Remove Swagbucks toolbar (Uninstall Instructions) - Jun 2018 updated
Swagbucks toolbar Removal Guide
Description of Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a potentially unwanted program which usually affects Mac OS devices
Swagbucks is a toolbar that falls into the category of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). Researchers warn that it mostly targets to infect Mac OS computers and spreads via bogus ads on Facebook. Once installed, it alters browser settings and redirects people to a fraudulent search engine during daily browsing sessions.
| Name | Swagbucks |
|---|---|
| Type | Potentially unwanted program (PUP) |
| Targets | Mac OS |
| Danger level | Medium |
| Distribution | It can infect the computer via bogus Facebook ad or travel inside the software-bundle |
| Symptoms | It changes new tab URL, default search directory and homepage. Also, users are redirected to unreliable sites and receive an excessive amount of ads |
| Removal | Experts suggest using FortectIntego to uninstall Swagbucks safely |
Usually, experts receive questions asking is Swagbucks safe since people cannot find trustworthy information online. Unfortunately, we can assure you that this potentially unwanted program can put your computer's security at risk by the following actions:
- Might infiltrate the system with other potentially unwanted programs;
- May redirect to shady websites where hackers distribute malware, spyware and other cyber threats;
- Collects information about its users that might later be misused and lead to severe privacy-related issues.
Furthermore, even though Swagbucks virus is a common term online, this application cannot be categorised as a virus. However, it has a vast of negative features that might harm your computer. One of the main ones is data collection via tacking Cookies to display ads that would interest you.
Once installed, Swagbucks app starts gathering non-personally identifiable information about its users. For example, browser history, clicked ads, device parameters, IP address, geolocation, etc. These details are used to customise advertisements that would lure you into clicking on them.
Unfortunately, Swagbucks ads might be potentially dangerous and either redirect to suspicious sites or directly start downloading malware on your system. Thus, we do not recommend using this toolbar or related applications.
In fact, we strongly advise you to remove Swagbucks from Mac and Windows. For that, please follow instructions provided at the end of this article. Note, that getting rid of this PUP might get complicated and dangerous. Therefore, pay extreme attention to the guidelines.
If you want to avoid the struggle with Swagbucks removal, get FortectIntego or another reputable anti-malware software and let it uninstall the potentially unwanted program and other applications related to it.
Learn how PUPs can reach your computer
Before talking about the prevention, one must understand how PUPs are distributed. Similar to other cyber threats, Swagbucks app travels inside software-bundles on infects the device via bogus ads. These are most common PUP spreading methods employed worldwide.
Bundling technique allows the developers to hide their untrustworthy products inside the installers of free programs. This way, people do not recognise that they are installing two apps instead of one. Even though such method is entirely legitimate, experts say it's highly unfair from the standpoint of novice computer users.
However, you can avoid PUPs and similar cyber threats if you pick Advanced/Custom settings instead of Quick/Recommended ones. These parameters will reveal additional installations which will be marked as pre-selected checkmarks. You must de-select them and scan your computer files with an antivirus.
Get rid of Swagbucks Mac version
Even though this PUP isn't as dangerous as ransomware, Swagbucks removal can get tricky. This happens when people delay its elimination, and the program installs additional browser extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons. They are hidden deep inside the system and might be hard to identify.
Therefore, if this toolbar has been on your computer for several weeks now, we recommend you to remove Swagbucks only with a professional malware removal software. The list of recommended ones is displayed below.
If you have just noticed the so-called Swagbucks virus on your system, you can get rid of it by following the guidelines at the end of this article. Remember that you will need to reset each of the affected browsers after the elimination as shown.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Swagbucks toolbar. Follow these steps
Uninstall Swagbucks toolbar in Windows systems
If Swagbucks has infected your Windows computer, you should search for additional programs that might support its potentially dangerous activity.
Terminate suspicious programs from Windows 10/8 machines by following these instructions:
- Type Control Panel into Windows search and once the result shows up hit Enter.
- Under Programs, choose Uninstall a program.
- Find components related to suspicious programs.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- Click Yes when User Account Control shows up.
- Wait for the process of uninstallation to be done and click OK.
Windows 7/XP instructions:
- Click on Windows Start and go to Control Panel on the right pane.
- Choose Add/Remove Programs.
- Select Uninstall a program under Programs in Control Panel.
- Click once on the unwanted application.
- Click Uninstall/Change at the top.
- Confirm with Yes.
- Click OK and finish the removal.
Uninstall Swagbucks toolbar in Mac OS X system
Swagbucks on Mac OS X can be dangerous and infiltrate the system with other cyber threats. Thus, you must get rid of all unknown software from your computer before it starts damaging it.
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Users who use OS X should click on Go button, which can be found at the top left corner of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Swagbucks toolbar or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Swagbucks toolbar from Microsoft Edge
Delete suspicious extensions from MS Edge:
- Go to the Menu by clicking on the three horizontal dots at the top-right.
- Then pick Extensions.
- Choose the unwanted add-ons on the list and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other data:
- Click on the Menu and from the context menu select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
- Choose everything except passwords, and click on Clear.
Alter new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge fully:
- Click on the keyboard Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Choose More details arrow at the bottom.
- Go to Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it.
- Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
When none of the above solves the issue, you might need an advanced Edge reset method, but you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on the PC: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on the selection and choose Delete
- Right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions:
- Open Edge and click Settings.
- Then find Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions with the Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and then Settings.
- Find Privacy and services.
- Locate Clear browsing data, then click Choose what to clear.
- Time range.
- Click All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge browser fully:
- Go to Settings.
- On the left side, choose Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Click Reset.
Delete Swagbucks toolbar from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove suspicious Firefox extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the three horizontal lines at the top-right to open the menu.
- Select Add-ons in the context menu.
- Choose plugins that are creating issues and select Remove.
Reset the homepage on the browser:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner.
- This time select Options.
- Under Home section, enter your preferred site for the homepage that will open every time you launch Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Find the Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to choose Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data… option.
- Click Cookies and Site Data, Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox:
If none of the steps above helped you, reset Mozilla Firefox as follows:
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to the menu.
- Click Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Locate Give Firefox a tune-up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox on the pop-up.
Chrome browser reset
Find and remove suspicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- In Google Chrome, open the Menu by clicking three vertical dots at the top-right corner.
- Select More tools > Extensions.
- Once the window opens, you will see all the installed extensions.
- Find any suspicious add-ons related to any PUP.
- Uninstall them by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click the Menu and select Settings.
- Find Privacy and security section.
- Choose Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history.
- Cookies and other site data, also Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Alter settings of the homepage:
- Go to the menu and choose Settings.
- Find odd entries in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages.
- Then click on three dots and look for the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome fully:
You might need to reset Google Chrome and properly eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Go to Chrome Settings.
- Once there, scroll down to expand Advanced section.
- Scroll down to choose Reset and clean up.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Reset settings again.
Delete Swagbucks toolbar from Safari
Once the adware hijacks the system, it is hard to get rid of it. Note that you should uninstall all untrustworthy extensions and other add-ons from Safari.
Get rid of questionable extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari.
- Then go to Preferences…
- Choose Extensions on the menu.
- Select the unwanted extension and then pick Uninstall.
Clear cookies from Safari:
- Click Safari.
- Choose Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, find and pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari fully:
- Click Safari and then Preferences…
- Choose the Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in the menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop.
- Then select Empty Caches.
Even if you have completed all the steps above, we still strongly recommend you to scan your computer system with a powerful anti-malware software. It is advisable to do that because an automatic malware removal tool can detect and delete all remains of Swagbucks toolbar, for instance, its registry keys. The anti-malware program can help you to easily detect and eliminate possibly dangerous software and malicious viruses in an easy way. You can use any of our top-rated malware removal programs: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting browser plugins
Securely connect to your website wherever you are
Sometimes you may need to log in to a content management system or server more often, especially if you are actively working on a blog, website, or different project that needs constant maintenance or that requires frequent content updates or other changes. Avoiding this problem can be easy if you choose a dedicated/fixed IP address. It's a static IP address that only belongs to a specific device and does not change when you are in different locations.
VPN service providers such as Private Internet Access can help you with these settings. This tool can help you control your online reputation and successfully manage your projects wherever you are. It is important to prevent different IP addresses from connecting to your website. With a dedicated/fixed IP address, VPN service, and secure access to a content management system, your project will remain secure.
Reduce the threat of viruses by backing up your data
Due to their own careless behavior, computer users can suffer various losses caused by cyber infections. Viruses can affect the functionality of the software or directly corrupt data on your system by encrypting it. These problems can disrupt the system and cause you to lose personal data permanently. There is no such threat if you have the latest backups, as you can easily recover lost data and get back to work.
It is recommended to update the backups in parallel each time the system is modified. This way, you will be able to access the latest saved data after an unexpected virus attack or system failure. By having the latest copies of important documents and projects, you will avoid serious inconveniences. File backups are especially useful if malware attacks your system unexpectedly. We recommend using the Data Recovery Pro program to restore the system.
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