PureLeads (or Pure Leads) is an adware that affects all the browsers. You will start seeing various advertisements signed by it (Ads by Pure Leads, PureLeads deals, etc.) on various shopping pages that show more “offers”. This application does not do any real price comparison, it shows advertisements that pay the most to the makers of this adware.
Typically, PureLeads is installed together with other programs through bundles. E.g. if you download a software from some download pages, you will be asked to install other “offers” prior to installing the actual program you looked for. The install might even fail, but the adware and related hijackers will get installed on your PC anyway. We have seen PureLeads distributed by some downloaders together with Trovigo hijacker and SearchProtect.
Even if one has nothing against PureLeads advertisements to be displayed, we consider it a threat because of the way adware operates. Such software gathers information about pages you visit and what you do there. Furthermore, the adware might sell this data for various marketers or misuse it in other ways. This is your privacy breach and you should consider removing PureLeads from your PC.
Additionally, PureLeads is a sign of computer infection with other parasites, e.g. redirects or Trojans. I recommend identifying all the software installed with this adware and removing every one of them separately by using antimalware programs like Spyhunter or malwarebytes. Follow the instructions below for a full removal.
Using Control Panel to remove the main PureLeads components and installers
- Go to Control Panel. On Windows XP/Vista/7 go to Start -> Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. On Windows enter Control Panel in the search box. You may need to confirm that you are the administrator on this PC, in both cases.
- Look for PureLeads and other related programs on the list of programs. By default, I recommend removing Yontoo, WebCake, anything “savings” or “coupon” related. Scanning with Anti-Malware programs like Spyhunter or Stopzilla might give a good idea of what programs you should remove from there as well.
- Close Control Panel.
Removing PureLeads deals from Internet Explorer
- Click on gear icon->Manage Add-ons.
- Check Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to PureLeads and other plugins you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
- Close The Options.
Removing PureLeads Ads from Firefox
- Enter about:addons in URL field.
- Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything related to PureLeads and ones you do not recognise. If the extension is not familiar to you and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe probably you do not need it.
- Optionally, reset Firefox: go to Firefox ->Help (Help in menu for OSX users) -> Troubleshooting Information -> then Reset Firefox.
Removing PureLeads from Chrome
- Enter chrome://extensions in url field.
- Go through extensions list and remove programs related to PureLeads. If unsure, you can disable them temporally.
- Restart Chrome.
- Optionally, you can go to chrome://settings, press Advanced settings, scroll to the bottom of the list and press Reset browser settings.
PureLeads might come with various hijackers. Some of them will have separate manual removal guides (or Spyhunter should handle with deleting them automatically).
Automatic Malware removal tools
(Win)
Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,
(Mac)
Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,