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Wise-Buy Adware

Also Known As: Ads by Wise-Buy
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Wise-Buy?

According to the developers, the Wise-Buy add-on saves time and money when shopping online by generating coupons, displaying special deals/discounts available on various online stores, and so on - "ONLINE SHOPPING is now made wiser. Just install the Wise-Buy add-on on your browser!"

Some users might believe that Wise-Buy is a legitimate and useful plug-in, however, this is adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). One of the main reasons for these negative associations is stealth installation. Wise-Buy infiltrates web browsers without users' permission, gathers information relating to users' Internet browsing activity, and delivers intrusive online advertisements.

Wise-Buy adware

As with other regular adware, Wise-Buy employs a 'virtual layer' to deliver coupon, price comparison, pop-up, and other similar intrusive ads. Many users are unaware that none of these advertisements originate from their visited sites. By concealing underlying web content, the ads significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience.

Furthermore, some redirect to dubious sites that may contain infectious content, and thus, clicking them is risky and may lead to further adware or malware infections.

In addition, Wise-Buy continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity and collects various software/hardware information including IP addresses, websites visited, search queries, pages viewed and activity on those pages, etc.

Some of this information might contain personally identifiable details that developers later share with third parties who can misuse it to generate revenue. Thus, having Wise-Buy installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues. You are strongly advised to uninstall Wise-Buy adware immediately.

There are hundreds of PUPs with identical behavior to Wise-Buy adware including, for example, HaggleDazzle, FantasticDiscounts, Big-Bonus, and SwytShop. These apps also claim to save time and money, however, they give these fake promises simply to trick users to install.

Their purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. After infiltration, Wise-Buy and other similar applications, merely track Internet browsing activity and display intrusive online advertisements. Adware-type applications never deliver the functionality promised.

How did Wise-Buy install on my computer?

Wise-Buy adware is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of rogue apps with regular software. Developers hide dubious applications within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' download/installation settings. Unaware of this, users often skip this section and rush the download and installation processes.

In doing so, they go on to install PUPs. The developers are concerned only with the amount of revenue generated (which is dependent on the number of applications distributed), and thus, they do not properly disclose installation of Wise-Buy and other similar apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The only way to prevent installation of adware-type applications is to pay close attention during the download and installation processes. Select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings during these processes and follow each step. Furthermore, never accept offers to download or install additional applications, since bundled software is most likely to be rogue.

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Quick menu:

Wise-Buy 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.

Wise-Buy adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Wise-Buy", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Wise-Buy adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Wise-Buy 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 Wise-Buy 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 Wise-Buy ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by wise-buy, 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 Wise-Buy  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 Wise-Buy ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by wise-buy, 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 Wise-Buy 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 Wise-Buy ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by wise-buy 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 ads by wise-buy, 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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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
Ads by Wise-Buy QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Ads by Wise-Buy on your mobile device.
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