Badoo virus: what it is and how to remove it
Badoo virus is a term used to describe various cyber infections and scams related to this popular dating website. The dating site itself was launched in 2006.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
If desktop.exe returns after removal, a full scan can find the entry that brings it back.
Do it yourself · free Remove Badoo virus yourself 3 steps, about 9 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Badoo virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Badoo virus |
| Type | Information stealer |
| Symptoms | An unknown process in Task Manager |
| 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
| Files and processes | desktop.exe and C:\ProgramData\badoo\badoo |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| File name | desktop.exe |
| First seen | 7 June 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What Badoo virus does
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Badoo virus - a group of cyber threats that aim at dating platform users
Badoo virus is a term used to describe various cyber infections and scams related to this popular dating website.
The dating site itself was launched in 2006. However, there are many concerns about its operation and security. Though it is a popular platform worldwide, so there's no surprise that scammers are using its name to swindle person user's information.
If you have never heard of Badoo, it's a social network that allows finding the date. It is available in 190 countries and 47 different languages . Therefore, it's a perfect place for cyber criminals too. Millions of people can be reached.
However, the platform and its marketing strategies are questionable too. During the past couple of years, people reported about spam and scam emails sent from this social network. While some of the messages were used to trick users into creating an account; other emails were used to obtain various account login details.
The majority of people start looking up for the Badoo virus removal instructions after finding an unknown search engine set as the default homepage. This search tool is one of the marketing components that is supposed to promote this dating website.
Additionally, the desktop and mobile versions of the dating platform are actively being pushed using bundling technique. Therefore, apps might appear on the device when downloading various free programs. If this happened to you too, you should obtain or another anti-malware program and remove Badoo virus from the device.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Badoo.desktop.exe file appears after installing Windows app
When users install Badoo Desktop on their Windows machines, Badoo.desktop.exe file is dropped on the computer.
It runs as an ordinary process and can be seen in the Windows Task Manager. This file starts running as soon as a person turns on the computer. After the installation, it adds a startup entry to run registry key.
Originally, the file should not use lots of computer's CPU. Typically, it uses about 0.0007% of computer's resources. However, if you see that the file eats up more CPU, you should check its location. The legitimate Badoo.desktop.exe is placed in the following directory:
If it is in the other location, you might be having problems with some Badoo.desktop.exe virus. It means that some malicious software might be using the name of this file to infiltrate your computer and silently perform tasks in the background. In this case, you should perform a full system scan in order to check computer's status and clean malicious components.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Badoo virus might operate as a browser hijacker
Another form of the Badoo virus is a browser hijacker.
The dating platform has its search engine that is being pushed quite aggressively. When you are installing the desktop app on your Windows computer or any freeware from unknown sources, you might be offered to install this search tool too. However, you might overlook this suggestion and unknowingly agree to make hxxps://badoo.com/startpage/ your default browser.
The appearance of Badoo browser hijacker seems legitimate and promotes dating platform's services and users in your region. Additionally, it redirects search queries to Google results page.
However, you are still browsing via hijacker browser. It means that this program might have additional hidden functionality. So, when using this tool, you might
Additionally, it might alter browser's settings and prevent from setting your preferred homepage or search engine. However, you should still remove Badoo.com/startpage in order to increase browsing experience and security. For that, you can use anti-malware software and scan the system or follow manual removal guide at the end of this article.
- get redirected to questionable sites when clicking on a link in the results page;
- notice aggressive ads, usually promoting dating website;
- see new browser's tabs being suddenly opened;
- let developers and unknown third-parties collect various information about you.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Badoo virus
- Different versions of malware might install unwanted applications, hijack web browser or steal personal information
- John Johnson has left you a message on Badoo!
- "I clicked on an invite from another friend I had not heard from in ages and they (badoo.com) asked me to create an account, and when they asked me to supply my social networking email and password details, I did not provide it.
- Just before that badoo.com did ask for a Gmail account password, which I did not enter, yet emails with an email with ...'left a message for you on Badoo!' was sent to everyone I ever sent an email to, not only my contacts??
- I was logged into my gmail account at the same time?
- The email was sent a few days after I registered with badoo.com, trying to check my friend's message and was never able to.
- On emailing him, he said he did not invite me to his network, and the same has happened to him!"
How Badoo virus got on your PC
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Badoo scam spreads via emails
Scammers use the name of the popular dating network in order to obtain Gmail logins and credentials.
However, the virus continues spreading through victim's contacts list. Thus, everyone who has ever received a message from a victim might get a phishing message.
According to the user's reports, the subject line of the scam email includes victim's name and informs about a message left on the social network:
The letter includes a link that redirects to a website where people are supposed to create Badoo account in order to read a message. However, the registration is shady. Users are asked to enter logins and passwords of Gmail or other accounts:
However, scammers create localized phishing campaigns too. Similar hoaxes were reported spreading in German, Korean and other languages. Other scams also include a picture of the person who supposedly sent the message, informs about new people in your area, asks to complete the registration, etc.
Such activities are highly suspicious. Users and security specialists assume that such spam emails might be a part of a shady Badoo's advertising campaign. Online you can find numerous complaints about this dating network and various privacy-related issues.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
The summary of Badoo virus distribution
We have already explained how particular versions of this cyber threat spreads.
However, we want to put the dot distribution techniques in order to help you to avoid it:
- Be careful with freeware and shareware. Software bundling is a popular method to spread potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). In order to avoid installing browser hijacker or useless desktop dating app, you need to use Advanced/Custom installation settings of the freeware and opt out all "optional downloads." Note that Quick/Standard settings do not have this feature.
- Do not click on suspicious links in the emails. If you received an email stating that your friend sent you a message, ask him or her directly about it. Clicking on suspicious links might lead to lost personal information and hacked account.
- Do not reply or click on the content provided in spam emails. If you receive a message informing about a necessity to finish registration or check new people, do not click anything. Even if you see "unsubscribe" button, stay away from it. Clicking any links/buttons or replying to these letters might increase spam in your inbox.
How to check the PC for Badoo virus
- Path:
C:\ProgramData\badoo\badoo - File:
desktop.exe
How to remove Badoo virus
How to remove Badoo virus and secure your accounts
A stealer usually takes what it wants within minutes and may already be gone.
The scan comes first, then the accounts.
Step 1: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Badoo virus that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 2: Change passwords from another device and sign out other sessions
Badoo virus can copy saved passwords, cookies and session tokens and send them out in seconds, so cleaning the PC does not undo the theft.
Change your passwords on a device that was never infected, starting with the e-mail account, since every other reset goes through it. On each account, end all other sessions and check the recovery e-mail, phone number and forwarding rules.
Then turn on two-step verification. Sign in on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC again only after the offline scan is clean.
Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after Badoo virus, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86)too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
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
Follow these steps to clean all suspicious components that might be related to Badoo malware:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Uninstall suspicious extensions and reset Google Chrome to clean browser hijacker:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Reset web browser to get rid of badoo.com/startpage/ from Mozilla Firefox:
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
These instructions will help you get rid of all components related to Badoo.com virus:
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Removal of the Badoo virus
In order to uninstall Badoo Desktop app, you have to access Program's list and remove it as an ordinary program.
However, if this application was installed without your knowledge, you should also consider scanning the device with anti-malware software to make sure that any other suspicious components were not installed too.
If you want to remove Badoo browser hijacker, you have to investigate the system too. Moreover, you need to uninstall unknown browser extensions and plugins. Finally, reset the affected web browser.
We have provided detailed Badoo virus removal guide below. Please follow it carefully. However, if the application or browser hijacker shows up after manual elimination, you should opt for the automatic deletion with security software.
Questions about Badoo virus
Is desktop.exe safe?
It depends on where the file is and who signed it, not on the name. Open Task Manager, go to the Details tab, right-click desktop.exe and choose Open file location. A file inside Program Files or System32 with a valid digital signature from a known company is usually part of a legitimate program.
A file in AppData, Temp or ProgramData with no signature, especially one that restarts itself after you end it, is suspicious. If you cannot tie the process to anything you installed, uninstall recent unfamiliar programs and run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
Can I end desktop.exe in Task Manager?
Ending an unknown process is safe in the sense that Windows will warn you before you close anything critical, and a restart brings back whatever Windows needs. Ending desktop.exe will not remove it, though: if a task or startup entry launches it, it returns at the next sign-in.
Use ending the process as a test. If something important stops working, it belonged to a program you use. If nothing changes and it comes back by itself, find and disable its starter, delete the file and scan the PC.
I deleted desktop.exe. Am I safe now?
Your PC may be, but your accounts are not yet. Deleting desktop.exe stops Badoo virus from running again, if nothing else on the PC restarts it, yet it does nothing about data that was already collected and sent.
Run the offline scan to make sure no other component or second payload remains. Then change passwords from a clean device, sign out of all sessions, move crypto and turn on two-step verification. Those steps, not the deletion, are what protect you from the stolen data.
Is Badoo virus a known stealer?
Not as a named family yet. The sign, an unfamiliar process called desktop.exe in Task Manager, is typical of information stealers, keyloggers or clippers, but no analysis links Badoo virus to a specific one. That is common:
- victims notice the effects
- such as lost accounts or swapped addresses
- before anyone sees the file
You do not need the family name to act. Change passwords from a clean device, sign out of all sessions, move crypto to a new wallet and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan on the PC. If a scan gives a detection name, note it for the report.
Is Badoo virus still on my computer?
Possibly, possibly not. Some stealers stay and keep collecting; others delete themselves after one run. The sign you saw, an unfamiliar process called desktop.exe in Task Manager, only shows that data was used, not where the program is now.
A Microsoft Defender offline scan answers the first question; checking Startup apps, Task Scheduler and the Downloads folder for files from the days before helps too. Either way, the account steps are needed, because stolen passwords and cookies keep working after the program is gone, sometimes for weeks.
I have two-step verification. Am I protected?
Partly. Two-step verification stops an attacker who has only your password. But stealers also take session cookies, which represent a login that already passed the second step.
With a cookie, an attacker can open the account until the session expires or you sign out of all devices. So, after an infection, end all sessions as well as changing passwords.
Passkeys and hardware security keys resist phishing better, but a stolen session still needs to be ended. Review trusted devices and remove any you do not recognise.
Can I change my passwords on the infected PC?
Not while the spyware may still be running. A keylogger or stealer would capture the new passwords too. Use a phone or another computer that was never infected, or wait until the Microsoft Defender offline scan on this PC comes back clean.
Start with your main e-mail account, because it can reset every other password, then banking and payment accounts. When you return to this PC, sign in to the browser again only after the scans are clean and you have ended old sessions.
Who should I tell about Badoo virus?
Start with the companies that can act quickly:
- your bank
- card issuer and payment services if money is involved
- crypto exchanges if coins were moved
- the providers of any account that was taken over
Each has a fraud or account-recovery process. Then file a police or national cybercrime report if you lost money or your identity was misused. If the PC is used for work, tell your employer's IT team, because work accounts and data may be affected as well.
Nothing has happened yet. Do I still need to change passwords?
Yes. Stolen logs are often sorted and sold before anyone uses them, so the quiet period can last weeks.
The criminals look for the most valuable accounts first, usually crypto, banking and e-mail, and may only reach yours later. Changing passwords and ending sessions now makes the copy worthless whenever it is used.
It takes an evening. Start with e-mail, then money, then everything else saved in the browser, and turn on two-step verification as you go. Watch for login alerts over the following months.
Will Fortect remove Badoo virus?
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 Badoo virus, 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: Badoo (read October 7, 2026)
- Google: Badoo.com sending spam to all my contacts on my behalf, asking them to logon to their site. Please help! (read October 7, 2026)
- Die Viren: Die Viren (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)