Flash games together with the freeware that users install on their computers. The PlayBrite browser add-on, for example, is silently installed when Flash games are played on the website.

What is InfoAtoms?

InfoAtoms is a free browser add-on developed by InfoAtoms Inc. This browser extension promises to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by displaying instant search results, translations, synonyms, etc. when the user highlights text within any website.

This added functionality speeds up the process of searching for specific information and Internet users are able to find what they are looking for without opening additional browser tabs.

Whilst such functionality may seem useful, there is a downside to using this browser plug-in: it is promoted using deceptive methods and many computer users report that they have installed it on their Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) unwillingly.

What is Policia Federal Virus?

This message purports to be sent from the Policia Federal (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), blocks computer users' screens, and demands payment of a 2000 MXN fine. This is a scam which should not be trusted. In fact, this message is a ransomware infection sent, not by the Policia Federal, but by cyber criminals.

Paying this fine is equivalent to sending your money to the criminals responsible for releasing this scam. This particular ransomware infection originates from a family of screen lockers called Raxm and predominantly targets PC users from Mexico.

Note, however, that fake messages such as these are often localized, so that users from different countries observe the same message differently. For example, PC users from the USA observe this message as if sent by the FBI (using the English language and graphics of the FBI).

What is Supreme Savings?

The Supreme Savings browser add-on displays coupon ads when users visit online shopping websites such as Expedia, Kmart, OfficeDepot, Zales, etc. This browser extension is developed by 215 Apps (Excellent Apps) and is known to infiltrate users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla FireFox) without their consent.

Commonly, the Supreme Savings plug-in self-installs together with free software downloaded from the Internet.

Whilst Supreme Savings is not technically considered a virus, it is an unwanted program and should be removed from users' systems. Note that bundling unwanted browser add-ons is a common tactic employed by freeware developers and download websites in order to monetize incoming web traffic.

What is Save Valet?

The Save Valet browser extension was developed by Save Valet LLC and is compatible with Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla FireFox. Creators of this browser add-on claim that it helps to save money and time whilst shopping online. This extension displays price comparison ads when users visit Amazon.com, eBay.com, and other popular online shopping websites.

While some Internet users may find such price comparison ads useful, many report that Save Valet was installed on their browsers without their consent.

What is 22Apple.com?

The 22Apple.com website was created by Hong Kong Banyan Tree Technology Co. Ltd. This site offers users shortcuts to various popular websites (such as Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, etc.) and a search bar, which uses a customized Yahoo! search engine.

Whilst on initial inspection 22Apple.com appears legitimate, many computer users report that they are directed to this website unwillingly - their Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla FireFox) redirect them to 22Apple.com

Note that these redirects are not related to virus or malware infections - redirects to this website are a consequence of free software installation. Many freeware developers and download websites bundle their downloads with unwanted browser extensions, which cause redirect issues such as this.

What is Coupish?

Coupish is a browser add-on developed by Ginyas. This plug-in displays coupon ads when computer users visit online shopping websites such as Walmart, Amazon, etc. Whilst these browser extensions may seem useful, they are often installed on users' systems without their consent. As a result of this behavior, they are categorized as adware.

Many Internet users report that they have installed the Coupish browser add-on inadvertently and prefer to shop online without add-ons.

Coupish is not technically a computer virus or malware, however, unwilling installation of this browser add-on is caused by freeware downloads. Commonly, free software developers bundle their freeware with unwanted browser extensions such as this in order to monetize their downloads.

What is AddLyrics?

The AddLyrics browser extension promises to locate and add lyrics to any song viewed by users on YouTube. Whilst this functionality appears useful, computer users should not install this browser add-on, since it is adware.

When AddLyrics is installed on users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla FireFox), this malicious browser plug-in causes "Ads not by this site" (unwanted ads) and generates unwanted pop-up ads each time a new browser tab is opened.

What is Lucky Savings?

Lucky Savings is a browser extension developed by 215 Apps (Excellent Apps), who claim that the add-on helps users save time and money whilst shopping online. While some Internet users see this extension as useful, many report that Lucky Savings was installed on their Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox) without their consent.

Note that this browser extension is not related to malware or virus infections, however, the developers use deceptive methods to promote Lucky Savings. Commonly, this browser add-on is installed together with free software downloaded from the Internet.