Driver Navigator (Removal Guide) - Oct 2019 update
Driver Navigator Removal Guide
What is Driver Navigator?
Driver Navigator is the system tool that has a bad reputation for being intrusive and showing ads
Driver Navigator PUP is nothing the developers have promised on the site or promotional ads. Driver Navigator is the rogue Windows tool that falls into a potentially unwanted program category and is used to perform misleading system scans. These alleged system checks show pre-determined results and trick them into purchasing the full version of this rogue driver optimizer. For a long time, this shady tool was one of the more annoying PUPs found on various free installers and promoted via deceptive sites and pop-ups. However, at the time of writing the update for this article the official promotional site stated about discontinuing. and pushed another driver tool – Driver Easy for just $29.95.
It has all the claims Driver Navigator virus previously had and supposedly is more than valuable for any Windows user. Un until 2017 users reported in various online forums that random pop-ups and shady installation were the main issues regarding the suspicious program. We can determine that neither of these tools can be worth your trust and especially money. There are many other tools that can claim about usefulness and value but deliver PUPs based on social engineering scams instead.[1]
Name | Driver Navigator |
---|---|
Type | System Tool |
Associated | Easeware software developer. Driver Easy – the program now mainly distributed instead of the DriverNavigator |
Price of the full version | Promotions for Driver Easy claim that you can get it for just $29.95 per year |
Main danger | Deceptive content exposes the user to shady material and can even redirect to malicious pages where malware gets directly installed on the machine. Anything this PUP delivers to your screen that involves advertisements can track and collect details about browsing preferences, most viewed sites or searched items and share this information with third-party companies |
Distribution | Freeware installation setups, other programs and deceptive techniques like promotional content, software budling |
Elimination | Anti-malware tools can help to remove Driver Navigator completely alongside other applications installed behind your back. You can also benefit from a scan with FortectIntego to ensure that virus damage is terminated |
Driver Navigator virus shows fake system alerts, claims to scan the machine and delivers altered results with a full list of issues because this content encourages users to contact the alleged technical support team or install the offered tool. In most cases, the scanning occurs out of nowhere but people still fall for the scam because the list contains names of outdates software or even crucial PC issues.
Driver Navigator by Easeware is an untrustworthy system tool that claims to be designed to detect problems in device drivers and fix them automatically. While this potentially unwanted program[2] cannot be called a virus, experts suggest keeping a distance from it. It is one of the system tools that are offered for helping people update their drivers. Unfortunately, you should still be careful with this application because it can trick you into spending your money on nothing.
The official site where Driver Navigator is distributed and promoted states that the tool is no longer developed, but developers there claim to offer another shady tool Driver Easy that is known for not good features.[3] This is yet another potentially unwanted program but with a different name.
If you know that this program appeared on your computer after downloading it from its official website, it's less dangerous because the tool itself is questionable, not the additional applications. However, there are hundreds of people who report about the unwanted appearance of the Driver Navigator virus on their computers.[4] This means that you cannot be sure that this PUP is the only app that landed on the machine.
In this case, you should know that drivernavigator.exe and similar files infiltrated your machine in a bundle with freeware. This is the main way used by the program's developers to spread the trial version on the Internet.
Driver Navigator is a program that was discontinued, so developers push other programs instead that also gives no value.
You don't have to remove Driver Navigator if you avoid its installation in the first place. For that, you just need to stay focused on the installation of free software. If you want to use a tool that can fix Windows issues efficiently, we recommend using FortectIntego.
The first sign indicating that this optimization tool might have got installed on your PC is a serious system slowdown and continuous redirects to drivernavigator.com during your browsing. In addition to that, this dubious application adds a Windows Task Scheduler, launches system scans, and supposedly looks for system errors and outdated drivers.
Of course, scan results inform about hundreds of issues. Unfortunately, you have to keep in mind that these results are typically filled with random files from your computer which removal or updating would hardly improve your PC's performance.
They are used to trick you into believing that Driver Navigator EaseWare is a reliable tool and that you need to buy its full license (for 39.95$) in order to fix drivers and other errors. DO NOT buy the license first of all because it is useless.
Besides, keep in mind that for buying it you will be asked to disclose your full name, credit card details, and other similar information. To prevent possible inconveniences you might have to deal with after interacting with the described virtual annoyance, you must think about Driver Navigator removal. We and security experts from DieViren.de[5] recommend using the proper software to clean your computer from unwanted programs.
Driver Navigator is an untrustworthy system tool that we do not recommend using. In addition, purchasing the full version of it might be a waste of money.
Find out how PUP programs sneak into your computer
As we have already mentioned in the previous paragraph, fake system alerts and scans can start appearing as if out of nowhere. Be aware that the developer of this program has been actively using “bundling” as the main distribution method of the trial version of this app and other tools.
Of course, the main aim of such programs is to trick people into buying the licensed version of the software. If you want to prevent the infiltration of suspicious apps, you should start paying more attention to the installation process of free programs and the legitimacy of sources you download anything from.
No matter if you are about to install a well-known program or unfamiliar software, either way, you should select the Advanced or Custom installation option and carefully check the entire installation process. The most important thing is to check every checkbox and opt-out of 'optional downloads', such as various browser add-ons, plug-ins, toolbars, and extensions.
If you will do everything correctly, the chances that you will install a PUP or another similar program are very low. Research has shown that this dubious optimization tool is mainly prevalent in the United States, Canada, and Hungary. But PUPs can enter any device. Driver Navigator is the tool that claims to offer various functions of the system application.
The answers you have been looking for
Question. I have been looking for a free Driver Navigator license key so that I could download and install the full software version on my computer. Is there a way to crack this program safely?
Answer: Unfortunately, we do not recommend you to attempt to install licensed software version for free. Nowadays, cybercriminals tend to use such software packs to inject spyware or malware type applications in them. Consequently, users looking for free licensed software versions can end up installing malware on their computers.
If you were looking for “Driver Navigator with a crack free download,” most likely you came across many suspicious-looking websites offering you to obtain the full version of the described software illegally.
We hope that you did not install anything from them on your computer. Otherwise, your security is at risk. In such a situation, we highly recommend testing your system with anti-malware software such as FortectIntego.
Question. Driver Navigator showed up this morning despite that I have never attempted to install it on my computer. Is there an explanation for this? Since when programs just appear on my computer without asking my permission?
Answer: You could install the Driver Navigator virus unknowingly. Typically, it travels in a bundle with freeware that you can download from various file-sharing networks and sites. Be careful when installing free software and do not forget to drop unwanted items before hitting the “Install” button.
In most cases, suggestions to add unwanted free additions hide behind Default/Standard installation settings. There is no secret that users tend to rely on these settings since they are offered by the setup. For some reason, Custom/Advanced settings scare many computer users, and that is why they miss the chance to drop unwanted extras.
Your question implies that you are looking for instructions on how to remove Driver Navigator. You can find a full-length removal guide right below the article.
Two simple ways to remove Driver Navigator
If the DriverNavigator virus has already started its fake scans, you should take needed actions to stop them from appearing. Please, make sure you ignore these warning messages and false result sheets because they have nothing to do with the optimization of your computer.
For manual Driver Navigator removal, you can follow the instructions provided right below the article. But all those steps involve changes in certain parts of the machine, settings oft he registry, startup and web browsers. If you don't have enough knowledge about these processes, you can damage the machine instead.
So we recommend running a full system scan with updated security software to make sure that your PC is free of viruses that might have been causing system slowdowns and other problems. Also, you will get a chance to ensure that you managed to remove Driver Navigator completely. For that, you can use one of the software variants listed down 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 Driver Navigator. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
To uninstall Driver Navigator, rely on this guide
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)
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
You should check for additional content added on the system behind your back associated with Driver Navigator
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 Driver Navigator 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 system tools
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
- ^ Social engineering. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ Sabrina Berkenkopf. "Potentially Unwanted Programs": much more than just annoying. G Data Software Blog. Security Blog.
- ^ little issue with a program called Driver Easy. Reddit. Online community forum.
- ^ Question: Driver Navigator. Cnet Forums. Spyware, Viruses, & Security Forum.
- ^ DieViren. DieViren. Malware Removal Tutorials.