Superfish ads: what it is and how to remove it
Superfish (also known as WindowShopper) is a widely known adware , which hijacks computers and starts displaying pop-up ads and banners without user's approval. Also, this potentially unwanted program can collect information related to people's search sessions, cause browser redirects and initiate other activities behind their back.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Superfish ads: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Superfish |
| Type | Adware extension |
| Symptoms | Redirects to an unknown domain |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 6 more facts
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Domains | lesvirus.fr |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 5 August 2017 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Superfish ads dangerous?
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Superfish adware forces people to see annoying third-party ads
Superfish (also known as WindowShopper) is a widely known adware , which hijacks computers and starts displaying pop-up ads and banners without user's approval.
Also, this potentially unwanted program can collect information related to people's search sessions, cause browser redirects and initiate other activities behind their back.
After collecting a required amount of data (it includes search terms, information about mostly visited websites, email addresses, login names, etc.), Superfish virus sends it to its developers. Beware that this information may be sold to unknown parties that may try to use it for illegal aims!
That's why we do NOT recommend you to deal with this program. In fact, we would like to recommend you avoiding all shopping helpers and assistants because such programs can hardly help you to save the money during your shopping sessions.
Their aim is to cause "Similar Products Powered by Superfish" ads and similar content that could redirect people to predetermined websites and generate pay-per-click income.
Fortunately, to remove Superfish malware is just as easy as to prevent its filtration to your computer. For that, make sure that you avoid its official website and also monitor installation of the freeware, which is usually involved in the distribution of such "helpers".
Programs that you should install with an extreme carefulness are various download managers, PDF creators, video streaming software and similar apps. To know more about recommended steps that are required during the installation of the freeware, you should check the next paragraph. Do not forget to remove Superfish from your computer! For that you can use or other reliable anti-spyware.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Superfish Inc VisualDiscovery was pre-installed on some Lenovo computers
Superfish is also a term associated with malware detected on some Lenovo computers .
This software was actively distributed in 2010, and then Lenovo decided to bundle this adware program with some of its computers in 2014.
A little later, in 2015, the US Department of Homeland Security recommended removing Superfish Inc VisualDiscovery from computers, stating that it creates security vulnerabilities in computers that could be exploited during cyber attacks. At the time, the suspicious software had over 80 million users worldwide.
Lenovo Superfish virus is known for an ability to inject ads into search results despite the type of web search engine used. On top of that, the software was analyzed, and it turned out that it intercepts encrypted SSL/TLS connections. Lenovo has released official instructions on how to uninstall Super Fish adware.
Please use the instructions provided below the article to identify and delete this adware if you suspect that you have it on your computer system.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Adware typically sneaks into computer systems alongside other freeware
Just like a hijack of WindowShopper and Yontoo, Superfish hijack issue interrupts you unexpectedly.
LesVirus.fr says that there are many users in France who were affected by this particular adware . In most of the cases, it appears right after installing free software. Unfortunately, people are still failing to monitor installation of programs that they need. That's how they get tricked into agreeing to install optional components that are capable of altering system settings and causing unwanted activities on each of web browsers.
To avoid such unexpected downloads, you should start checking what programs you download to your computer. For that, you should read the Privacy Policy, End User's License Agreement and similar information that is given about freeware.
Also, you should start choosing only Custom or Advanced installation option when downloading programs from the Internet. This will help you to see all 'additional' components that are typically offered for free in a bundle with free software. If you have already noticed annoying ads during your search sessions, you should follow the guide we added to this post and fix your computer.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
lesvirus.fr
How to remove Superfish ads
How to remove the Superfish extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Superfish rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Superfish that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Below, we present Superfish virus removal guide. Look for entries with such phrases as "Superfish Inc. VisualDiscovery," "Superfish," "Windows Shopper," "Deal," "Search Protect" etc. and remove each of them. How to remove Superfish certificate? After removing the adware, you need to find its certificate and delete it. Here's what you need to do: 1. Use Windows search and type "certificate" without commas. Choose Manage computer certificates result. 2. The computer will ask you whether you want to allow the program to make changes to your PC. Click Yes. 3. On the left side of the Certificate Manager, select Trusted Root Certificate Authorities (the folder should expand) and then choose Certificates. 4. Now look on your right and find Superfish, Inc. folder. Right-click it and select Delete. Confirm your choice by choosing Yes in the prompt that appears. 4. Reboot your computer.
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Wondering how to remove Superfish from Google Chrome? Delete suspicious Chrome add-ons that might be serving Superfish ads to you.
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
1. To remove SuperFish from Firefox, open the browser and go to Settings > Options. 2. Here, go to Advanced tab and then to Certificates. Click View Certificates. 3. Now, go to Authorities tab and find Superfish, Inc. Select it and choose Delete or Distrust... 4. Once the Delete or Distrust CA Certificates pop-up appears, select the program again and click OK. 5. Restart the computer. Additionally, you can perform this step: 1. Go to Firefox and enter about:config into the address bar. Hit Enter. 2. Click the "I'll be careful, I promise!" button to proceed. 3. Now, use the search provided at the top of the page to look for superfish. Three or more entries should be found. Right-click on each of them and choose Reset. In addition, complete these instructions to remove unwanted Firefox add-ons:
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Superfish removal guidelines
All the tools that you can use for Superfish removal are listed below.
By using them, you can remove this adware and EACH of its components automatically. To get the best result, make sure that you update your anti-spyware to its latest version and run a full system scan. As soon as it finishes its scan, remove detected files from your computer.
The other method that you can rely on when trying to remove Superfish virus is called manual removal method. In this case, you should try to find every component that is related to this adware manually. When using this option, check your Task manager to disable any active adware processes and then inspect each of web browsers.
How to remove Superfish certificate?
After removing the adware, you need to find its certificate and delete it. Here's what you need to do:
1. Use Windows search and type "certificate" without commas. Choose Manage computer certificates result.
2. The computer will ask you whether you want to allow the program to make changes to your PC. Click Yes.
3. On the left side of the Certificate Manager, select Trusted Root Certificate Authorities (the folder should expand) and then choose Certificates.
4. Now look on your right and find Superfish, Inc. folder. Right-click it and select Delete. Confirm your choice by choosing Yes in the prompt that appears.
4. Reboot your computer.
Settings > Options.
2. Here, go to Advanced tab and then to Certificates. Click View Certificates.
3. Now, go to Authorities tab and find Superfish, Inc. Select it and choose Delete or Distrust...
4. Once the Delete or Distrust CA Certificates pop-up appears, select the program again and click OK.
5. Restart the computer.
Additionally, you can perform this step:
1. Go to Firefox and enter about:config into the address bar. Hit Enter.
2. Click the "I'll be careful, I promise!" button to proceed.
3. Now, use the search provided at the top of the page to look for superfish. Three or more entries should be found. Right-click on each of them and choose Reset.
In addition, complete these instructions to remove unwanted Firefox add-ons:
Questions about Superfish ads
Why does my browser keep going to lesvirus.fr?
Something is sending it there. On one site only, that site's ads are the cause and leaving the site ends it.
On many different sites, the usual causes are an extension you installed with something else, a site you once allowed to send notifications, or an ad-supported program in Windows that changes how the browser behaves. lesvirus.fr itself is only a stop on the way: it records the visit and forwards you to whatever advertiser pays most.
Check the extensions page, then the list of sites allowed to send notifications, then Installed apps sorted by date. Removing the cause stops the redirects; blocking the domain alone usually does not, because the network moves to a new one.
Should I worry about redirects to lesvirus.fr?
Worry less about lesvirus.fr itself and more about what keeps sending you there. A single redirect from a free streaming or download site is normal and harmless once the tab is closed.
Repeated redirects on sites that used to work fine mean something in the browser or in Windows changed, often an extension or program installed alongside other software. It may also collect the pages you visit. Remove the cause with the steps in this guide, and do not act on anything the redirected pages ask:
- no Allow clicks
- no downloads
- no calls
If you already did one of those, the matching section of this guide explains what to do next.
Why does Superfish show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. Superfish is an adware extension, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of redirects through ad pages.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Do I have to clean every browser?
Yes, if you use more than one. We saw Superfish in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and each browser keeps its own extensions, notification permissions and settings. Chrome and Edge share the same extension format, so one installer can add the same adware to both, while Firefox has its own add-ons.
Check every browser on the PC, including ones you rarely open. If you sync a browser with an account, clean it while signed in, so that the removal reaches your other computers rather than the adware returning from them.
How do I know the ads come from Superfish?
Look for redirects to lesvirus.fr. That is the trace Superfish leaves, and it shows up as redirects through ad pages. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Superfish?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
Will Fortect remove Superfish?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Superfish, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Ars Technica: After phishing attacks, Chrome extensions push adware to millions (read October 6, 2026)
- CNET News: Lenovo's Superfish security snafu blows up in its face (read October 6, 2026)
- LesVirus: LesVirus (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)