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Optical Surf Adware

Also Known As: Optical Surf ads
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Optical Surf?

Developed by SuperWeb LLC, Optical Surf is a rogue browser plug-in claiming to improve the Internet browsing experience by enabling comparison shopping, coupons, and other similar functions. While this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Optical Surf is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

The developers of this rogue application employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software) to install Optical Surf on Internet browsers without users' permission.

After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Optical Surf delivers numerous intrusive online advertisements including (but not limited to) banner, interstitial, transitional, search, pop-up, and full-page ads. There is a high probability that clicking advertisements generated by this PUP will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.

Optical surf adware

Optical Surf continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information such as unique identifier numbers, search queries entered into search engines, website URLs visited, pages viewed, IP addresses (to determine users' geographical locations), and other similar information that may be personally identifiable.

This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. SuperWeb LLC has released over one hundred potentially unwanted programs that are completely identical to Optical Surf. For example, Byte Label, Neon Great, and Deja Data. Neither Optical Surf, nor any of these other applications, are useful to the user.

This company releases identical browser plug-ins under different names to avoid detection by legitimate anti-virus and anti-spyware suites. The purpose of these plug-ins is to generate revenue by sharing collected data with third parties and displaying intrusive online ads, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Optical Surf from your Internet browsers.

Close examination of Optical Surf reveals that it is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, download.com, softonic.com and many others.

Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of advertised (according to the developers, '100% legitimate and virus-free') browser add-ons together with the chosen free software.

Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections. Installation of Optical Surf, or other similar adware, can be prevented by closely observing each step of the free software download process and clicking 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.

Additionally, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

If your system is infected with Optical Surf, and you see 'Ads by Optical Surf', 'Optical Surf Deals', or 'Powered by Optical Surf' advertisements while browsing the Internet, read the following removal guide and uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installer used in Optical Surf adware distribution:

optical surf adware installer

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Quick menu:

Optical Surf 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.

Optical Surf adware uninstall via Control Panel

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

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

Remove Optical Surf adware from Internet browsers:

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

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

Removing Optical Surf 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 "Optical Surf", select this entry and click "Remove".

Removing Optical Surf ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the optical surf 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 Optical Surf  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: "Optical Surf", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Removing Optical Surf ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the optical surf 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 Optical Surf 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 "Optical Surf".

Removing Optical Surf ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with optical surf 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 optical surf 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.

Post a comment:
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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.

QR Code
Optical Surf ads QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Optical Surf ads on your mobile device.
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