MoneyFriend ads (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Virus Removal Instructions
MoneyFriend ads Removal Guide
What is MoneyFriend ads?
MoneyFriend is a highly dangerous adware program that operates like malware
MoneyFriend is an aggressive adware program that adds various extensions[1] to Chrome without user’s knowledge or permission. On top of that, the malicious program sets up a proxy server on victim’s PC.
The program poses a risk to user’s computer; therefore an immediate MoneyFriend removal is required to lower the risk of further system infections.
With the help of this server, the adware easily redirects users to predetermined websites, launches pop-up windows and loads third-party offers in them, or displays banners. The adware is also capable of monitoring web traffic and adding JavaScript codes to websites the visitor opens.
The adware installs Proxomitron proxy server[2] on the target computer and then configures victim’s browsers to connect to web sites via it. The server places ads on websites the victim attempts to access and allows the developer of the adware to spy on victim’s browsing history as well as research which ads lure the victim to click on them.
Like that wasn’t enough, MoneyFriend virus infects Chrome and Firefox browsers with extensions that are designed to cause redirections to third-party websites, serve in-text ads and place banners on random Internet sites[3].
When infected with this adware, it can be hard to understand when the ad originates from the website and when is it an ad brought by Money Friend. The adware is known to be promoting these deceptive add-ons:
- MSoft Update;
- IndiaShopps;
- Furniture Guru.
If you noticed that your computer acts suspiciously and that your browsers suddenly display massive amounts of ads no matter which website you decide to visit, it is time to perform a system check and remove MoneyFriend ASAP.
We highly suggest using anti-malware program such as FortectIntego for the removal of this virus, because it won’t be easy to reverse all configurations that it made on your PC manually.
Ways to protect your PC from dangerous adware
MoneyFriend hijack occurs when the computer user decides to install a couple of programs in a rush. If you’re in need for a certain free program, carefully investigate the website that provides its download link. Find out whether your chosen site promotes software bundles or not. If it does, stay clear of it.
Software bundles are simple programs that suggest installing several additional programs alongside them. This allows them to earn pay-per-install revenue. Sadly, the proposed programs usually have low reputation.
To prevent unexpected software installations, always rely on Custom/Advanced settings when installing new programs on your PC. Choosing these settings allows deselecting the suggested extras and preventing their installation. It takes less than a minute to perform such simple configuration.
Remove MoneyFriend adware from the system
You shouldn’t try to ignore the suspicious behavior of your hijackers and remove MoneyFriend virus to prevent further damage to your PC. remember that the described adware is not only annoying – it poses a threat to your privacy, too.
Besides, the fact that it can install browser extensions silently reminds us of malware behavior. For this reason, we strictly recommend using anti-malware program for MoneyFriend removal. Attempts to delete the hijacker and the server it establishes manually might result in failure.
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 MoneyFriend ads. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Please read the provided guide very carefully. It is very hard to delete the described adware manually, but if you're willing to try, you have to pay close attention to details and do not try to rush. Uninstall all unknown programs using the provided guide and clean affected browser shortcuts.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- 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:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, 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 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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Delete the following extensions from Firefox: IndiaShopps, MSoft Update, Furniture Guru. Refresh Firefox afterwards.
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete questionable extensions from Chrome, including Furniture Guru, IndiaShopps and MSoft Update. Reset your browser afterward.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of MoneyFriend registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting adware
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
- ^ Malware in Browser Extensions. ENISA. Publications.
- ^ Proxomitron. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ Olivia Morelli. Czym jest oprogramowanie generujące reklamy i jak go usunąć?. UsunWirusa. Virus Removal Instructions.