How to remove SaferWeb - BugsFighter (2024)

What is SaferWeb

Note: This article describes the removal process of browser adware called SaferWeb, that generates, ads, pop-ups and coupons. There is also anti-malware with a similar name called Reason Safer Web, that is legitimate, although, can be, sometimes, installed without users’ consent.

SaferWeb is categorized as adware – a piece of software that generates intrusive and unwanted advertisem*nts. Its program or extension discloses doubtful web protection features and often ends up installed on users’ computers without their consent. It is worth mentioning to not mistake the unwanted SaferWeb with the legitimate and trustworthy Safer Web (Internet-filtering software) by ReasonLabs. However, sometimes the latter can be installed without consent as well. SaferWeb stands out from a negative point because it generates various coupons, pop-ups, and ads using “virtual layers”. This functionality allows any adware to bombard users with low-quality and suspicious advertising banners on any visited website. Clicking on ads displayed by SaferWeb is likely to lead users to unsavory and potentially dangerous pages (e.g., scam pages, 18+ websites, fake software pages, malware-spreading pages, fake giveaway pages, and so forth). your system experiences symptoms of an adware infection or other suspicious changes, follow our guide below to remove the unwanted/malicious program and restore safety.

How SaferWeb infected your computer

Since users are less likely to install SaferWeb (and other potentially unwanted software) on purpose, threat actors distribute such software using “bundling” techniques. This marketing tool was initially designed to let software vendors collaborate together and promote third-party software in their program installers (the same can be used by developers of the legitimate Safer Web by ReasonLabs). Unfortunately, this distribution method has largely become popular among distributors of unwanted and malicious software. Similarly to legitimate vendors, cybercriminals disguise their software (like unwanted SaferWeb) as something “useful” or “worth-to-install”. Unfortunately, many inexperienced or simply inattentive users skip over sections with extra offers (e.g., “Advanced”, “Custom”, “Manual”, etc.) allowing the installation of unwanted software without consent. Sometimes, however, the information about such offers may not be disclosed at all and users will be infected with it despite attempts to prevent it. In addition, rogue/malicious software can be promoted through various ads and notifications that make users click on or download something. Beware of dubious and unverified pages and download software only from official/trusted resources.

1. Download SaferWeb Removal Tool
2. Remove/Uninstall SaferWeb from Control Panel and Applications
3. Remove SaferWeb extensions from browsers
4. Reset browser search and homepage settings
5. Block SaferWeb search redirects
6. How to protect from threats like SaferWeb

Remove SaferWeb manually for free

Here is the manual step-by-step tutorial for full SaferWeb removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of the SaferWeb installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Remove SaferWeb from Control Panel or Applications

To start removing SaferWeb you should uninstall it using Control Panel. It can be present by different names – “SaferWeb”. It should uninstall correctly, however, we recommend you to use IObit Uninstaller to clean leftover items after uninstalling. Here are instructions for Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac.

Remove SaferWeb from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. SaferWeb might have an Uninstaller.
3. Otherwise, drag SaferWeb from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Remove SaferWeb from Windows XP:

1. Click on Start button.
2. Choose Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Find SaferWeb or other recently installed suspicious program.
5. Click Uninstall.

Remove SaferWeb from Windows 7:

1. Click Start button.
2. Then go to Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a Program.
4. Find SaferWeb or other recently installed suspicious program and click Uninstall.

Remove SaferWeb from Windows 8:

1. Hover mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner to see Menu.
2. Click Search.
3. After that click Apps.
4. Then Control Panel.
5. Click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
6. Find SaferWeb or other recently installed suspicious program, click Uninstall.

Remove SaferWeb from Windows 10:

There are 2 ways to uninstall SaferWeb from Windows 10

Way one

1. Click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Settings.
3. Click on the System tile.
4. Click Apps & features and locate SaferWeb or other recently installed suspicious program in the list.
5. Click on it and then click Uninstall button near it.

Way two (classic)

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Programs and Features.
3. Locate SaferWeb or other recently installed suspicious program in the list.
4. Click on it and then click Uninstall button above.

Cannot uninstall SaferWeb

In some cases, SaferWeb won’t uninstall and gives you a message that “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall SaferWeb. Please, contact your system administrator” when you try to remove it from Control Panel or “Access denied” error when removing the SaferWeb folder and files. This happens because the process or service does not allow you to do it. In this case, I will recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes AntiMalware or uninstall SaferWeb in Safe Mode. To boot in Safe Mode do the following:

1. Reboot your computer.
2. While it starts booting press F8 button.
3. This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
5. Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program and remove SaferWeb or other recently installed suspicious program

>> See detailed instructions and video tutorial on how to boot in Safe Mode

and for Mac:

If you can’t uninstall SaferWeb using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of SaferWeb. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag SaferWeb from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with SaferWeb.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove malicious add-ons from your browsers

Uninstalling SaferWeb from Control Panel often does not bring the desired effect. It sometimes has browser extension and it may still be active in Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove SaferWeb related extensions from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find SaferWeb extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find SaferWeb extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove them.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose SaferWeb extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.
5. Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

Note: There is no feature to remove browser extensions from browser in latest version of Internet Explorer. To remove SaferWeb from Internet Explorer, please, perform instructions for uninstalling program from Control Panel. To disable SaferWeb, please, do the following:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu Manage Add-ons.
4. Select Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Click Disable or SaferWeb extension.
6. Also disable other suspicious extensions from the list.

Opera Browser:

Generally, SaferWeb does not install in Opera browser however you can always double check. Do the following:

1. Start Opera browser.
2. Go to Tools > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
3. Find SaferWeb extension.
4. Click Uninstall button.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Remove following files, folders and registry keys

Files and folders:


C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\SaferWeb\
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\SaferWeb
SaferWeb.exe


Registry keys


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SaferWeb


How to block ads and pop-ups from SaferWeb

SaferWeb push notifications, in most cases, are caused by a program installed on your PC or add-on installed in browsers. However, sometimes it can appear on a clean computer when visiting a malicious website, using an advertising script. Also, apps that generate “SaferWeb” ads and banners are themselves installed from pop-ups. To protect your PC and browsers from phishing websites, pop-up ads, banners, malicious scripts it is recommended to use AdGuard. Download free trial here:

Final tips

Be careful surfing the internet and downloading software, as programs, like SaferWeb, may become a real headache as they are hard to remove and break your privacy. To keep safe from such threats we recommend you always use antivirus and one of the anti-malware programs available on the market. One of the best anti-spyware and anti-malware programs is SpyHunter 5. It can protect your PC from threats, like SaferWeb.