ShopAtHome.com or shopathome.com is defined as a piece of vicious adware getting onto victim’s computer as a browser add-on. Such pop-up adware will either popup in the corners of a targeted desktop, increasing in frequency to ruin browsing experience or hijack search results/ default homepage by putting on its advertisement in another whole new page without possibility to be changed back. Shopathome.com adware stands a large chance to get into computers without being removed easily by claiming that purchase on its webpage helps save both money and time. In most cases, PC users do not have to install shopathome application themselves, instead, the adware will come to anyone who loves to do online shopping. As a piece of malevolent browser program, shopathome.com is active around and easy to make a chance to appoint a meeting with a surfer provided that the surfer is not protected by properly working anti-virus program, efficient popup blocker and a powerful firewall. It is believed that many PC users have them equipped with reputable anti-malware programs, however, encounter with shopathome.com can be also made if one doesn’t select check box next to any downloads he/she would like to add to his/her queue, visits some unknown website without checking its property on the Internet beforehand, accidentally clicks on advertisement/attachment/links that are poisoned, choose custom settings to review and modify each setting individually during downloading process, etc..
Shopathome.com infiltrates a computing machine with a conspiratorial objective to collect information on your whereabouts in the Internet world, preference, accounts, log-in data and the like so as to promote more products catering with your appetite, making it more likely to be kept on a machine. To achieve a long-term stay for sufficient information, shopathome pop-up injects its registry entries into kernel part of a machine where it modifies startup configuration and browser settings, which is the reason why shopathome.com pops up out of nowhere without being launched and why it can’t be fixed by simply uninstalling and reinstalling browser.
Being pushy on a computer, shopathome.com manages to generate gravy for its maker (we usually call such people as spammer). A backdoor will be made invisible to victim, serving as a passage to channel collected information which can be exchanged for large sum of money. The longer shopathome.com stays on a machine, the more clicks on its webpage will be made, which also generates money to shopathome.com.
To avoid being irritated by popup adware like shopathome.com, you need to pay close attention to what you are planning on downloading; it is not that highly suggested to download freeware, shareware or P2P programs that have been seen to bundle with third parties of malicious type. You need to keep your eyes wide open during download process; always uncheck unnecessary items that are not familiar to you as installing those items may result in a slow PC performance, slow page-loading speed and erratic PC behaviors. It is not recommended to stream things on some unknown web sites, otherwise you can be blocked by lock down virus asking for a large sum of ransom to help unblock the computer without the compliance to what it promises. Addition to what mentioned above, you also need to strengthen protection on your machine, such as set firewall to be automatic, update security utilities regularly, set browser settings to a high secure state and so on.
It is stressed that if one ever wants to get rid of shopathome.com permanently, a set of good PC practice is always needed right after the removal. Apply your capability to distinguish what is good while others not by getting help from the Internet when you are not able to before you are about to download something attractive; use cautious when you are about to click open attachment or on a link contained in an email that’s raising up your suspect; keep yourself update with news on computer threat in an attempt not to be trapped; keep default web browser working under the highest security state; optimize computer by cleaning up redundant cookies, add-ons, plug-ins, extensions, leftovers of previously installed programs including those from shopathome.com.
Shopathome.com application has scared many PC users to ask for uninstall help for the sake of information security and computer health. Adware as shopathome popup is, it calls for a more complex method to get it off than the one usually used to deal with uninstall of legit applications. It is believed that the very first troubleshooting most PC users come up with is running anti-virus program. It is not surprised that anti-virus program pulls up clean result since shopathome.com appears to be a piece of adware rather than an executable item that is commonly thought to be some type of virus. To rectify back everything changed by shopathome adware, you are welcome to follow the detail instruction provided below by Vilmatech online support team.
Step1: Every running program has its running process in the background. Termination of its running process should be regarded as the first step to remove shopathome adware smoothly.
a.If you are running Windows7/vista/XP, please hold Ctrl, Alt and Delete key combination or Ctrl, Shift and Esc key combination (this operation varies by different operating systems) simultaneously to bring up Task Manager as shown below:
b.If you are running Windows 8, you can access Task Manager from the Start screen by typing ‘Task’ or ‘Task Manager’.
Step2: Reset browser that is with shopathome.com adware.
a. If you use Internet Explorer, please follow the instruction here:
1.Open Internet Explorer.
2.Click on the Tools menu and then select Internet Options.
3.In the Internet Options window click on the Advanced tab. Then click on the Restore Defaults button and then press OK.
b. If you use Firefox, please follow the instruction here:
1. Click on the Firefox button > Help > Troubleshooting information.
2. A new window pops up with a box containing ‘Reset Firefox’ button on the left uppers corner of the web page:
3. A box pops up for confirmation, please click ‘Reset Firefox’:
c. if you use Google Chrome, please follow the instruction below:
1. choose ‘Customize and Control Google Chrome’ menu.
2. select ‘Options’.
3. click ‘Under the Hood’ tab on ‘Options’ window.
4. Click ‘Reset to Defaults’ button.
Step3: Disable shopathome.com pop up by build-in functionality:
a. for Mozilla Firefox users
1) Open Mozilla Firefox.
2) Click Tools.
3) Click Options.
4) Click the Web features button on the left hand side of the Options window.
5) Remove any site including shopathome.com you wish to block.
b. for Microsoft Internet Explorer users
1) Open Internet Explorer.
2) Click Tools.
3) Click Options.
4) Click the Privacy tab.
5) At the bottom of the Privacy tab you should have a Pop-up Blocker section. Check “Block pop-ups” option to disable shopathome adware.
c. for Google Chrome users
Use Google Toolbar that includes a free popup blocker to disable shopathome.com
Step4: Show hidden files and folders to find out and delete any item associated with shopathome application as such adware is programmed to be capable of hiding its components.
– for Windows 7/XP/Vista users
a. Open ‘Control Panel’ from Start menu and search for ‘Folder Options’.
b. Under View tab to tick ‘Show hidden files and folders and non-tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)’ and then click ‘OK’.
– for Windows 8 users
a. open Windows Explorer by
opening My Computer or any folder.
clicking on Windows Explorer application from Start Screen.
(either of the above two options will work)
b. Select View tab on Windows Explorer window, you will get numbers of options.
c. Tick ‘File name extensions’ and ‘Hidden items’ options.
Step5: Go to the Registry Editor to delete entries related to shopathome.com by typing ‘regedit’ (without quptation) in Run box.
Related registries:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Regedit32
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “Inspector”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings “net
If you are not able to fix shopathome.com popup issue after finishing the above steps, you may want to follow the same process under safe mode with networking after a system reboot. To get into safe mode with networking, you are welcome to follow the steps here:
1. Restart your system.
2. As the computer is booting but before Windows launches, tap the “F8 key” continuously which should bring up the “Windows Advanced Options Menu” as shown below. Use your arrow keys to highlight ‘Safe Mode with Networking’ option and press Enter key.
The instruction to get into ‘Safe Mode with Networking’ is for PC users who run Windows 7/XP/Vista. If you own a computer running Windows 8, the instruction is totally different and you will like to follow up here:
1. Hold the Shift button and keep tapping on the F8 key. Choose ‘See advanced repair options’
2. Select ‘Troubleshoot’ option.
3. Click on ‘Advanced Options’.
4. Select ‘Windows Startup Settings’.
5. Hit ‘Restart’ on the lower right hand corner of the desktop.
Tips: If you process little knowledge of computers, you may miss some points in the steps provided above. If you are confused somehow, you’d better suspend self help and ask for step-by-step instant help from VilmaTech online support. Take its capability of opening up backdoor into consideration, situation can become more complicated as more baleful codes will be loaded down onto the compromised computer and the removal steps will accordingly become more cumbersome. Should there be a failure in removing shopathome.com with the given steps, alternative is always in reach to help exterminate shopathome adware quickly and safely by contacting VilmaTech online support.
