Cookie Stuffing browser extension (virus) - Free Guide

What is Cookie Stuffing browser extension?

Cookie Stuffing browser extension can jeopardize user privacy and security

Crooks can generate revenue through affiliate IDs while you're shopping online

Cookie Stuffing browser extensions are developed by crooks to insert affiliate IDs into the Internet cookies^[1] of specific websites. Most often, these are shopping websites so fraudsters could generate revenue. When a person purchases something, they would earn a commission.

Most often, such plugins are advertised as “handy” tools that can help people save money while shopping, find good deals, coupon codes, etc. However, often the promised functions do not work at all. There is no point in keeping them installed as they can lead to serious privacy and security issues.

Extension functionalities

Some cookie stuffing extensions can cause push notification spam. Unfortunately, crooks mainly use rogue advertising networks^[2] that place ads leading to dangerous websites. People can end up on scam pages that try to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),^[3] and even malware.

Malicious plugins may also be capable of managing clipboard data. The extension can operate as a clipboard hijacker. For example, this type of add-on can detect when a user has copied a cryptocurrency wallet address and replace it with an address that belongs to fraudsters when it is pasted.

Even though the primary goal of cookie stuffing is to collect data about shopping sites that people use frequently, the extensions could collect other data, like usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Hijacker extensions can change the main browser settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine. This way, people are forced to use only selected channels for browsing. It raises many user privacy and security concerns. Often, the changes remain until the app is completely removed.

Distribution methods

Quite often crooks create separate “official” promotional websites for their bogus applications. There they boast about all the non-existent functions and try to convince people to download them. They may use various social engineering methods to lure people in.

Promotional pages are created to convince people to install malicious plugins

Cookie Stuffing browser extensions may also sneak into the system through fake downloader pages. We recommend only visiting websites that you know and trust. Do not click on random links and ads even if they seem to be promoting legitimate products, and services.

Most importantly, do not use sites that engage in illegal activities, like Torrent websites, peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms, etc. They are unregulated so they are the perfect breeding ground for deceptive ads, and sneaky redirects. By clicking “Download” on a suspicious page, you may install something completely different than you were expecting.

Cookies are used to track user activity

Web-based applications can use cookies to track your browsing activity. They can store data such as the websites you visit, links you click on, things you type in the search, and what you purchase online. The data can later be sold to advertising networks or other third parties.

We recommend using a maintenance tool like FortectIntego, which can automatically clear your browsers from cookies and cache, clear up space, fix corrupted files, system errors and optimize the performance of the device, which is especially useful after a virus infection.

How to remove Cookie Stuffing browser extensions?

You can remove browser plugins by going to your browser settings:

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

MS Edge:

1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
3. Click on Uninstall at the bottom.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

Check your system for adware

If you think you are infected by a Cookie Stuffing browser extension, and you tried to remove it but were unsuccessful, you should check your system for adware.^[4] If you experience settings changing, pop-ups, and banners appearing, the best option is to use professional security tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes to make sure you get rid of not only the PUA itself but also all the related files and entries.

The program may not be named the same as the extension, so it can be complicated to identify it. Sometimes developers disguise such apps as system optimizers, antivirus software, or other “handy” tools so users would not suspect them. Anti-malware tools can detect suspicious processes in your machine and eliminate them entirely.

However, if you are sure you know which program is causing the symptoms and manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.