GeniusBox Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
GeniusBox - how to remove Genius Box (TGF Interactive) ads from search engines?
What is GeniusBox?
Developed by TGF Interactive, GeniusBox is a browser extension (an add-on) claiming to enhance the Internet search experience by displaying quick search results from many websites such as Flickr, YouTube, eBay, and Amazon. While this added functionality may seem useful, there is a downside to using GeniusBox: this browser extension tracks users' browsing habits and displays unwanted ads when visiting popular search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo! These unwanted ads are labelled 'About this GeniusBox ad' and 'TGF Interactive'. Users often install this browser add-on without their consent, since developers of this browser plug-in employ a marketing method called 'bundling', and in most cases it is installed together with free software downloaded from the Internet.
Today, many popular download websites (including download.com, softonic.com, etc.) use 'download clients' offering installation of additional programs with the downloaded free software. Commonly, these promoted programs are potentially unwanted browser add-ons and toolbars, which add little value to the browsing experience and cause redirect problems, unwanted ads, and privacy issues. Genius Box is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that causes diminished browser performance. Using this add-on may lead to security and privacy issues, and therefore, you are strongly advised to remove it from your Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox).
Genius Box is identical to another browser add-on created by TGF Interactive called The Genius Factory. The following removal guide is effective in eliminating either of these browser extensions. Note that Genius Box is not a virus or malware, however, due to its deceptive promotion methods (including browser tracking and unwanted ads), it is categorized as adware. This software is similar to other potentially unwanted browser add-ons such as LessTabs, WebCake, SelectionLinks, and many others. To avoid unwilling installation of browser add-ons, be attentive when downloading free software, ensuring that you decline installation of additional programs and disallow any suggested changes to browser settings (homepage, default search engine, etc.) To eliminate Genius Box adware, use the removal guide provided below.
Screenshot of GeniusBox application:
Deceptive free software installers used in GeniusBox adware distribution:
GeniusBox adware generating intrusive ads in Google Internet search results ('Ad by GeniusBox'):
GeniusBox adware generating intrusive banner ads ('Powered by GeniusBox'):
Quick menu: Quick solution to remove GeniusBox
- What is GeniusBox?
- STEP 1. Uninstall GeniusBox application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove GeniusBox ads from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove GeniusBox adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by GeniusBox' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove GeniusBox extension from Safari.
GeniusBox adware removal:
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.
Windows XP users:
Click Start, choose Settings and click Control Panel. Locate and click Add or Remove Programs.
Windows 8 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.
Mac 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 "GeniusBox 2.0", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling Genius Box, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.
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Remove GeniusBox adware from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Internet Explorer Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Safari
Remove GeniusBox ads from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "GeniusBox" ( or any other recently installed suspicious plug-ins) and disable it.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the geniusbox , 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.
Internet Explorer Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Safari
Remove GeniusBox ads from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "GeniusBox" (or any other recently-installed suspicious plugins), select it and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the geniusbox , reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Tools. From the opened menu, select Extensions. In the opened window, select Settings (at the left corner of the screen). Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Show advanced settings… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset browser settings button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Internet Explorer Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Safari
Remove GeniusBox ads from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable "GeniusBox" (or any other recently-installed suspicious plug-ins).
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with geniusbox 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 the Open Help Menu icon, 
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Reset Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Internet Explorer Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Safari
Remove geniusbox 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.
Summary:
GeniusBox is an adware program that tracks user's Internet browsing and generates intrusive online advertisements. Most commonly adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate user's Internet browsers through free software downloads. Internet users should know that nowadays most of free software download websites are using download clients to manage their freeware download process, unfortunately some of the mentioned download clients don't properly disclose the fact that advertised browser plugins or toolbars will be installed together with the free program that users have decided to download. Download clients and installers that are used to distribute adware commonly hide the decline button that can be used to opt-out of installing the advertised potentially unwanted applications.
Some of the malicious free software download websites doesn't allow to download the chosen freeware if users decide to decline the installation of promoted software. Notice that the safest source for downloading free software is it's developers website. To avoid installation of adware be very attentive when downloading and installing free software.
If your download is managed by a download client be sure to decline installation of promoted browser plug-ins and toolbars. When installing the already downloaded free program choose custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal all of the potentially unwanted applications that are being installed together with your chosen free program.
Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove geniusbox from your computer, please ask for assistance in our malware removal forum.
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