This article has been created in order to explain what is the Prime Soft adware and how to fully remove it from your computer.
A new adware, related to set of various different programs which show advertisements on the victims’ computers has been detected under the name Prime Soft Inc. The adware may show different types of advertisements, including pop-ups, browser redirects and other forms of ads on the victim’s computer. This may immediately result In your PC starting to experience slowdowns and other similar behavior. Since some of the advertisements, related to Prime Soft adware may be damaging to your computer, we recommend you to read this article and learn how to remove the Prime Soft PUP from your computer, if you see it.
Threat Summary
| Name | Prime Soft Inc. Adware |
| Type | Adware |
| Short Description | Aims to download and install different adware components on the computers of users and display different advertisements plus track information. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your PC and possible malware infection, since the ads lead to third-party sites. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Prime Soft Inc. Adware. |
Prime Soft Adware – Distribution Methods
In order for it to be widespread, Prime Soft adware may use different tactics to spread, but one of them stands out and it is called software bundling. Based on this method, many programs that users download from third-party software providing websites are often bundled with other programs, such as free media players torrent downloader software and other freeware users often download. In addition to this, the Prime Soft adware may be added in the form of a browser extension as a result of you having to visit a third-party website. So be careful which sites you visit and what you install on your computer and since programs like the Prime Soft PUP are often well hidden and pretend to free extras to your current installations, it is strongly advisable to focus on checking the “Advanced” and “Custom” installation options each time you install new software, you have downloaded from a website you know nothing about.
Prime Soft PUP – More Information
In order to best understand the philosophy behind the Prime Soft PUP, one word should be on focus – profits. The set of programs, related to Prime Soft incorporated are not categorized as malware, but they may act as such, since they pose a risk to your computer that make their publishers richer via displaying third-party advertisements on your computer and hence driving hoax traffic to websites, that otherwise won’t be able to get many daily visitors.
To do this, the Prime Soft adware may participate in various types of unwanted activities, such as tracking your online browsing activity, like:
- Data about the websites you have visited.
- Information about your browsing history.
- Your online clicks and online searches.
This information is often tracked by tracking technologies, such as:
- Cookies.
- Pixels.
- Tags.
- Geo-locators.
- LSOs (Locally Shared Objects).
These technologies and the information they gather may be used to use the so-called behavioral advertising algorithms in order to display advertisements to you that are related to your interests. This increases that likelihood of you clicking on the ad and visiting the third-party website. But since Prime Soft may display a lot of third-party sites, they are not responsible for, the adware may lead you to unsafe sites. Such sites usually tend to be:
- Malicious websites that may infect your computer with Trojans, more adware, Ransomware, Miners, Worms, Viruses, etc.
- Scamming sites which may ask you to call fake tech support numbers.
- Phishing sites that pretend to be the actual ones, but aim to get you to enter your financial and personal information in order to steal it.
These and other reasons of such type make Prime Soft adware an indirect threat to your computer and the removal of this program is highly advisable.
Remove PrimeSoft Adware Completely from Your PC
In order to make sure that Prime Soft adware is fully gone from your computer system we recommend that you follow the removal instructions underneath. They have been created in order to best help you delete this program and it’s related files and objects either manually or automatically from your PC. If manual removal is not something you feel confident or have the experience in doing, security experts often recommend using an advanced anti-malware software to help remove Prime Soft adware automatically. Such program will also detect any other threats to fully secure your computer and ensure that future protection is active in real-time.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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How to Remove Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Prime Soft Inc. Adware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Prime Soft Inc. Adware and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Prime Soft Inc. Adware on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Prime Soft Inc. Adware there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for Prime Soft Inc. Adware (Windows).
Get rid of Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Prime Soft Inc. Adware and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Prime Soft Inc. Adware. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Prime Soft Inc. Adware via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Prime Soft Inc. Adware files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Prime Soft Inc. Adware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Prime Soft Inc. Adware (Mac)
Remove Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Prime Soft Inc. Adware will be removed.
Eliminate Prime Soft Inc. Adware from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Prime Soft Inc. Adware-FAQ
What Is Prime Soft Inc. Adware?
The Prime Soft Inc. Adware threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Prime Soft Inc. Adware?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Prime Soft Inc. Adware?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Prime Soft Inc. Adware Work?
Once installed, Prime Soft Inc. Adware can collect data about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. This data is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Prime Soft Inc. Adware can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Prime Soft Inc. Adware Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Prime Soft Inc. Adware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Prime Soft Inc. Adware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Prime Soft Inc. Adware?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Prime Soft Inc. Adware threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.