Remove BrowserProtect adware (Removal Guide)

BrowserProtect – adware that falsely claims to be a helpful browser security extension

BrowserProtect virus

BrowserProtect is one of those browser extensions that claim to offer amazing functionality while in reality, they do no such thing. On the contrary, they might cause annoyance and even jeopardize the security of your system. According to its website, “BrowserProtect is free software that makes your browsing safer. It stops online threats by defending your browser settings and preferences.” Such promotional content might encourage people to install the app willingly.

However, it might seem ironic that an extension that promises to protects your Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozzila Firefox browser has been installed on your computer without your permission. It is a trick frequently employed by the creators of various adware-type^[1] and potentially unwanted programs that disguise their advertising-driven programs by supposedly useful functionalities.

Name	BrowserProtect
Type	Adware
Category	Potentially unwanted program
Claims	This rogue product claims to protect web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer for free when it truly acts as an adware program
Activities	The PUP can get you involved in frequent advertising and redirecting activities, start collecting browsing-related information and modify your web browsers' settings such as the homepage and new tab URL
Removal	Use automatical software to get rid of the adware application or the manual step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this article
Fix	Try employing software such as Fortect Intego if you have found corrupted objects on your computer system

Note that, if a program has appeared on your computer, you will see all sorts of ads flashing on your screen prompting you to click on them and visit the websites they are promoting. However, you should not go in any of these directions because you might end up on some suspicious websites which might infect your computer as BrowserProtect benefits from redirecting web traffic to specific websites.

However, if this is not enough for you to dislike this application already, you should know that the potentially unwanted program installs cookies on your computer and therefore tracks your browsing-related information. Therefore, not only you will see all those:

“Ads by BrowserProtect”,
“BrowserProtect Ads”,
“By BrowserProtect”,
“Powered by BrowserProtect”,
“Brought to you by BrowserProtect”.

The app might also share the collected data with other parties for receiving more income. This way random developers will be able to see such information as your recently visited websites, hyperlinks and adverts clicked, saved bookmarks, geolocation,^[2] your IP address, etc. In some cases, third parties might even get their hands on your mobile phone number or email address if they are placed somewhere lurking on the Internet.

BrowserProtect

You should note that adware is also capable of modifying web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. The PUP can make specific changes on the default homepage and new tab URL of the browser. The worst part is that you might not be able to restore the settings to their starter position when the adware is lurking on your machine. BrowserProtect removal might be necessary.

Continuously, the virus can get you involved in annoying redirecting activities. Even though the main goal of this task is to take you to developer-sponsored websites, you sometimes might accidentally land on a malware-laden website. This is one of the common ways how random users get infected with malicious parasites. We cannot say that the adware itself is malware but it can definitely cause some indirect risk of a malware^[3] infection.

You should not fall for believing in all the “handy” features that the adware might promise to provide you with. Instead, remove BrowserProtect from your operating system and web browser apps as this program poses a risk to your non-personal information and can be related to secret malware installation. If you already caught a dangerous virus with SpyHunter Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes Malwarebytes, you can consider trying Fortect Intego software for the damage fix.

Be aware that these PUPs might not come alone. Potentially unwanted programs are often provided with a pack of other rogue products such as browser hijackers, adware apps, scareware, etc. So, once you are performing the removal process, do not forget to check your computer for additional objects. Note that PUPs are likely to add suspicious executables to your Windows Task Manager section and include bogus entries to your Windows Registry.

BrowserProtect adware

Ways through which adware infiltration happens

According to security experts from LosVirus.es,^[4] adware programs are often distributed through a technique called bundling. Bundling means that instead of a single application you have intended to download, you will get a bouquet of programs that you might not enjoy having on your computer. We speak about all sorts of potentially unwanted programs like browser hijackers and adware-type applications that will install themselves on your computer.

This happens because you have not checked the custom and advanced options during the installation process and thus let these programs into your computer. Therefore, you should always be very attentive and control what is entering your computer. What is more, you should never rely on any download manager or installer that comes from sources such as cnet.com, download.com, and softonic.com as they are basically created for distributing bundled software.

Instead, always download programs from their official websites as this will diminish the risk of getting additional programs installed on your computer. Continuously, adware applications can also get delivered as fake software updates. If you have been searching via unsecured websites, you can easily get provided with an unsecured upgrade message. Do not install any updates until you are 100% sure that they were released by the official developer.

Removing BrowserProtect virus

This adware-type program looks and works like any other application that you might find on the Internet sphere. However, it acts more than just an original program and can cause negative effects on your browser's and computer's performance. Regarding this purpose, you should think about removing this cyber threat before it brings more dangerous infections,

Remove BrowserProtect with the help of antimalware software that can help you to deal with the annoying infection in a couple of minutes of time. This method is more trustworthy than the manual technique as not all users are advanced ones and can make mistakes while performing the manual process, e.g. skipping crucial steps.

However, if you think that you have enough skills and time for manual threat removal, then you should go for it. Below we have provided clear guidelines on how to get rid of the potentially unwanted program from your OS and web browser apps such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

Uninstall from Windows

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.

Delete from macOS

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.

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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

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)

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.

Remove from Google Chrome

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.

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.

How to remove BrowserProtect adware

BrowserProtect – adware that falsely claims to be a helpful browser security extension

Ways through which adware infiltration happens