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Content Explorer Virus

Also Known As: Content Explorer Shopping ads
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Content Explorer?

The Content Explorer application claims to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling quick and easy content discovery. This app provides access to Wikipedia and other popular sites after highlighting text on any web page. While this functionality may seem legitimate, this program is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

 Content Explorer adds no real value and generates intrusive third party ads ('Ads by Content Explorer' and 'Content Explorer Shopping'), including for example, banner, text, and pop-up advertisements. Clicking ads displayed by this app can result in high-risk malware infections.

content explorer virus

As well as generating deceptive ads, this bogus program tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, operating systems, browsers, search queries, browsing history, and other software and hardware information.

This unwanted tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. At time of research, this adware was distributed via deceptive free software 'download clients' designed to trick users into installing Content Explorer without their consent. To avoid damage caused by poorly-programmed adware, eliminate this potentially unwanted application from your Internet browser/s.

Content Explorer is similar to other adware, which infiltrates browsers via freeware downloads. Examples include DeealHomeTab, Boost, and SaveOn. These browser extensions claim to enhance users' Internet browsing experience, however, they only diminish browser performance and cause intrusive ads.

To avoid installation of these potentially unwanted applications, express caution when downloading and installing free software. Today, most freeware download websites employ deceptive 'download clients' to monetize their free services.

Download clients are small programs, which manage the download process of the chosen free software and offer download of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen freeware. To avoid adware infections, users should decline installation of any promoted browser extensions.

In addition, when installing downloaded free programs, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled adware listed for installation. Internet users who observe ads generated by Content Explorer should use this removal guide to eliminate this potentially unwanted program from their Internet browser/s.

Deceptive free software installers used in Content Explorer adware distribution:

content explorer adware installer sample 4 content explorer adware installer sample 3 content explorer adware installer sample 2 content explorer adware installer

Content Explorer adware generating intrusive online ads:

content explorer generating pop-up ads content explorer adware generating deal ads content explorer generating in-text ads

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Quick menu:

Content Explorer 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.

content explorer uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for "ContentExplorer", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Content Explorer ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Content Explorer ads from Internet browsers:

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

Internet Explorer logo Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing content explorer 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 browser add-ons and remove them. Note that by default, there should be no browser extensions.

Removing content explorer from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the content explorer shopping ads, 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 logo Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing content explorer from Google Chrome step 1

Click the Chrome icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed (potentially unwanted) browser add-ons and click the trash can icon.

Removing content explorer from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the content explorer shopping ads, 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 logo Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing content explorer 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window remove any recently-installed add-ons. Note that by default, the extensions list in Firefox is empty.

Removing content explorer from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with content explorer shopping ads 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 content explorer shopping ads, 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.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Removal Instructions in other languages
Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

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

QR Code
Content Explorer Shopping ads QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Content Explorer Shopping ads on your mobile device.
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