Should I remove Shop Helper?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
62% remove it38% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Reach 0.0004%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 8.39 days
247.58 days >
Average installed length: 130.08 days
Versions
Version | Distribution |
1.27.153.8 |
100.00% |
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Shop Helper
from Brightcircle Investments
What is Shop Helper?
This is a web browser extension and Browser helper Object (for Internet Explorer) that delivers contextual based advertising to the web browser. In addition it will modify the user's browser home and search pages as well as 'New Tab' pages to push advertising and search. The software is typically defined as a unwanted application by various malware vendors.
Overview
During setup, the program registers itself to launch on boot through a Windows Schedule Task in order to automatically start-up (this is typically done to avoid any UAC prompts). It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. The main program executable is utils.exe. A vast majority of those who have this installed end up removing it just after a couple weeks. The software installer includes 14 files and is usually about 5.83 MB (6,116,553 bytes). Shop Helper-updater.exe is the automatic update component of the software designed to download and apply new updates should new versions be released.
The program is built using the Crossrider framework, a cross browser monetization platform used to deploy a toolbar and extension for modern web browsers with monetization features including browser search and homepage redirection, contextual coupons and in-line text advertising. Crossrider extensions include background processes to monitor, update and automatically download new features/code without direct user interaction.
- Automatically starts with Windows
- Loads into the web browser
- Built on the Crossrider toolbar platform and potentially unwanted
- May inject ads in the web browser
- 'Offers' to modify the browser's home and search pages by default
- Difficult to remove as it will reinstall itself
Shop Helper has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
Program details
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\shop helper
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Shop Helper\Uninstall.exe /fromcontrolpanel=1
Estimated size: 5.83 MB
Files installed by Shop Helper
Program executable: | utils.exe |
Name: | Shop Helper |
| Shop Helper Installer |
Path: | C:\Program Files\shop helper\utils.exe |
MD5: | 028b68ed71fe602aa79d0cbf0884581f |
Additional files:
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Shop Helper-bg.exe - Shop Helper (Shop Helper exe)
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Shop Helper-bho.dll - Shop Helper BHO
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Shop Helper-buttonutil.exe
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Shop Helper-buttonutil64.exe
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Shop Helper-chromeinstaller.exe
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Shop Helper-codedownloader.exe
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Shop Helper-enabler.exe
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Shop Helper-firefoxinstaller.exe
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Shop Helper-updater.exe
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Shop Helper-buttonutil.dll
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Shop Helper-buttonutil64.dll
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Shop Helper-helper.exe
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Uninstall.exe
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- Shop Helper-bho.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Shop Helper' with the class of {11111111-1111-1111-1111-110311321156} (CrossriderApp0033256).
5 Scheduled Tasks (Boot/Login)
- Shop Helper-enabler.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Shop Helper-enabler.
- Shop Helper-firefoxinstaller.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Shop Helper-firefoxinstaller.
- Shop Helper-chromeinstaller.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Shop Helper-chromeinstaller.
- Shop Helper-updater.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Shop Helper-updater.
- Shop Helper-codedownloader.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Shop Helper-codedownloader.
How do I remove Shop Helper?
You can uninstall Shop Helper from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program Shop Helper, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Shop Helper.
- If for some reason uninstallation fails, please install Microsoft's uninstall fixer utility which will help fix problems with programs that can't be uninstalled at support.microsoft.com.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Shop Helper you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 63%
Win Vista (SP2) 13%
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HOW IT STARTS
Scheduled task? Yes
(Runs on Windows boot)
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USER ACTIONS
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Uninstall it 62%
Keep it 38%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
62.50% |
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Windows XP |
25.00% |
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Windows Vista |
12.50% |
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Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Home Premium |
62.50% |
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Microsoft Windows XP |
25.00% |
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Windows Vista Home Basic |
12.50% |
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Geography
95.83% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
95.83% |
United Kingdom |
4.17% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
50.00% |
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Dell |
37.50% |
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Acer |
12.50% |
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Common models |
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... |
25.00% |
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Hewlett-Packard s5-1224 |
12.50% |
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Hewlett-Packard Presario ... |
12.50% |
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eMachines EL1300G |
12.50% |
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Dell Dell System Inspir... |
12.50% |
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Dell Dell DV051 |
12.50% |
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