User-Agent Switcher Adware

What is User-Agent Switcher?

User-Agent Switcher is a dubious browser extension that supposedly allows users to check how a certain page is displayed on different browsers.

On initial inspection, this functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, due to rogue behavior (tracking of the Internet browsing activity, display of intrusive online advertisements, and stealth installation without users' consent), User-Agent Switcher is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Immediately following infiltration, User-Agent Switcher records various information relating to users' web browsing activity. Collected data types include Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geographic location), unique identifier numbers, websites visited, search queries entered into search engines, and other similar information.

This information may seem unimportant, however, it might include personally identifiable details that Yontoo (developers of User-Agent Switcher) share with cooperating third party companies (who often misuse private details to generate revenue). This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

In addition, User-Agent Switcher employs a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, banner, coupon, search, full-page, interstitial, transitional, and other similar ads. These overlay underlying content of users' visited websites, thereby diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

Furthermore, some lead to potentially infectious websites - clicking them is risky and can result in further high-risk adware or malware infections. Therefore, we strongly advise you to uninstall User-Agent Switcher immediately.

Yontoo has developed many PUPs identical to User-Agent Switcher including Classic For Facebook, Facebook Notifications, and Hide My AdBlocker - these are just some examples from a long list. Note that although these applications offer different functions, all have identical behavior.

Yontoo's products are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and provide no real value for regular users. Rather than providing any of the promised functions, apps such as User-Agent Switcher simply collect personally identifiable information and generate intrusive online advertisements.

How did User-Agent Switcher install on my computer?

User-Agent Switcher has an official promotion website, however, it is also distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Therefore, many users install this PUP inadvertently. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software.

Developers hide additionally-included programs within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings of the download and/or installation processes. Skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs such as User-Agent Switcher.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by adware-type programs, pay close attention during the download and installation processes. Select the 'Custom/Advanced' settings, study each step, and cancel all third party apps listed for download/installation.

Screenshot of User-Agent Switcher application:

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Quick menu:

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

User-Agent Switcher 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 "User-Agent Switcher", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove User-Agent Switcher 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 "User-Agent Switcher", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by user-agent switcher, 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 "User-Agent Switcher for Google Chrome", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by user-agent switcher, 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 "User-Agent Switcher".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by user-agent switcher 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 user-agent switcher, 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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