Amazon Shopping Assistant Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Amazon Shopping Assistant?
Amazon Shopping Assistant is a deceptive application that infiltrates systems during installation of regular (typically free) software - developers proliferate it using the "bundling" method.
Immediately after infiltration, Amazon Shopping Assistant delivers intrusive advertisements and records information relating to browsing habits. For these reasons, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and adware.
This potentially unwanted application delivers coupon, banner, pop-up, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, ads often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
In addition, they can lead to infectious sites and run scripts that download/install malware or other potentially unwanted applications. Therefore, clicking them risks computer infection. The Amazon Shopping Assistant website also claims that this application might modify browser settings (e.g., new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine).
Therefore, users may encounter automatic unwanted redirects to other websites, significantly diminishing the browsing experience. Furthermore, Amazon Shopping Assistant gathers various information.
Potentially unwanted applications such as these typically record IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc. and information that contains personal details. Developers share the details with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private information to generate revenue.
Therefore, the presence of a data-tracking app such as Amazon Shopping Assistant can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, Amazon Shopping Assistant must be eliminated immediately.
| Name | Ads by Amazon Shopping Assistant |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Symptoms | Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Amazon Shopping Assistant is virtually identical to FAssistant, Check And Switch, Browsing Secure, and dozens of other adware-type applications. Most offer "useful features" in an attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, since these programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, they deliver no real value for regular users.
Potentially unwanted applications deliver intrusive advertisements, gather sensitive information, thereby posing a significant threat to your privacy and web browsing safety.
How did Amazon Shopping Assistant install on my computer?
As mentioned above, Amazon Shopping Assistant is proliferated using the "bundling" method and, for this reason, it often infiltrates systems without consent. "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of potentially unwanted applications together with regular software/apps.
Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users often rush these procedures and skip steps. This behavior can lead to inadvertent installation of PUAs - users expose their systems to risk of infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Lack of knowledge and careless behavior are the main reasons for computer infections - the key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Intrusive advertisements typically seem legitimate, however, they redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites.
If you encounter these ads, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, closely observe each step of the download/installation dialogs and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Be sure to download your applications from official sources only, using direct download links.
Third party downloaders/installers often include rogue apps, and thus using them is not recommended. If your computer is already infected with Amazon Shopping Assistant, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Deceptive free software installer distributing Amazon Shopping Assistant:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Amazon Shopping Assistant?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Amazon Shopping Assistant application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Amazon Shopping Assistant adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Amazon Shopping Assistant ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Amazon Shopping Assistant' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Amazon Shopping Assistant extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Amazon Shopping Assistant 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 "Amazon Shopping Assistant", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes Amazon Shopping Assistant ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Amazon Shopping Assistant adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Amazon Shopping Assistant 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:
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 any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by amazon shopping assistant, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by amazon shopping assistant, 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by amazon shopping assistant 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 amazon shopping assistant, 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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Outstanding!
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