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Spigot Virus

Also Known As: Spigot Toolbar
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Spigot?

'Spigot virus' is a term used to describe potentially unwanted applications developed by Spigot Inc. Adware created by this company installs together with free software using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Commonly, computer users install such unwanted applications whilst downloading free software.

Today, most freeware download websites (including download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, etc.) use deceptive 'download clients', which manage the download process of free software - these small programs are also used to monetize the free downloads by offering installation of promoted browser plugins.

At time of research, free software download clients were promoting Bling Toolbar by Spigot, Slick Savings, Domain Error Assistant, eBay, and Amazon Assistants.

browser hijacker by spigot

These potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) cause browser redirects to Yahoo.com (homepage and default search engine), display coupon ads when visiting online shopping websites, and generate various unwanted pop-up and in-text ads.

Having this adware installed on your Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) can lead to malware and virus infections. Moreover, clicking dubious ads displayed by these browser plugins can lead to privacy issues.

Whilst developers of these browser extensions state that they enhance the user's Internet browsing experience, in fact, they cause various issues (browser redirects, unwanted ads, etc.), and therefore, you are advised to eliminate it from your computer.

PUPs by Spigot are similar to WajamZoom Downloader, and many others. To avoid installation of adware such as this, Internet users should be attentive when downloading free software. If your download is managed by a download client, opt-out of installation of advertised browser plugins by clicking on the 'decline' button.

When installing the downloaded program, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any suggested installations of bundled software.

Note that at time of testing, Spigot adware caused browser redirects to Yahoo.com, however, each case can be different, thus, when using this removal guide, also check for other browser extensions published by Spigot.

Deceptive free software installers used in Spigot adware distribution:

spigot adware installer sample 4 spigot adware installer sample 3 spigot adware installer sample 2 spigot adware installer

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Quick menu:

Spigot 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.

spigot adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for "Browser Extensions" and "Search Protection", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling PUPs (which cause unwanted ads and browser redirects to Yahoo.com), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your computer is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Spigot adware removal from Internet browsers:

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

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing spigot adware from Internet Explorer extensions

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

Change homepage:

Removing Spigot from Intenret Explorer homepage

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove search.yahoo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about:blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change default search engine:

Removing Spigot from Internet Explorer default search engine settings

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Yahoo".

If you continue to have problems with redirects to search.yahoo.com, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the spigot toolbar, 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 spigot adware from Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "Amazon Shopping Assistant by Spigot", "Domain Error Assistant", "eBay Shopping Assistant by Spigot", and "Slick Savings", select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change homepage:

Removing Spigot from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over search.yahoo.com and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default search engine:

Removing Spigot from Google Chrome default search engine settings

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Yahoo" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the spigot toolbar, 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing spigot adware from Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Ebay Shopping Assistant by Spigot", "Slick Savings" and "Start Page".

Change homepage:

Removing Spigot from Mozilla Firefox homepage

To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove search.yahoo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "yahoo"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with spigot toolbar 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 spigot toolbar, 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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Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

QR Code
Spigot Toolbar QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Spigot Toolbar on your mobile device.
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