Content Explorer (Virus Removal Guide) - Free Instructions

Content Explorer Removal Guide

What is Content Explorer?

Content Explorer is adware that might inject sponsored links and ads into your searches

Content Explorer Content Explorer - is an adware that will give you lots of ads with great deals and offers. It is advised to remove it as quickly as possible and get rid of all unnecessary content.

Content Explorer is a program, which was labeled as an adware and a potentially unwanted program. These conclusions have been made after noticing what activities this dubious extension may initiate on the user's computer. In most cases, it causes annoying ads that pop up on the screen on a regular basis. Besides, the unwanted app fills search results with sponsored links and other ads. These advertisements are initiated in order to drive traffic to sponsored websites and helping them to increase their page rank or sales. In other words, Content Explorer virus is an overall useless program to users and it should be eliminated as soon as possible for a safe browsing on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another web browser.

Name Content Explorer
Type Adware, potentially unwanted program
Distribution PUPs are distributed via deceptive methods: software bundles, fake updates, deceptive ads, and similar, are common. In some cases, users might install adware without knowing much about its real functionality
Symptoms
  • Unknown browser extensions or apps installed on the system
  • Homepage and new tab address is set to a different one
  • All searches are redirected to another provider
  • Search results are filled with sponsored links and ads
  • Redirects to unknown websites, etc.
Risks Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks due to information gathering practices, monetary losses
Elimination Get rid of all unwanted programs or malware automatically by using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes security software; alternatively, you can delete PUPs manually – we provider the instructions below
Optimization If you found an unknown application or extension on your computer, you should also take care of its remediation after infection is eliminated

There is also another reason why this ad-supported plug-in is categorized as a potentially unwanted program. That reason is related to the distribution method of Content Explorer. Beware that in most of the cases this program enters its target PC systems without an appropriate permission asked. This infiltration method relies on freeware and shareware that can easily be filled with various optional components in exchange for money. If you want to avoid that, you need to follow the special tips that are given in the next paragraph.

Furthermore, if Content Explorer hijacks the system, it may intentionally track your browsing habits. It may collect information, which is related to your most visited websites, data that you leave on each of these sites, search terms, email addresses, PC's location, etc. That is dangerous because such activity may cause the loss of your non-private information. No matter that it's just 'non-private' data, you can never know what it can be used for.

If the bad scenario has already happened and the Content Explorer virus has already shown up on your computer and you know that you have nothing to do with its appearance, you should download an anti-malware tool and run a full system scan with it. You should also take care of the affected files and functions with PC repair tools like FortectIntego. It will help you to fix all the damage this Content Explorer virus has already made.

Content Explorer adwareContent Explorer is a potentially unwanted application that changes the way you browse the web - it injects ads and redirects to suspicious websites

Additional tools sneak in without your consent during installations

Hundreds of people have installed useless programs consciously because PUPs are actively promoted as tools that can improve people's browsing experience. Developers offer information about the latest coupons, discounts and price comparisons, and similar deals.

However, you should never trust the program completely because you may be very disappointed after taking its ads for granted. By the way, sometimes useless programs and adware or hijackers may enter your computer without your knowledge.

This distribution method is very popular because it's related to free programs, games, and applications that are actively used by PC users. To avoid unwanted infiltration, you should be extra careful when downloading and installing various free programs.

Firstly, try reading terms of agreement policy section before any questionable installation. Secondly, if you decided to install this program, select the advanced or custom installation method. Thirdly, follow the entire process and unmark any additional attachments.

Remove Content Explorer virus from your computer manually or using antimalware tools

This program is relatively useless because it has no other purpose apart from advertising. Most of those adds will offer you great deals, but they will not be worth your time or money. The purpose of adds is always to trick you and never to help. That's why you should remove Content Explorer virus as soon as you have noticed it.

We have prepared easy instructions for Content Explorer removal, please follow the removal guidelines below. You can also find in-depth steps for browser resetting there. This may be useful when intruder changes your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Internet Explorer preferences.

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.

Offer
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Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Content Explorer. Follow these steps

Uninstall from Windows

To remove Content Explorer from Windows systems, follow these steps:

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK. Uninstall from Windows 2

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Delete from macOS

Remove items from Applications folder:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
  3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash) Uninstall from Mac 1

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
  3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
  4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files. Uninstall from Mac 2

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 on Uninstall at the bottom. 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 Privacy & security.
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

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

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.

  1. Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
  2. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
  3. Right-click on them and pick Delete Advanced MS Edge reset 1
  4. Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  5. 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 Advanced MS Edge reset 2

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. Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

In you are unable to delete browser extensions from Firefox in a regular way, you should reset the browser by following these steps below:

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 unwanted plugin 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 Options.
  3. Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.

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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall. Remove extensions from Safari

Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Clear History…
  2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  3. Confirm with Clear History. Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches. Reset Safari

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 Content Explorer 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.

About the author
Olivia Morelli
Olivia Morelli - Ransomware analyst

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