NetPanel Study is the web browser extension that can read or even change data regarding the websites you visit

NetPanel Study browser extension is the potentially unwanted application that can work as an investigation tool and keep records of your browsing activities to improve your experience online. Unfortunately, this activity can be used against the user instead. This is the main reason why people online and cybersecurity experts consider this program intrusive and possibly dangerous. Free downloads and installs of this browser tool do not disclose this web activity tracking function and the fact that other software can get installed on the device without your knowledge.
The potentially unwanted program or so-called NetPanel Study virus behaves like spyware[1] and gathers information about users' behavior from the minute it is installed on Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Fortunately, when you install this application yourself you can see the warning message about a particular activity, but this threat, in most cases, comes without your permission and people only notice the symptoms, not the infiltration.
| Name | NetPanel Study |
|---|---|
| Type | Potentially unwanted application |
| Symptoms | Displays pop-ups with surveys and other content, ask to fill in the information, delivers commercial content, causes redirects |
| Executable file | NetPanel.exe |
| Distribution | Web Stores, other PUPs |
| Developed by | Gemius |
| Elimination | To remove NetPanel Study install reliable anti-malware tool and scan the machine fully |
NetPanel Study often gets installed by the user because it offers features and functions that may seem useful for many. Developers and distributors claim that this extension is a research tool that registers browser activity to investigate the internet.
According to them, users' privacy is protected by anonymizing the IP address and the fact that NetPanel Study is not gathering passwords, emails, or different sensitive information. Unfortunately, when you agree to install the extension, it starts running in the background and collecting data regarding your online behavior, like any other PUA.[2]
NetPanel Study can access and record information that includes:
- IP address,
- email,
- location,
- browsing history,
- most viewed websites,
- most searched items,
- social media preferences.
Nevertheless, there is nothing valuable that NetPanel Study provides you, so eliminate the extension as soon as possible. All the spying and data tracking features of this application should be the best reasons for that since your private information can get gathered without you even noticing.

NetPanel Study PUP can get installed on various internet browsers, so if you noticed the extension on at least one of them, make sure to check other browser and eliminate the tool from them also. However, these programs can modify various settings during the initial setup process and create registry entries or install files to ensure that PUA gets launched automatically every time your device is rebooted.
For that reason, NetPanel Study removal requires automatic malware-fighting tools. Windows Firewall, internet connections, and other parts of the system need to get fixed or even repaired. This intruder installs NetPanel.exe as the primary payload, and this file need to be deleted to end all the intrusive behavior.
Since you cannot remove NetPanel Study manually, or at least it takes more time, get professional anti-malware tools, and clean the machine. Based on the analysis, the program is indicated as dangerous due to the developers Gemius, but not many tools can find this threat to the system.[3]
Choose the anti-malware tool and eliminate all NetPanel Study-related files and programs. Then double-check with FortectIntego and clean all the virus damage. We always recommend checking a few times to avoid cyber infections in the future, especially when it comes to tools like this that can be set to spy on victims.
Make sure to uninstall NetPanel Study from all the browsers, disabling other add-ons possibly associated with the PUA or deleting files, suspicious programs from web browsers and the system in general. You can also reset the browser to default, so all changes get reversed automatically. Check the step-by-step guide below for that.

P2p networks, torrents, and other deceptive services deliver questionable applications with possibly malicious purposes
Although such browser extensions or toolbars get promoted on official web stores, other websites, not all the sources online deliver legitimate programs. If you go for questionable download page or free-sharing site, you risk getting more than the program you intended to download.
Unfortunately, even in the Chrome Web Store or another well-known page, all those suspicious PUP features are not disclosed properly. Although experts[4] note that additional installations and features are noted during the installation when you skip through important steps of the process those are left hidden.
When you install anything from the browser extension to system optimization tool or anti-malware program, you need to choose the Advanced or Custom options to see all the necessary and important information about the installation process itself. By doing so all the time, you can keep the system PUP-free.
You need to consider automatic anti-malware tools for NetPanel Study virus elimination
The adware-type intruders like this browser extension can install other content on the browser or the device itself, so for NetPanel Study removal, you should employ tools capable of detecting and removing such programs like potentially unwanted applications or any other cyber threat that comes on the computer via shady techniques.
Sometimes such PUPs get promoted on deceptive sites, and people install them on purpose. No matter how the intruder got on your device, you need to remove NetPanel Study as soon as possible. We recommend automatic anti-malware program scan on the machine to achieve the best results, but if you try to get rid of the PUA manually at least check our tips below the article.
Uninstall from Windows
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.

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.

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.

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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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.

Remove from Google Chrome
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.

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.

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