Chrome-survey.info virus (Survey Virus) - Free Instructions
Chrome-survey.info virus Removal Guide
What is Chrome-survey.info virus?
Is it worth filling out those Chrome-survey.info surveys?
Chrome-survey.info virus is a bothersome computer infection[1] that causes your web browsers load Chrome-survey.info site at unexpected times. The indicated website loads a Chrome user survey[2] (in Spanish language, so we assume that it targets Spanish-speaking computer users). The website triggers a pop-up, which says:
Congratulations , you are the lucky Chrome user today who has the right to participate in this survey!
Researcher shows shady pop-ups that Chrome-survey.info survey scam virus displays for computer users.
The survey promises to provide the user with a gift – either Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge or iPhone 7. Obviously, such deal sounds fascinating[3], however, we want to warn all users that such surveys are just a scam that is meant to convince users to reveal personal information such as name and email address so that such data could be added to spammers’ databases. Such information often reaches other spammers and consequently your email inbox will be spammed with shady emails. Please note that information you provide can reach cybercriminals[4] as well, and they might send a malware-laden email to you one day. Nowadays, malware is distributed via email mainly, so it would be a great idea to keep your email address to yourself and reveal it only for people/companies you know you can trust. The survey scams can also trick you into purchasing products or services you do not need. If Chrome-survey.info ads started bothering you, it means there is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) installed on your computer, and you need to get rid of it in order to block these annoying ads for good. The easiest way to remove Chrome-survey.info survey scam is to use anti-malware software. Such software can scan your PC for threats and precisely remove all files that put your computer and your privacy at risk. We suggest using FortectIntego software, but if you are looking for a way to delete the infection by yourself, take a look at Chrome-survey.info removal guidelines provided below the article.
How did I get infected with this suspicious program that sends me those surveys?
In the majority of cases, computer users install potentially unwanted software without even realizing it. It happens because programs like Chrome-survey.info hijack[5] the system with a help of software distribution method known as software bundling. Basically, this technique allows software developers to group several programs and put them into a software pack that looks like a single program, however, during its installations, users receive an offer to install some “recommended programs.” What is even worse is that these suggestions are not provided in a fair and direct way. They are hidden below Standard/Default installation settings and on top of that they are written in a fine print (in most cases). Considering that computer users tend to install programs in a rush, such statements typically remain unseen. Our advice to you is to review and drop-off suggested bonus components when installing software via Custom/Advanced settings.
How can I remove Chrome-survey.info survey virus?
If you are tired of seeing Chrome-survey.info ads on your screen, stop whatever you’re doing and read Chrome-survey.info removal instructions provided below. It should not be hard to remove Chrome-survey.info virus by yourself – just make sure you read these instructions attentively and carry them out without a rush. Of course, if you’re not in a mood for a spyware removal procedure, just leave this task for a trustworthy spyware removal tool. You can find a list of suggested programs below.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Chrome-survey.info virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
The first thing you should do is to remove programs that seem suspicious to you. The tutorial provided below shows how to find the list of all installed programs and how to uninstall shady-looking ones.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Surprisingly, these ads can show up in Firefox browser as well. If you started receiving these ads via Firefox browser, carry out these instructions.
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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
Make sure you delete all vague-looking Chrome extensions. It is highly recommended that you reset Chrome browser after deleting suspicious Chrome add-ons.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Chrome-survey.info registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting adware
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 Private Internet Access 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 Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ How can I know if my computer is infected? 10 tell-tale signs of infection. Panda Security Mediacenter. All the info about your cybersecurity.
- ^ Beware of Fake Google Chrome 2016 Annual Visitor Survey or Questionnaire. Online Threat Alerts. A security blog alerting you to cyber-threats, cyber security, cyber fraud, and more.
- ^ Jocelyn Baird. Customer Service Survey Scams: Don’t Fall for Them!. The Huffington Post. A politically liberal American online news aggregator and blog.
- ^ Alex Karlinsky. How Cybercriminals Monetize Information Obtained From Social Networks. Security Intelligence. Analysis and Insight for Information Security Professionals.
- ^ How to Avoid Installing Junk Programs When Downloading Free Software. How-To Geek. For Geeks, By Geeks.