Many users have recently reported seeing pop-ups for an installer called PremierOpinion. Comscore Inc. (which was previously VoiceFive) developed this program, which claims to help users express their opinions on products and services through online research.
In exchange, it promises cash, gift cards, or entry into sweepstakes. However according to many sources, PremierOpinion is widely regarded as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP) due to its deceptive installation methods and intrusive behavior.
Users have been reporting that an installer called POSetup has been showing up on their computer screen prompting the installation of PremierOpinion.
What surprised us about PremierOpinion is that it is not a new threat; it was discovered nearly a decade ago, but it chose to resurface and infect users today after all these years laying dormant.
Adware programs in a nutshell;
Adware, which stands for “advertising-supported software,” is a type of program that makes money for developers by displaying advertisements on the user’s device.
While some adware is relatively harmless, others, such as PremierOpinion, can have adverse effects once installed.
These applications are frequently bundled with extraneous toolbars and applications that can be difficult to manage.
They bombard users with unwanted advertisements, ranging from banner ads to intrusive pop-ups, and can even change browser settings.
Leading cybersecurity software, such as Malwarebytes, classifies PremierOpinion as Adware.PremierOpinion family.
While PremierOpinion may not cause direct damage to your computer, it does open the door to other potentially harmful software.
If your device is infected with advertising-supported software, you may see annoying banner ads on your screen, and your browser will be bombarded with advertisements.
Ads are frequently displayed in search results, notifications, and the customizable home tab.
Malware developers profit by placing unauthorized advertisements on users’ screens.
Adware is frequently bundled with more serious threats, such as spyware, ransomware, or trojans.
As a result, getting PremierOpinion installed on a system indicates that the device has been compromised by other types of malware as well.
PremierOpinion, once installed, functions as a browser plug-in. It begins to show surveys on various shopping websites, which can quickly become intrusive.
However, the real issue is its impact on system performance. PremierOpinion uses CPU and network bandwidth resources, which can significantly slow down your computer.
Browsing speed is usually affected as well, and the machine’s overall performance suffers.
Potential Risks
One of the risks associated with PremierOpinion and similar adware is that they may install additional unwanted programs on your device.
These could include toolbars, extensions, or other software that slows down your computer.
In some cases, these additional programs can even change system settings to benefit adware developers, making them more difficult to remove.
Over time, these changes can clog the system with unwanted software, increasing the likelihood of crashes and other performance issues.
Not to mention that PremierOpinion is more than just a system performance issue; it also poses a privacy risk.
According to cybersecurity firms such as Malwarebytes, PremierOpinion is designed to collect information about the user’s system and browsing habits.
This information is then used to provide targeted advertisements. The information gathered may include your browsing history, search queries, and possibly more sensitive data.
While this data is ostensibly used to improve the user experience, it is more commonly used for marketing purposes, raising serious privacy concerns.
Distribution network
The PremierOpinion program can also be installed on the user’s computer through deceptive download pages that lead you to believe you are receiving what you requested, when in fact it is a completely different download.
There are numerous examples of platforms that stream illegal content, websites that offer cracked games and software, and malware-infected files.
These programs have been installed in both .msi installers and executable files with generic names, such as Setup.exe.
In some cases, it is loaded via third-party installers, which install the required core software alongside the PremierOpinion application and other unwanted items included in the installation package.
| Threat summary | |
|---|---|
| Malware name | PremierOpinion |
| Developer | Comscore Inc. |
| Installer | POSetup.exe |
| Threat type | Advertising-supported software (Adware), PUP, Rogue Program |
| File type | .exe |
| Delivery network | Bundled into third-party installers & unreputable site downloads |
| Malware behavior | n/a |
| Damage | Potential data loss, poor search results, bad browser experience |
If you’re having trouble removing the PremierOpinion adware or other infected programs that came with it, follow the steps below to get rid of it and any other potential malware on your computer.
PremierOpinion removal guide
If you need help eliminating PremierOpinion from your computer, you’ve come to the correct place.
The following step-by-step instructions will show you how to uninstall the adware and remove any other malware threats that may have entered your computer’s system.
We considered the technical skills of the people who use the internet, so we made sure the steps are simple enough that even those who aren’t tech-savvy could follow them.
Before proceeding, make sure you have a backup of your data saved somewhere else.
If you don’t, your files may be destroyed or lost as you follow the instructions below. These situations rarely happen, but we recommend doing it just in case.
To remove the PremierOpinion program from your computer, you only need to follow a simple two-step procedure:
Step 1: Uninstall PremierOpinion
In order to get rid of PremierOpinion entirely from the computer system, we need to uninstall the software together with all of its leftovers.
While you can accomplish this with the Add & Remove Programs area in more recent Windows settings, it’s far simpler to use the Programs and Features page in the Control Panel.
The publisher name, the installation date, and the version number will all be displayed in a single grid screen, making it simpler to locate the undesired program. Here’s how to do so:
1. Click on the Windows key to open the Start menu.
2. Type Control Panel in the provided search bar and select the first item from the search results.
3. Click on Programs and inside, select Programs and Features.
4. You will be presented with a list of programs currently installed on your computer.
5. Find PremierOpinion and right-click the item then select Uninstall/Change from the dropdown menu.
We’ll need to use a powerful uninstaller to do the dirty work for us if the software is stubborn and won’t go away with normal approaches.
Fortunately, there are tools for this; Revo Uninstaller is a good uninstaller program made to tackle and remove uninstallable programs.
Uninstall PremierOpinion using Revo Uninstaller1. To start, download Revo Uninstaller by clicking here. Avoid downloading from third-party sources as they may contain additional bloatware upon installation.
2. On the download page, opt for the free version of Revo Uninstaller as it has all the features we need. Click on Free Download to begin downloading the setup file.
3. The revosetup.exe file would have started downloading. Click on it to start installing the software.
4. Revo Uninstaller setup would now begin and follow the typical setup procedure such as selecting your setup language, accepting the license agreement, and selecting the installation location. Once setup is ready click Install.
5. After the setup is finished, check the Launch Revo Uninstaller option to open the program upon closing the installer.
6. Once Revo Uninstaller has opened, it will show you the list of applications currently installed on the computer. Find PremierOpinion, right-click it, and select Uninstall from the drop-down menu. (We will be using PC App Store to demonstrate.)
7. A confirmation message stating if you are sure you want to uninstall the said program, click Continue.
8. Follow the uninstallation instructions and this time, Revo Uninstaller would have forced the program to continue with the uninstallation compared to the previous attempt via Control Panel.
9. You will be notified that the software has been uninstalled, Revo Uninstaller will now conduct a preliminary examination and get rid of additional files and registries related to PremierOpinion.
10. On the selection of Scanning modes, select Advanced to make sure everything is scanned without leaving a single directory unnoticed.
11. Wait for the scan to finish as Revo Uninstaller is checking for residual files and registries related to PremierOpinion.
12. Revo Uninstaller may have found leftover Registry items, click Select All and proceed to delete them by clicking the Delete button next to it. After that, click Next.
13. It may have also found some leftover files and folders, simply do the same by clicking Select All and deleting them. Now click Finish and the uninstallation of PremierOpinion is done.
Step 2: Run second-opinion scans
Antivirus engines may not detect new threats in the early stages of infection due to the malware not yet being recognized by the security software. It might be discovered in the end, but it may be too late for the infected machines.
However, new malware threats may contain strings and signatures from previous malware in a database of existing security products. As a result, other antivirus software may identify it while others do not.
Since some antivirus software may not be able to detect it, we’ll need more than one piece of security software to help us locate and remove the harmful threat.
Please run the software individually. You can do so in any particular order.
- Removal Tool
- Emergency Kit
- ESET Scanner
- Malwarebytes
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is an excellent tool for scanning and disinfecting malware-infected computers. Please note that this tool is separate from the mainstream Kaspersky security applications, so worry not about the company’s controversies.
1. To start, download the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.
2. Once the download of the executable file (KVRT.exe) is complete. The program doesn’t need to be installed on the computer, so you may begin running it straight away.
3. After reading the KSN Statement, Privacy Policy, and End User License Agreement, check the box indicating your agreement to the terms and conditions. To continue, click Accept.
4. Please wait for the system initialization process to finish, as the program will first check if your system is compatible.
5. Before we start scanning, we will have to set the scope of the scan. Click the Change parameters option to do so.
6. Check all the boxes to allow the computer to search through all of the disks and directories for malware. After that, click OK to return to the main screen.
7. We can now begin the scan; simply click the Start scan button, and the Virus Removal Tool will begin.
8. Await the scan’s completion with patience. If there are any risks within the computer system, a notification will be displayed.
9. To completely remove the risks that the program has identified, click Delete from the drop-down menu of each discovered object.
10. Click Continue to remove the identified malware threats from your computer.
As the name implies, the Emergency Kit software by Emsisoft is a must-use in your malware scanner arsenal. It features the same powerful scanning technology used by their flagship software, Emsisoft Anti-Malware.
1. Download the Emsisoft Emergency Kit portable software.
2. You can launch the executable program (EmsisoftEmergencyKit.exe) directly from your downloads folder after downloading it.
3. Click Yes to let the program start on the computer when the User Account Control window appears.
4. Choose your program’s destination folder and accept the license and maintenance terms. Next, click Install to continue.
5. Click Malware Scan on the homepage of the Emergency Kit application to start the scanning process. The amount of time it takes for the program to scan your computer will depend on how many files you have and the hardware capabilities of your system.
6. Emsisoft Emergency Scanner will display a list of the files that the program has detected when the scan is complete. To get rid of threats from your computer, click on Quarantine selected.
7. To complete the malware removal procedure, Emsisoft Emergency Scanner may also ask you to restart your computer. Simply click Reboot your system to finish the process.
ESET Online Scanner is a program that is designed only to remove malware threats from your computer for free. It is simple to use and features an advanced malware detection system. There is no need for registration, free trials, or anything else. Simply download, execute, and remove the malware.
1. Download the most recent version of ESET Online Scanner.
2. After pressing the download button, the file (Esetonlinescanner.exe) should have been downloaded to your computer. It does not require any installations so you can simply run the aforementioned file.
3. Before using ESET Online Scanner, it must be initialized. Choose your preferred language and click Get started. Continue as directed by the screen until the homepage appears.
4. Click Computer scan from the homepage, then select Full scan from the three options available.
5. Give ESET Online Scanner the permission to detect and remove potentially unwanted apps by ticking the Enable option. After that, click Start scan to begin the scanning process.
6. Await the completion of the malware scan for your machine by the ESET Online Scanner. ESET Online Scanner would have automatically removed the threats it found after the scan. To complete the malware cleanup process, click Proceed.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware is well-known in the security field; they have helped many people with malware issues through their software, and downloading it will help you as well.
Note: We will only use the free version of Malwarebytes because it includes all of the capabilities we require.
1. Download the latest version of Malwarebytes Anti-malware.
2. Malwarebytes will start downloading (MBSetup.exe) the installation file. Run the executable after the download is complete.
3. To allow the program to execute, simply click Yes in the User Account Control window that may appear.
4. The Malwarebytes setup wizard will now open; select Install to continue.
5. You will be prompted by Malwarebytes to install the Browser Guard extension. Depending on whether you want it on your browser or not, you can choose to download it (the extension is completely free).
6. Please wait as the Malwarebytes Setup installs itself. Follow the on-screen instructions until you have successfully installed Malwarebytes.
7. Start by launching Malwarebytes Anti-malware for the first time after it has been installed. If you’re installing Malwarebytes for the first time, you’ll get a 14-day free trial of the premium version.
8. After the program takes you to the main dashboard, click the Scanner box in the middle to start scanning the computer.
9. You won’t click Scan just yet when you get to the Scanner page. Rather, select Advanced scans as shown below.
10. In the Custom scan section, click Configure scan. We will be able to alter the way the software scans the computer as a result.
11. To detect hidden malware, click the box next to Scan for rootkits on the Configure Custom Scan screen. Additionally, to enable Malwarebytes to scan every drive on your computer, check the boxes next to each one.
12. Once the Custom Scan options have been adjusted, click the Start Custom Scan button to get started.
13. A side window displaying the computer scan’s progress will appear. Please wait until Malwarebytes has completed its malware scan of the entire system.
14. Following the completion of the scan, a list of threats found will appear. Check the boxes near all the malicious files and get rid of them from the computer by clicking the Quarantine button.
If prompted, please restart your computer since Malwarebytes may require it.
System protection tips
As the saying goes: “The biggest vulnerability is the person behind the screen“
So, here are some tips and what you need to know in order to keep your device safe and malware-free in the long run.
Keep every software installed up to date
Make sure that all of the programs in your computer is up-to-date with the latest version released by the developer. The reason behind this is that these updates frequently tackle bugs and issues that malware actors often exploit.
The same goes for your computer’s operating system, make sure Windows is up-to-date with the latest software update to prevent malware from exploiting a hidden vulnerability.
Avoid downloading files from unknown sources
One of the biggest sources of malware infection in a computer system is third-party installations. This happens when a user downloads a certain program from sources that are not the official download links. Some of the common types of sources where malware is present are torrent files, cracked software, and games.
Be careful with opening email attachments
Malware often disguises itself as resumes and quotations and threat actors often send thousands of these infected emails to company employees around the world in order to infiltrate their network.
Always check where your emails are coming from as there may be a chance that the project attachment you received via email did not actually come from a co-worker.
Do not visit unreputable websites
Avoid visiting websites that contain unfiltered advertisements such as illegal streaming websites, cracked software platforms, and links sent out to you by somebody you do not trust.
These sites are often linked to redirect chains that load once you click on an ad element on the page. Following this chain often leads to drive-by malware and phishing pages that an average user may eventually fail to notice.