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Highlightly Ads

Also Known As: Highlightly adware
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Highlighty?

The Highlightly browser add-on claims to make users' Internet browsing experience more productive by displaying Wikipedia and Bing results relating to any selected text within an in-page window.

Whilst such functionality may seem legitimate, this browser extension is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application, since it installs on browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent. Furthermore, the add-on generates intrusive ads and tracks users' Internet browsing activity. 

Highlightly is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', and thus, computer users often install this plugin inadvertently with free software downloaded from the Internet.

Highlightly virus homepage

After successful infiltration, this adware generates banner, search, pop-up, pop-under, and interstitial ads, which are inserted or displayed over portions of web pages visited. The plugin also generates in-text ads - converting words on pages viewed into hyperlinks that link to advertisements.

Moreover, this potentially unwanted application monitors and records users' Internet browsing activity - recording the domain names of pages viewed and advertisements that appear on these pages, IP addresses, operating system types, search queries, browsing history, physical locations, and other information.

The presence of Highlightly can lead to malware and virus infections and this plugin can cause serious privacy issues. For these reasons, it is strongly recommended that you eliminate this adware from your Internet browser/s.

Highlightly is similar to other potentially unwanted applications (which install together with free software), including, for example, SaveSense, Rocket Tab and Solteratop. The aforementioned browser plug-ins add no significant value and cause intrusive ads.

To avoid installation of adware, users should be attentive when downloading free software since, today, most free software download websites use 'download clients' in order to monetize their free services. Download clients are small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins with the chosen freeware.

Some download clients are deceptive, and thus, it is important to inspect every download step. If your download is managed by a download client, opt-out of installation of Highlightly, or other adware, by clicking the 'decline' button.

If you have already installed this plugin, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this potentially unwanted application from your Internet browser/s.

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Quick menu:

Highlightly adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

Highlightly uninstall from Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Highlightly", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling Highlightly, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.

Remove Highlightly ads from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing Highlightly from Internet Explorer extensions step 1

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Highlightly" and disable it.

Removing Highlightly from Internet Explorer extensions step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the highlightly 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing Highlightly from Google Chrome extensions step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "Highlightly", select it and click the trash can icon.

Removing Highlightly from Google Chrome extensions step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the highlightly adware, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing Highlightly from Mozilla Firefox extensions step 1

Click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Highlightly".

Removing Highlightly from Mozilla Firefox extensions step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with highlightly adware removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

removing adware from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

removing adware from safari step 2 - removing extensions

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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.

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the highlightly adware, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of adware while downloading free software sampleCommonly, 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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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

QR Code
Highlightly adware QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Highlightly adware on your mobile device.
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