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Ads by PlayGEM

Also Known As: PlayGEM adware
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is PlayGEM?

The PlayGEM application supposedly allows users to play an addictive puzzle game. On initial inspection, this app might seem legitimate, however, PlayGEM is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware. Three main reasons for these negative associations are: stealth installation; tracking of Internet browsing activity, and; display of intrusive online advertisements.

PlayGEM adware

The developers (App Shake LTD) designed PlayGEM to generate pop-up, banner, and other similar ads. To achieve this, the software employs a virtual layer, which allows placement any graphical content on visited websites.

Advertisements generated by this application may seem relevant, however, some can redirect to bogus sites containing infectious content - clicking them can lead to further computer infections. None of these ads originate from the visited websites and overlay a great proportion of underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

PlayGEM continually monitors Internet browsing activity and gathers information regarding users' Internet browsing habits including websites visited, pages viewed, search queries entered into search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.), Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and other similar information (some of which might be personally identifiable).

This collected data is later shared with third parties and misused to generate revenue. Thus, having PlayGEM installed on your system might cause various privacy issues or even identity theft. To eliminate this threat, uninstall PlayGEM adware immediately.

PlayGEM is not the only adware-type application with this behavior. In fact, all adware (including ZiperFlyCatered to You, WhiteWindow, and Treasure Track) claims to enhance the Internet browsing experience simply to trick users to install.

After infiltrating Internet browsers (usually Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) adware simply displays ads and gathers personal data. The purpose of apps such as PlayGEM is to generate revenue for the developers - they provide no real value for the user.

How did PlayGEM install on my computer?

This application infiltrates systems using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of bogus apps with regular software. This method is very effective, since many users do not pay enough attention when downloading and installing software.

Developers intentionally hide rogue apps such as PlayGEM within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Unaware of this, many users skip this section. Thus, by rushing the download and installation processes, they often install potentially unwanted apps inadvertently and expose their systems to risk of further computer infections.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Prevent installation of adware-type apps by taking a numbers of simple steps. Firstly, pay close attention when downloading and installing software - follow each step and decline all offers to install additional programs.

These two processes can only be safely performed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any concealed rogue applications such as PlayGEM and enable you to cancel them. The key to computer safety is caution. Do not rush the download or installation processes.

Deceptive free software installers used in PlayGem adware distribution:

playgemcollection adware installer sample 2 playgem adware installer

PlayGem adware generating intrusive pop-up ads (generated ads are identical to the ones displayed by GamesDesktop and MovieDea adware):

playgem adware generating pop-up ads sample 2 playgem adware generating pop-up ads

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Quick menu:

PlayGEM 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.

playgem adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "PlayGem 1.0", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove PlayGEM adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, PlayGEM 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 PlayGEM 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 PlayGEM ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the playgem adware, 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 PlayGEM  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 PlayGEM ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the playgem adware, 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 PlayGEM 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 PlayGEM ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with playgem adware 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 playgem adware, 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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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
PlayGEM adware QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of PlayGEM adware on your mobile device.
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