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Research Soft Unwanted Application

Also Known As: Research Soft potentially unwanted program
Damage level: Medium

What is Research Soft?

Research Soft is a deceptive program that claims to provide "best" online shopping offers based on collected information relating to Internet browsing activity.

These claims often trick users into believing that Research Soft is a legitimate and useful application, however, this app often infiltrates systems without users' permission. Furthermore, Research Soft distorts the truth relating to data collection. For these reasons, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

Research Soft unwanted application

Following infiltration, Research Soft records URLs visited, queries entered into search engines, web pages viewed, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geographic locations), and other similar data. According to Research Soft developers, this application does not collect personally identifiable information, however, these claims are false.

The data collected might indeed contain personal details. In addition, developers share this information with cooperating third party companies, who often misuse private details to generate revenue. Thus, the presence of an information-tracking application on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

You are strongly advised to eliminate Research Soft from your computer immediately. There are hundreds of rogue applications (PUPs) that gather private data, deliver intrusive online advertisements, and cause unwanted browser redirects. These applications (adware, browser hijackers) are even more malicious and, thus, you should uninstall them.

Research Soft shares many similarities with Consumer Input, BestCleaner, DiskPower, and hundreds of other potentially unwanted programs. All deliver promises to enable a number of 'useful functions', however, apps such as Research Soft provide no significant value for regular users.

Research shows that the only purpose of PUPs is to generate revenue for the developers. These applications provide no significant value for regular users.

How did Research Soft install on my computer?

Research Soft is promoted using a deceptive software marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, users often install Research Soft inadvertently, without their consent. Bundling is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software. Developers conceal bundled programs within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes.

Users often rush these processes and skip most steps, thereby exposing their systems to risk of various infections and compromising their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be cautious during the download/installation processes. Closely analyze all "Custom/Advanced" settings. Furthermore, cancel any additionally-included programs and offers to download/install them. The key to computer safety is caution.

Deceptive free software installer distributing Research Soft:

Research Soft distributed software installer

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Quick menu:

Research Soft 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.

Research Soft adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Research Soft 4.4.4.1", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Research Soft from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Research Soft 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 Research Soft 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 Research Soft ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the research soft potentially unwanted program, 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 Research Soft  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 Research Soft ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the research soft potentially unwanted program, 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 Research Soft 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 Research Soft ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with research soft potentially unwanted program 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 research soft potentially unwanted program, 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.

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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.

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Research Soft potentially unwanted program QR code
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