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ShiftVideos Removal Guide

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Do you know what ShiftVideos is?

ShiftVideos is promoted as a video downloader, but it is anything but that. Our malware analysts have categorized it as adware. Thus, you should remove it because apart from rendering annoying advertisements it will not do anything else. This program is especially annoying since its user interface window will open each time you boot up your computer. It will also automatically open Internet Explorer windows and show you ads. So, in short, this application offers no added value to the end-user. Its sole purpose is to generate adverting revenue for its developers. So if you have this program, please continue reading to find out more.

This application was released by an unknown malware developer who is also responsible for releasing BeautyMost, a very similar application that should be gotten rid of as well. Also, like its counterpart, ShiftVideos is distributed in a similar fashion. We have found that this application uses the InstallCore downloader in particular which might also contain other adware-type applications, such as Search Know, and browser hijackers, such as Sweet-page.com and Yoursearching.com. Furthermore, it may come bundled with potentially unwanted programs, such as System Healer and MyPcBackUp. However, the applications ShiftVideos comes bundled with vary on the region where it is installed. In any case, the programs it comes bundled with may open up your computer’s security in jeopardy because there is no way of knowing whether the promoted content is not malicious.ShiftVideos Removal GuideShiftVideos screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

However, we want to elaborate more on ShiftVideos’s ads in particular. When you download this program via the InstallCore downloader, it will open the browser and redirect to http://www.lamphouseoffers(.)com/redirect.php?sid=BMS&message=Please%20wait which, in turn, will redirect to http://interest4.valuedinformation(.)com/numbers/?t=5&c1=RDBMS&u=&im=. The second page features all kinds of surveys that may redirect to malicious websites after clicking them. However, these pages are opened only once after the download. However, once you boot up your computer, ShiftVideos should automatically launch as well and will display its GUI window which features links Last.fm/music/+free-music-downloads and Scorebig.com/concert-tickets/grooveshark?a=grooveshark. These two websites are legitimate, and we have no problem with them.

However, we cannot say the same about that promotional links that this program opens in Internet Explorer. We have witnessed this application redirect to various shady websites such as http://reg.winningsurveys(.)com/rd_p?p=339017&t=23018&c=66066-rws_50ksweeps_160_hibrand&a=9726 which asks you to enter your email address to send email spam. Also, after entering you email address, the page starts reloading endlessly. This may indicate some malicious activity, and we suspect that in some cases it may secretly download malware. Another website to which this adware redirects is https://www.paidsurveyupdate(.)com/subscribe?utm_source=Rextopia&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=CPA&s1=16618&s2=59342062&utm_campaign=16618. This website wants you to provide personal information. In addition to your email address, it also wants your name, country name, ZIP code, gender, and date of birth. This information will probably be used for targeted advertising, and its ads are mostly of shady. Thus, we do not recommend providing personal information to unknown entities. Now let us discuss some technical issues about this adware.

During the installation, ShiftVideos’s installer will drop files in the Program Files directory, add a folder to the Start Menu, and a shortcut to the desktop. Also, it will create three registry keys: HKU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\www.shiftvideos.com, HKU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\shiftvideos.com and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{CEB2806C-9AC9-4C7F-9039-04748E1294A1}_is1. However, you need to check the data in of the last registry key to make sure that it is the correct one. The subkeys should contain information such as Name: InstallLocation, Type: REG_SZ, Data: C:\Program Files\ShiftVideos and However, in our case this program did not leave any junk files, but we will include a manual removal guide just in case.

The reason for removing ShiftVideos could not be more apparent. This program is set to do one thing, and that is to render commercial advertisements that come from shady sources. Therefore, there is a high chance that your PC will become infected with dangerous malware further down the line. Please follow our instructions on how to uninstall it via Control Panel, and if need be, use the instructions to delete its files manually.

Option 1. Uninstall via Control Panel

Windows 10/8.1/8

  1. Right-click on the Start menu/Start screen.
  2. Click Control Panel.
  3. Go to Uninstall a program.
  4. Locate the program and right-click on it.
  5. Then click Uninstall.

Windows 7 and Vista

  1. Click Start.
  2. Select Control Panel.
  3. Click Uninstall a program.
  4. Locate the unwanted application.
  5. Click the Uninstall button.

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button located on the Taskbar.
  2. Go to Control Panel and click Add or Remove Program.
  3. Locate the adware and Remove it.

Option 2. Delete the files manually

  1. Press Windows+E keys.
  2. Enter C:\Program Files in the address bar of the resulting window.
  3. Delete the folder named ShiftVideos.

Delete the Registry keys

  1. Press Windows+R keys.
  2. Locate and Delete the following registry keys.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\www.shiftvideos.com
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\shiftvideos.com
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{CEB2806C-9AC9-4C7F-9039-04748E1294A1}_is1

Note. Check the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{CEB2806C-9AC9-4C7F-9039-04748E1294A1}_is1 key for subkeys with the provided information Name: InstallLocation, Type: REG_SZ, Data: C:\Program Files\ShiftVideos; Name: DisplayName, Type: REG_SZ, Data: ShiftVideos 1.0; Name: UninstallString, Type: REG_SZ, Data: "C:\Program Files\ShiftVideos\unins000.exe"; Name: DisplayIcon, Type: REG_SZ, Data: C:\Program Files\ShiftVideos\ShiftVideos_Setup.exe.

In non-techie terms:

ShiftVideos is an ad-supported program that is set to annoy you with commercial advertisements. We have learned that these ads come from unknown sources, so they cannot be trusted. We have observed that this program performs malicious activities, such as automatically opening browser windows and redirecting to shady websites that ask you to provide personal information. So we recommend that you remove this adware as soon as possible.