MalwareCrush: what it is and how to remove it
MalwareCrush is an unreliable program which is promoted as an antivirus. Once inside, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) uses scare tactics, such as pop-ups, fake system notifications or falsified registry scans to get the user to buy the full version of the program, which can supposedly dispose of the threats.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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MalwareCrush: summary
| Distribution | Software bundling, spam email, deceptive ads |
|---|---|
| Name | MalwareCrush |
| Type | System tools |
| Promoted as | Anti-spyware software |
| Symptoms | Intrusive ads, fake pop-up error messages, suggests purchasing other unreliable tools |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 5 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | MalwareCrush |
| First seen | 23 July 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is MalwareCrush safe? Why it is flagged
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
MalwareCrush is a fake anti-spyware program which might attract PUPs
MalwareCrush is an unreliable program which is promoted as an antivirus.
Once inside, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) uses scare tactics, such as pop-ups, fake system notifications or falsified registry scans to get the user to buy the full version of the program, which can supposedly dispose of the threats.
However, MalwareCrush costs a lot but does nothing. It might only clear the fake threat list. This so-called virus also displays commercial content on your screen and can cause redirects to various affiliate sites. MalwareCrush typically is installed when you download software-bundles.
When the scan is finished, it will notify about supposedly found malware . However, it might require you to purchase the software before you can attempt to remove the threats.
Keep in mind that MalwareCrush is a scam, and you should not buy the software under any circumstances. There are a few versions of this program, including Malware Crush 3.7. Although, it is the same fraud as MalwareCrush.
MalwareCrush is promoted as a legitimate and useful tool, of course, but it has no features of an anti-spyware program. This tool can only attract other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and swindle money from fake virus scan results. Gullible people may trust this advertisement and a catchy slogan by MalwareCrush developers:
This is a scam, and you should not purchase any other tools or programs MalwareCrush suggest you. You need to remove MalwareCrush instead. is the one we trust. You can detect other threats and remove them at the same time.
This so-called MalwareCrush virus also acts annoying when displaying advertisements and causing redirects. Ads appear out of nowhere and display various commercial content. When you click on some of them, you are redirected to sites with questionable content. As a result, there is a substantial risk to get tricked into installing various potentially dangerous programs promoted by MalwareCrush.
MalwareCrush removal is required because of this annoying activity and relation to more significant PUPs. This program can collect your online browsing-related information, Internet provider details, IP address or geolocation. This data is later shared with ad creators, and that may lead to privacy issues in the future. Thus, MalwareCrush is the best option to protect your PC.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
Rogue anti-spyware come on your PC without your consent
Any adware-related programs and ordinary PUPs can come via insecure installation processes.
Researches often note that you are in high-risk when installing freeware from unknown providers. Anything that you are getting from an unverified source can have malicious scripts or additional programs. Choosing Advanced or Custom options during freeware installation might help and unpack those bundled up programs. This way you can see what you are getting installed.
Another way of getting infected with cyber threats is clicking on spam email attachments. If you open and download these files, PUPs or even malware automatically gets installed on your PC. Letters may look safe because virus creators misuse known firms' names when developing the content. You should delete spam emails without opening them.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
MalwareCrush termination is essential
To remove MalwareCrush, you should rely on professional tools.
Full system scan can be beneficial if you are dealing with the Trojan or adware at the same time. The anti-malware tool can detect all possible threats including MalwareCrush and remove them from your PC immediately.
MalwareCrush removal is not that difficult, and you need to do that right away because the collected information might get to third-party companies. Or even more, malware can find the way on your PC. MalwareCrush launches each time you start your device because of the changed Windows Registry. Remember to delete spam emails and update your software occasionally.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on MalwareCrush
- Install and use for MalwareCrush removal
- MalwareCrush Leaves The Malware Absolutely No Chance!
How to uninstall MalwareCrush
Uninstall it, then remove what keeps it starting with Windows.
Nothing it flagged needs fixing.
Step 1: Uninstall MalwareCrush
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. Sort the list by install date and find MalwareCrush, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).
Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 2: Remove it from startup
Whatever MalwareCrush installed usually starts with Windows. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10, and disable what you do not know, starting with entries that have an empty Publisher column.
Open file location on the right-click menu shows the file, which helps you decide and tells you what to delete later. Disabling is safe: if something you need stops working, switch it back on.
Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
What the uninstaller leaves behind is usually in the user folders. Open File Explorer, switch on View > Show > Hidden items (in Windows 10 View > Hidden items), and go through
%LocalAppData%,%AppData%, %ProgramData% and the two Program Files folders.Sort by Date modified and delete folders that appeared together with the problem and belong to no program you use. Folders with random names that hold
.exe,.dll, .js or .ps1 files are the strongest sign.Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Remove MalwareCrush from your Windows OS:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about MalwareCrush
Can I safely uninstall MalwareCrush?
If you did not install MalwareCrush yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows. Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name.
Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
MalwareCrush came back after I uninstalled it. Why?
Something else is reinstalling it. Common causes are a second program from the same publisher, a scheduled task that downloads it again, or a browser extension that keeps prompting for it. Sort Installed apps by install date and uninstall each entry from the same day that you did not choose.
Then open Task Scheduler and look in the Task Scheduler Library for tasks with updater-style names that you do not recognise. Check Startup apps in Task Manager too. If MalwareCrush still returns, start Windows in Safe Mode, uninstall it there and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan, which looks for loaders that ordinary scans can miss.
Is MalwareCrush a virus?
Not in the strict sense. Nothing reported so far shows MalwareCrush copying itself, encrypting files or stealing passwords, which is what security companies mean by a virus.
What people see is malwareCrush in the list of installed apps, which fits an unwanted program: software that arrives bundled with something else and keeps running without being asked for. Many antivirus programs label such software PUP or PUA rather than malware.
That label does not make it harmless. It still uses your PC and connection, may collect data and is often bundled with other programs, so removing it is the right call. Uninstall it from Installed apps, then check startup items and browser settings for its companions.
Can I use MalwareCrush safely?
Yes, if you installed it on purpose and control its settings. Download it only from the publisher's own site, never through a bundle or a portal. After installing, disable automatic start, offers and telemetry, and check that it did not change your search engine or add extensions.
Watch for renewals if you bought a licence, and turn on PUA blocking in Windows Security so that anything it tries to add during updates is stopped. If MalwareCrush keeps pushing payments or offers, it is not worth the trouble.
Do I need special software to remove MalwareCrush?
No. Windows has everything needed:
- Installed apps for the uninstall
- the Startup list and Task Scheduler for what restarts it
- Windows Security for a scan afterwards
The steps in this guide take about fifteen minutes. A dedicated tool is a convenience when you would rather not check each place yourself or when the program keeps coming back.
Whatever you use, finish by confirming that malwareCrush in the list of installed apps is gone after a restart, and avoid downloading removal tools from pages that promote them through scary warnings.
Will removing MalwareCrush speed up Windows?
It often helps a little and sometimes a lot, depending on how many programs came in the same bundle. Every unwanted program that starts with Windows adds to boot time and uses memory. The one behind malwareCrush in the list of installed apps is no exception.
Remove it, check the Startup list for others, restart and compare. If the PC is still slow, look at disk space, Windows updates and the processes at the top of Task Manager. A clean PC should sit almost idle when no programs are open.
Why does my antivirus call MalwareCrush a PUA or PUP?
These labels mean potentially unwanted application or program. They are used for software that is legal but uses deceptive distribution, aggressive ads, misleading claims or a hard removal. Microsoft's PUA categories include advertising software, bundlers, download managers, torrent clients, marketing software and miners.
A PUA detection is a warning, not proof of infection, and you decide whether to keep MalwareCrush. Other vendors use their own labels for the same idea, such as PUP.Optional or not-a-virus. Read more in our guide to potentially unwanted programs.
Can Windows block unwanted programs automatically?
Yes, with one setting. Windows Security has Potentially unwanted app blocking under App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings. Block apps stops flagged programs from installing, and Block downloads works in Microsoft Edge.
On some PCs this was not switched on, which is how programs like MalwareCrush got through. It does not catch everything, so read installer screens, choose Custom setup and decline offers. Removing free tools you no longer use also helps, because their updates are a common route for new bundles.
Is my privacy at risk because of MalwareCrush?
A little, not dramatically. Unwanted programs tend to report what you install, which sites you visit or how you use the program back to their publisher. That data is sold or used for ads.
The sign people noticed, malwareCrush in the list of installed apps, is consistent with such a program, and nothing reported suggests access to your files, camera or passwords.
Remove it, delete its leftovers and clear the browser data if it touched the browser. From then on, keep Potentially unwanted app blocking switched on in Windows Security, which stops many of these programs before they install.
Will Fortect remove MalwareCrush?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For MalwareCrush, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Affiliate marketing (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)