How to remove Text Info adware

Text Info is an adware-type application that inserts advertisements to the pages you browse

Text Info is yet another browser extension you may come across accidentally. Its main purpose is to ensure that the affected users are exposed to all types of advertisements, including pop-ups, banners, coupons, deals, offers, etc. This is one of the main reasons the app is considered adware.

The description of Text Info adware claims that it “provides selected text info of the web page,” thus some users may install it intentionally, believing that it might be useful. However, this function is a mere disguise, and the main goal of the app developers is to earn revenue via the pay-per-click^[1] advertising scheme.

Besides intrusive ads, the adware may also collect various user data, which may pose a direct risk to user privacy. We always recommend removing all potentially unwanted programs from the system as soon as they are detected. Below we provide a comprehensive guide on how to do that.

Distribution and tips for avoidance

Adware is a type of potentially unwanted or even dangerous software that spreads in deceptive ways. This is why so many users might find the Text Info app installed without their permission, and the discovery would be rather a surprise. Below you will find two main ways how adware is spread and how to avoid it.

• Software bundling is one of the most prominent techniques used by PUP distributors to spread them. Third-party sources that host shareware/freeware are well-known for practicing bundling, so much so that you should expect almost any installer to include optional apps.
  To avoid being affected by this, we recommend you always pay close attention to the installation process of new apps, especially if they are downloaded from unofficial websites. Always choose Advanced or Custom settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones, remove the ticks from the pre-ticked checkboxes, read the fine print, and never rush through the installation steps.
• Deceptive ads is another popular method of adware distribution. In particular, fake software updates or misleading claims about something missing from the system are especially effective. For example, a fake Flash Player update can often ask users to install PUPs or even malware.
  In reality, Flash was already discontinued by its developer Adobe a few years ago, and all requests to install or update it are fake. Likewise, other popular app names, such as Google Chrome, are also commonly used in scam schemes like these.

Why you shouldn't trust adware apps

There are millions of apps available to download, especially when it comes to multiple platforms. It is often difficult to say which applications are useful and trustworthy, especially if they aren't downloaded from official sources or are less known in general. This is why many users install potentially unwanted programs without knowing about the negative impact it can have on one's browsing quality and even computer security.

Fake features

Adware and browser hijackers are often advertised as useful apps which can be beneficial due to some type of feature. For example, apps like “BlockAll – block ads” might seem like a good addition to the browser, as its title implies it can block ads effectively. What people don't know is that the app spreads via fake updates and inserts its own advertisements everywhere.

Thus, adware is often deceptive when it comes to disclosing the full extent of what it can and can't do. In some cases, potentially unwanted apps completely fail to fulfill their promises, as we have seen with Fast PDF Reader, YouPDFSearch, BestMapSearch, and many others.

Potentially dangerous ads

Adware operates in a deceptive manner because its developers only care about ad revenue. Unfortunately, using insecure advertising networks is always something that adware was known for, which results in users being exposed to phishing messages, scam websites, or prompts to download other PUPs/malware.

Data gathering

Adware also almost always gathers information about users who have it installed on their systems. Data collection is particularly important because it allows advertisers to benefit from targeted advertising,^[2] increasing the likelihood of users purchasing items or subscribing to services more relevant to them. Unfortunately, this increases the risk of data disclosure to unknown parties, as no means of data protection can be failproof.

Text Info adware removal

There are plenty of reasons to remove potentially unwanted software from your device – it can increase your privacy and increase the quality of browsing without having to deal with intrusive and potentially dangerous ads. In order to get rid of the Text Info virus, you have to access browser settings and delete the relevant extension:

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.

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.

MS Edge

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

Safari

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

To ensure that your system is not infected with other potentially unwanted programs or malware, we recommend you perform a full system scan with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, or another powerful anti-malware. Likewise, removing cookies^[3] and other web data from the browser is highly recommended, as it can prevent further data tracking by third parties. You can either use FortectIntego to quickly do this or proceed with the manual steps below.

Google 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.

Mozilla Firefox

• Click Menu and pick Options.
• 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.

MS Edge

• Click on Menu and go to Settings.
• Select Privacy and services.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Under Time range, pick All time.
• Select Clear now.

Safari

• Click Safari > Clear History…
• From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
• Confirm with Clear History.