Do you know what Shopswell is?
Shopswell is a recently created program that our cyber security analysts have classified as adware and strongly recommend that you remove it as soon as possible. This program's only purpose is to generate advertising revenue by subjecting you to commercial third-party advertisements. And, rest assured, that the ads will be very irritating. However, the main issue here is not their annoyance, but rather their unreliability, because the origins of the ads cannot be verified. It is quite possible that your computer will become infected with even more adware and other malicious applications if this adware is left as is. Therefore, we advocate for getting rid of it for good. Also, we suggest getting an anti-malware program that would prevent programs such as this one from entering your computer altogether.
Shopswell has an interesting concept behind it. It has a website called Shopswell.com. This website features all kinds of advertisements of products that are allegedly supplied by the members of its community. However, the ads featured on this website redirect to real retail websites, such as Amazon.com after you click the Buy It button. If you want to join this mysterious community you will have to login with either a Twitter or Facebook account. But we do not recommend doing so, because we believe that once you provide your details, Shopswell will start bombarding you with ads and messages even more than before. However, unlike most adware programs, this one has been set up to display coupons and pop-ups right there on your desktop, because apparently, showing annoying ads inside the browser is too mainstream.
Shopswell screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
However, it can at times, show ads inside the browser. But, even though this adware is supported by Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox, it does have a browser extension. Our researchers say that this program has been created to work as a process. This process can be found and terminated via the Task Manager. The process in question is named swell.exe and you can terminate this process by marking it, right-clicking on it, and clicking End Task. This action may be required when uninstalling this application. As you would expect, its main files are located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Shopswell. However, it has some hidden files at C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\com.shopswell.desktop. Also, it creates 4 registry values that we will provide you with in the manual removal instructions (due to space constraints). Overall, the content promoted by this adware-type program and on its website comes from Amazon. However, that may not always be the case and even though most advertisements are legitimate for the time being.
While conducting their research, our security analysts have found how this program is distributed. Shopswell comes bundled with the OpenCandy adware module. This downloader consists of a Microsoft Windows Library that is incorporated in a Windows Installer. When installing an application this installer should provide you with offers for installing additional software. However, this is not the case with Shopswell. As far as we know, this adware is currently distributed with Youtube Downloader Guru. And, its installer does not show this adware unless you select Custom installation settings, then you will see a checkbox that has already been marked. So if you go for Express installation settings, then you will install this program. Note that Shopswell has been deceivingly set up like this by default so more inattentive users would install it. And that is where Spyware-techie.com comes in. We believe that users should know what to expect when installing software. Thus we strongly oppose any dishonest means of secretly trying to install additional software, especially if it is unreliable or malicious.
If you have unintentionally installed this program and want to remove it, then do not hesitate to consult our simple manual removal guide. Uninstalling this program via Control panel is something anyone can do, but deleting the registry values requires some diligence. Note that erasing the wrong registry values can cause you serious problems and even system failure, so keep that in mind.
How to remove this adware
Windows XP
- Open the Start menu, and click Control Panel.
- Open Add or Remove Programs.
- Find the adware.
- Click Remove.
Windows Vista & 7
- Click Start and go to Control Panel.
- Go to Programs.
- Click Programs and Features.
- Find the application and click Uninstall.
Windows 8 & 8.1
- Right-click on the Start screen.
- Go to Programs and Features.
- Find the program and click Uninstall.
Windows 10
- Right-click on the Start menu.
- Select Programs and Features.
- Locate the unreliable application.
- Right-click on it.
- Click the Uninstall button.
Delete values from the Windows Registry
- Press Windows Key+R.
- Type regedit in the dialog box and click OK.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Shopswell App and delete all of the values you find.
- Then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\911176E3-243D-49D5-9CF0-34B1FB01CBE3_is1 and delete all of the values.
- Then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Shopswell and delete all of the values.
- Lastly, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Shopswell and delete all of the values.
- Done.
In non-techie terms:
Shopswell is an application that falls into the category of adware. It was created for the purpose of promoting its associated website that features all kinds of products. However, to the detriment of the user, its ads are annoying and they can be rendered both on the desktop and in the browser, so this program is quite annoying. However, we cannot verify that all of its promotions are legitimate. Thus, we recommend that you uninstall this ad-supported program using our removal instructions.