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Shopsafer Adware

Also Known As: Offers by shopsafer
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

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.

Shopsafer adware

Be aware that Shopsafer continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity and gathers various related information including IP addresses (to determine users' geolocations), websites visited, pages viewed, and search queries entered into search engines.

These are just some examples of collected data types, some of which may contain personally identifiable details. This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Today, most adware-type applications have similar or identical behavior - there are hundreds of rogue apps offering identical features, supposedly allowing users to save time and money.

Some examples include Excellent Coupons, MarkingApp, and ComparingGenie. None (including the Shopsafer), provide any useful functionality - the purpose of these applications is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements and sharing collected information with third parties. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Shopsafer from your system immediately.

At time of research, Shopsafer and other applications of this type, were distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as softonic.com, soft32.com, and downloads.com. These sites employ download clients to monetize their traffic and free services by offering installation of additional programs together with the chosen software.

These websites make assurances that their promoted applications are 'legitimate and virus-free', however, reckless download and installation usually results in adware or malware infections. To avoid this situation, closely analyse the free software download procedure and opt-out of any third party applications included.

Furthermore, when installing programs downloaded from the Internet, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

If you have installed Shopsafer (or other adware), and you observe intrusive online advertisements while surfing the Internet, follow the guidelines below to uninstall this adware from your system immediately.

Shopsafer adware installer set-up:

Offers by Shopsafer adware installer set-up

Online advertisements displayed by Shopsafer adware ('Offers by shopsafer'):

shopsafer adware generating coupon ads

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Quick menu:

Shopsafer 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.

Shopsafer adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Shopsafer" (and any other recently-installed suspicious applications - 'Offers by shopsafer' ads can be generated by potentially unwanted applications under different names), select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Shopsafer adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Shopsafer 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:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing Shopsafer ads from Internet Explorer step 1

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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".

Removing Shopsafer ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the offers by shopsafer, 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 Shopsafer  ads from Google Chrome step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options 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.

Removing Shopsafer ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the offers by shopsafer, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing Shopsafer ads from Mozilla Firefox step 1

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (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.

Removing Shopsafer ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with offers by shopsafer 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 offers by shopsafer, 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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Removal Instructions in other languages
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
Offers by shopsafer QR code
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