Swiki Adware

What is Swiki?

Swiki is a dubious browser extension that claims to allow users to search various websites and social networks (for example, Wikipedia, Twitter, Youtube, Yahoo, etc.) - "Boost your web and social search with Swiki! Our plugin lets you perform an Internet search using multiple search engines, deal websites, and social networks all at the same time." 

On initial inspection, Swiki may seem legitimate and useful, however, this extension often infiltrates computers without users' consent. In addition, Swiki continually monitors users' web browsing activity and delivers various intrusive online advertisements. For these reasons, it is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Swiki gathers IP addresses, browser/operating system types, various hardware information, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data. Although this information may seem insignificant, it will contain personally identifiable details that the developers of Swiki share with third parties.

Research shows that these third parties often misuse private information to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app on your system could lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Another downside is the display of intrusive advertisements.

To generate coupon, banner, search, and other similar advertisements, Swiki uses a 'virtual layer' - a tool enabling placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, ads generated by this PUP often conceal underlying content of websites visited by the user.

This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Furthermore, some lead to dubious websites - clicking them risks additional computer infections. You are strongly advised to remove Swiki from your system immediately.

This application shares many similarities with dozens of other adware-type programs such as Search Adventure, Search Expanse, Window Frame, and Stack Player. Research shows that adware is designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Any claims to improve the web browsing experience are merely attempts to trick users to install. In fact, applications such as Swiki deliver no real value for users - they simply cause unwanted browser redirects, collect private data, and deliver intrusive online advertisements.

How did Swiki install on my computer?

Although Swiki has an official download website, many users install this application inadvertently without their consent, since they do not pay enough attention during the download/installation processes. Aware of this, developers intentionally conceal bogus programs within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings of the download/installation processes.

Therefore, users who skip this section, often install potentially unwanted programs such as Swiki without their consent. This exposes the system to risk of various infections puts users' privacy at risk.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two main steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software. Closely analyze each step using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Secondly, decline all offers to download/install additional programs and opt-out of those already included. Bundled software is often dubious and, thus, should never be installed.

Swiki adware installer set-up:

Swiki generating intrusive online ads:

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Quick menu:

• What is Swiki?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Swiki application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Swiki adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Swiki ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Swiki' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Swiki ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Swiki adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

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:

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:

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:

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 "Swiki" and "Swiki for IE version 1.2", select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Swiki adware from Internet browsers:

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

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Swiki", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by swiki, 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.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Swiki", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by swiki, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the 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.

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

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

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "Swiki".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by swiki 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 Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

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

Remove malicious extensions 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.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge 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.

Optional method:

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

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

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.

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

Summary:

Commonly, 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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