Desktop Weather Alerts application displays numerous ads that might redirect to highly suspicious websites

Desktop Weather virus is an unreliable application offered online for free. Initially, it should provide weather forecast and inform about the possible changes of weather conditions in your local area. However, despite the developers claims that it is a handy tool, security experts from DieViren.de[1] classify it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP)[2].
Users should be aware that the primary goal of the Desktop Weather app is not to improve their browsing experience but rather to generate annoying ads that might show up as:
- banners;
- in-texts;
- pop-ups;
Desktop Weather ads are typically filled with sponsored links that are displayed just for making people visit specific websites and seeking to increase their web traffic or sales in this way. However, the biggest problem is that you might be redirected to unknown websites because the developers of such programs are hardly checking what third parties they promote through their ads.
As you can see, apart from providing weather-related information, this browser add-on might put your computer at risk. Hence, you should remove Desktop Weather Alerts from the computer and look up for a more reliable application. Besides, if this app appeared on the PC suddenly, you should also scan the computer with FortectIntego or other anti-malware programs.

Apart from suspicious Desktop Weather redirect issues, this browser add-on might also track information about the users. As soon as it gets inside the system, it modifies the settings of each web browser installed on the computer. It might install cookies or employ other tracking technologies[3] and start collecting data about your browsing habits and history.
The app may be interested in various non-personal information
After reading the privacy policy and similar information given by its developers, it becomes clear that the app is interested in the following information:
- Your most visited websites;
- Data that you enter when visiting them;
- Your PC's IP address
- Geolocation;
- Your email address, etc.
This activity is not as harmless as you may think from the first sight. No matter that such data is considered as personally non-identifiable, it may be revealed to suspicious third parties that might try to use it for very questionable activities. Desktop Weather Alerts removal helps to prevent from these possible threats and protect personal information from shady businesses or advertising networks.
Potentially unwanted program (PUP) is hidden in the installer of regular application
Developers offer the unreliable application as a useful tool for those who opt to follow the weather changes. However, the deceptive description is only a marketing trick to lure as many users as possible to download the Desktop Weather virus.
Besides, according to the research it is mostly spread in a bundle with freeware and shareware. This distribution method is unfair because people are hardly warned how many programs they will install on their computers.
If you want to avoid Desktop Weather or similar programs, you have to choose a Custom or Advanced settings when installing freeware on your computer. In addition, you have to uncheck these checkboxes that say that you agree to install optional programs. As you already know, if it infiltrates your computer, it affects all web browsers that can be found on the system.
Quickly get rid of Desktop Weather Alerts pop-up
As it is mentioned above, this ad-supported application is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). In other terms, it is not a malicious virus, but its behavior might earn the so-called virus name. Remember, that don't have to tolerate arbitrary actions of the Desktop Weather virus. Simply uninstall it as an ordinary application or browser extension.
In order to remove Desktop Weather Alerts virus manually, please follow our prepared instructions below. Please follow them carefully. It’s important to locate and delete all suspicious components not only from the computer but the browsers as well. Once it’s done, you should also reset your browsers to get rid of tracking cookies and prevent suspicious companies from monitoring your behavior online.
However, you can speed up Desktop Weather Alerts removal by scanning the computer with the anti-malware program. Your chosen software will terminate adware-related files within several minutes.
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.
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.

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.

Was this guide helpful?
1 comment