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  • Active
  • Severity: Low
  • Browser addons
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jul 2017

How to remove Elite Web Tool virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Alice Woods · Likes to teach users about virus prevention

Elite Web Tool virus tracks your web searches

The screenshot of Elite Web Tool

Elite Web Tool virus is a deceptive browser extension that monitors your web searches. It is compatible with Google Chrome browser at the moment. It was added and updated quite recently, so it turns out to be a new add-on.

The extension will redirect all the searches you make via your browser's URL bar through several suspicious sites, such as hxxp://betteresults.net/. It addresses this site first, and then redirects to hxxp://blpsearch.com/. Finally, it leads you to search.yahoo.com results' page that might contain some sponsored search results. 

You do not need extra knowledge to spot that it is a shady tool because of these aspects:

  • Inappropriate official website;
  • Unclear purpose;
  • No privacy policy nor EULA.

If you visit the official website, quickmatch.club, you find yourself in a completely blank page that quickly launches an “Add Extension to Leave” pop-up. Such behavior surely does not present a trusted tool. Some users even describe the website as malicious as it prevents them from closing it immediately.

Since IT professionals have classified the extension as a potentially unwanted application, more specifically, a browser hijacker, you should get rid of it as soon as you can. If you are looking for a way to uninstall it, you may let FortectIntego to remove Elite Web Tool for you. In case you're looking for manual removal instructions, just scroll down to find them.

The suspicious extension that is advertised via quickmatch.club site is also available on the Google Chrome Web Store. Though Google constantly surveys the new content added to the store, there are still countless shady and useless applications. Recently, numerous similar tools similar to Elite Web Tool supplied the stock.

The domain name of this shady extension sounds like a dating site's name. However, if you expect to get a better insight, you fail to so as you run into a blank page.

On the other hand, such behavior might disguise more troublesome matters. There have been multiple cases when seemingly innocent websites facilitate or carry out exploit kits[1]. The latter hacking tools often deliver ransomware[2] or troublesome malware to users‘ devices.

On the final note, since the tool does not present any EULA or Terms of use, you can not be sure whether the application spies on your online activities/transmits your non-personal or personal information to third-parties or not. We believe that you should put Elite Web Tool removal at the top of your to-do list if you care about your privacy and want to search the Internet without encountering annoying redirections every now and then.The picture displaying Elite Web Tool

More about “Add Extension to Leave” scam

Although the majority of suspicious programs travel in a bundle with freeware, Elite Web Tool hijacks computers in quite a unique way. 

Typically, users who install it are already infected with some kind of spyware – usually adware that opens random web pages and causes web redirections. One of such redirects can point the user to quickmatch.club or similar site that prevents the user from closing the web page by demanding to add an unknown extension first.

You can quit such pages by clicking “Prevent this page from creating additional dialogues” and then closing the browser. 

Potentially unwanted programs are also distributed in tandem with popular free applications via software bundling. In order not to install irrelevant applications, you should pay attention to the installation guides. Choose “Custom” settings rather than “Basic.” Carefully proceed to the installation steps to spot shady add-ons.

Click on the “Install” button only when you are sure that no unwanted add-ons are installed. Likewise, you will be able to evade Elite Web Tool or similar PUPs in the future.

Delete Elite Web Tool from Chrome now

You can get rid of this tool either manually or automatically. Elite Web Tool removal takes less time if you run a system scan with a PC security tool.

It is also possible to remove Elite Web Tool virus manually. Bear in mind that it is also compatible with Internet Explorer or MS Edge. Thus, you will need to proceed to each step manually.

You may combine these two methods if you are suspect that some elements have been left. Latvian users[3] should be especially wary as this tool might be highly promoted for them.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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