How to Remove ShopTool Adware

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ShopTool is among the latest adware programs, roaming the web. It’s a nasty application. One that bombards you with unpleasantness. With ShopTool on your PC, expect a myriad of issues and headaches. This is not a tool to underestimate! It’s a danger to both your system’s well-being, and your security. That’s right. Among everything else, the tool puts you through, it also threatens your privacy. It follows the standard adware programming. As soon as it settles into your system, it begins to spy on you. The application keeps a close eye on your browsing activities. But it doesn’t just monitor. It also keeps a thorough record of it. So, every move you make online gets cataloged. After ShopTool determines it has gathered enough information, it proceeds to phase two. That being, sending it to strangers with agendas. Yes, the infection hands off the data it stole from you to unknown individuals with questionable intentions. Once these people get access to your private details, they can use them as they see fit. Let that sink in for a moment. Cyber criminals will get a hold of your personal and financial information to do with as they wish. Can you think of even a single scenario that ends well for you? Don’t be naive. Protect your privacy! Keep it away from these malicious people! As soon as you become aware the infection’s presence, take action! Locate the program’s exact hiding spot. Then, remove it when you do. The sooner, the better. ShopTool has no place on your PC! Delete it now!

How did I get infected with?

Adware applications are bound to ask for your permission on their installment. And, since they can’t have you denying them, they turn to sneakiness. The tools have come up with a myriad of ways to dupe you into allowing them in. And, not just that. They also keep you clueless to the fact that you did. So, you have no idea you agreed to install an infection. Not until the problems begin popping up. How do you suppose they manage that? How do they get you to give them the green light without you knowing it? Well, easy. They turn to the old but gold methods of infiltration. The programs use freeware, corrupted links, spam email attachments. All the usual antics. And, do you know why they work? It’s because of your carelessness. You make their invasion easier if you give into gullibility and distraction. So, don’t! Don’t rush but take your time. When installing a tool or an update, do your due diligence! Read the terms and conditions before clicking that ‘Yes.’ That extra vigilance can save you a ton of issues in the future. Remember that next time you’re allowing something into your system.

Why is this dangerous?

If you’re careless enough to allow adware into your PC, you’re in for a bad time. The program puts you through a hellish experience. It starts with your browsing. Every time you attempt to use your browser, it interrupts you. It showers you with a never-ending stream of pop-up advertisements. Ads “Powered by ShopTool,” take over your screen. They show up when you open a new tab, search the web, every time you do anything online. And, they don’t go away. They cease to appear after you delete the ShopTool program from your PC. Until you do, you better get used to them. And, don’t think they’ll be the only online intrusion you face. You’ll also get redirected to countless unreliable websites. Not to mention, odds are, your default search engine and homepage get replaced. The adware can opt to switch them, without bothering to ask for permission or inform you. It just springs the change on you as a surprise. These types of programs can implement various reshuffles on your system. And, then leave you to discover them on your own. For example, it can approve the installation of as many malicious tools as it so desires. It can flood your system with malware. So, imagine your surprise if one day you turned on your PC, and got greeted by the dreaded blue. Yes, The Blue Screen of Death is a possibility. It’s a rather minuscule one, but that does not make it non-existent. So, ask yourself. As minor and insignificant as the odds of the nasty blue may be, are you prepared to take them? Or, will you do yourself a favor, and remove the threat from your system the first chance you get? Experts advise on the latter. Do what’s best for you, and protect your PC and privacy from ShopTool. Delete it as soon as you realize it slithered its way into your computer.

How to Remove ShopTool virus

The ShopTool infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the ShopTool infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the ShopTool infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down ShopTool in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate ShopTool startup location

STEP 3: Delete ShopTool traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down ShopTool in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate ShopTool startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean ShopTool virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean ShopTool traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the ShopTool by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by ShopTool

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for ShopTool, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove ShopTool argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove ShopTool Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.