Monday 24 June 2013

In-text advertising removal - Sean Doyle

Adware: How To Remove Text Enhance - Sean Doyle

http://botcrawl.com/how-to-remove-text-enhance/

What is Text Enhance?

Text Enhance (Text-Enhance) is a form of bundled flash adware (categorized as a browser hijacker) that attaches to internet browsers as an extension and cookie without user consent. The primary website for Text Enhance does not allow users to download their extension, nor can their extension be found on Google Chrome’s extension database, nor any other browser’s add on database for that matter. In other words, Text Enhance is not a realistic in text advertising service.

Victims of what is often incorrectly referred to as the Text Enhance virus usually notice they have been attacked by Text Enhance when webpages have links or hover links with certain spam advertisements and information in a pop up window (pictured). These are called in-text advertisements. The owners behind Text Enhance generate income by providing advertisement services (adware platform) to cyber criminals and unethical third parties, as well as compromising and possibly selling personal information.

Example: Hovering over the words racing teams opens up a small window showing a spam advertisement relative to racing teams (image).

Note: Text Enhance does not infect websites, Text Enhance infects individual users. If you see text advertisements on a website then you are infected, not the website. Update: There has been recent website injections (malicious scripts) related to Text Enhance.

Video example of a Text Enhance infection

How To Remove Text Enhance (And Third-Party Malware)

First off, clear your browser’s cache load and cookies for safe measure. You do this in your browser’s options/preference settings, or by manually deleting temporary directory files. Afterwards, chose a removal option from the list below. If you chose the first option Block &(or) Disable & Remove Extension make sure to follow the removal instructions for each browser installed on your computer.

Opting out of any online advertisement platform is never suggested. ???

Outlined below are 6 different solutions to disable or remove Text Enhance from your computer and all internet browsers.

Removal Options

Click an option below for in-page redirection (named anchor link), or scroll down for instructions.

1. Block &(or) Disable & Remove Extension

Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Apple Safari
Other
View list of possible extension names

2. Disallow Third Party Flash Storage

3. Manual Removal

Delete Directory Files

Delete Registry Entries

4. Antivirus & Anti Malware Software

...

Google Chrome Extension (CRX):

Step 1: Open Chrome, click on the customize and control icon (3 bars or wrench), and navigate to Tools > Extensions.

Step 2: Select the Text Enhance plugin from the list of extensions, and click Uninstall or Disable. Click here to view a list of possible extension names.

To search which extensions are currently running on Chrome navigate to Tools > Task Manager

Video Credit: Super Tech Helper

Ad Block Options

AD Block is an extension for Google Chrome that blocks advertisements (as the name suggests).

To install Ad Block visit:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gighmmpiobklfepjocnamgkkbiglidom

1. Once installed, to block Text Enhance, right click the Ad Block icon and select “options“

2. Navigate to the “Customize” tab

3. Select “Block an ad by its URL“

4. In the Domain of page to apply on text area enter these 2 domains (1 at a time) “Text-Enhance.com” and “Textsrv.com“

Text Enhance add-ons, extensions, and toolbars

Text-Enhance cleverly infects internet browsers by using and bundling with different titles for their extensions and add-ons. They may bundle with a legitimate brand or extension, as well as harmful malware clients – which can be tricky. Text-Enhance is even known to come installed with (freeware and shareware) programs like Notepad++.

Below is a list of extensions/ware for all browsers that have been reported to remove Text Enhance links when disabled. Please note that disabling some extensions and add-ons may cause your internet browser to malfunction.

Read below the list about disabling flash players and Shockwave.

Notepad++ Freeware

Manual removal instructions:

1. Access your App Data, User Profile, and All Users Profile folder directories to detect and remove malformed files. By default App Data is not visible, click here to learn how to show hidden files.

2. Enter %appdata% in Window’s start menu or visit My Computer > C: > User > *Your User Name > AppData

3. Delete/completely remove all files associated with Text Enhance in each internet browser’s collection of folders.

4. Delete Text-enhance.com files

...

Freeware and Shareware

Text Enhance infects most users whom install freeware or shareware software such as Notepad++, Vid Saver, and other titles on our list. Most of the time users do suspect Text Enhance has bundlded with freeware or shareware installations.

For instance, when viewing a streaming video online a website may alert the visitor that an unnecessary Codec is required to view the video properly. When a visitor clicks and installs the Codec, Text Enhance installs along with it.

Text Enhance pays third parties per each time their adware platform is installed onto a victims computer, this is why Text Enhance often bundles with third party apps.

Remove Text Enhance with Antivirus & Anti-Malware Software

Malwarebytes offers a great free malware scanner and remover tool, as well as a paid version to keep your browser safe from similar hijackers in real time.

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About Sean Doyle

Sean Doyle is a Cyber Security Expert from Thousand Oaks, CA (USA).

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