Why does it do this? It is so that it is able to tailor make the Ad Browser ads that you see to meet your requirements or match your interests. And if you're still thinking that this doesn't sound particularly bad – in fact it may even seem quite handy – don't forget that this means that an anonymous third party is watching what you are doing whenever you are connected to the Internet.
And that's not all because so that it, or more accurately the adware's programmer, can see what sites you browse, the Ad Browser installs a tracking component onto your PC. And it is precisely this component that can cause you issues. For a start it is using your Internet connection to relay the data it collects on you back to the programmer and that slows down your connection to the point that it might even cause your browser to keep on crashing. The component is also working away behind the scenes of your computer and that in turn can slow your CPU right down too.
In addition to this, as if that wasn't enough to contend with, advertising supported software often makes it easier for other types of malware to infect your computer – namely spyware, which is similar to the tracking component but takes its monitoring activity to a whole new level.
So the big question is – how do you protect yourself from Ad Browser and stop it from installing itself on your PC?
The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to try and avoid the menace of adware. Here are some of the main ones:
- Install (and run regularly) good anti-malware software
- Do not download software or applications from third party websites – download directly from the publisher wherever possible
- Don't open files or click on links in emails or instant messages if you don't recognize the sender
- If you are downloading something ensure you read the License Agreement properly so you know just what it is you are installing
- Install pop-up blockers and a firewall
- If you encounter any pop-up windows – including Ad Browser ads – to close them click the little red 'x' in the corner of the pop-up. 'OK' or 'Close' buttons can be rigged so that if you click on them they trigger another installation – such as more adware or another type of malware
Written by Michael Kaur, http://delmalware.blogspot.com
Ad Browser Ads Removal Guide:
1. First of all, download anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this malware. Hopefully you won't have to do that.
2. Remove Ad Browser related programs from your computer using the Add/Remove Programs control panel (Windows XP) or Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7 and Windows 8).
Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs.
If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.
If you are using Windows 8, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".
Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.
3. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following:
- Ad Browser
- GoSave
- deals4me
- SaveNewaAppz
- and any other recently installed application
Simply select each application and click Remove. If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.
Remove Ad Browser related extensions from Google Chrome:
1. Click on Chrome menu button. Go to Tools → Extensions.
2. Click on the trashcan icon to remove Ad Browser 1.0.1, MediaPlayerV1, Gosave, HD-Plus 3.5 and other extensions that you do not recognize.
If the removal option is grayed out then read how to remove extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Remove Ad Browser related extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
1. Open Mozilla Firefox. Go to Tools → Add-ons.
2. Select Extensions. Click Remove button to remove Ad Browser 1.0.1, Gosave, MediaPlayerV1, HD-Plus 3.5 and other extensions that you do not recognize.
Remove Ad Browser related add-ons from Internet Explorer:
1. Open Internet Explorer. Go to Tools → Manage Add-ons. If you have the latest version, simply click on the Settings button.
2. Select Toolbars and Extensions. Click Remove/Disable button to remove the browser add-ons listed above.