Exelator (virus) - Tutorial
Exelator Removal Guide
What is Exelator?
Exelator is a redirect virus that reroutes users through Loadm.exelator.com, Loadus.exelator.com, or other sites
The so-called Exelator virus has been around for several years now. While initially it might be described as a browser hijacker, it is not the case, as the affected users do not see any initial changes to their browser's homepage, new tab address, or even the search provider. Instead, the symptoms of the infection are much more obscure.
Instead of changes to browser settings, users don't see anything different until they start browsing the web on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. Likewise, the issue occurs on both Windows and Mac computers and mobile devices, although the latter case is rarer.
Instead, users claimed that they noticed an increased number of advertisements while browsing the web – they can come in the form of pop-ups, in-text links, auto-play, and similar. Possibly the most distinctive trait of the infection is that people are getting redirected through Loadm.exelator.com, Loadus.exelator.com, or similar websites using the name of the virus.
The most likely cause of such behavior is an extension installed on the browser, which is categorized as adware. This commonly comes as a surprise for many, as they don't seem to have installed any applications of such kind recently. The reason for this is adware's deceptive distribution known as software bundling.
If you have encountered unexpected browser redirect problems and seeing traces of Exelator on your browser, you came to the right place, as we'll explain how it works and how to get rid of it for good.
| Name | Exelator |
|---|---|
| Category | Adware, redirect virus |
| Affected web browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads, third-party websites |
| Symptoms | Shows excessive ads, redirects through suspicious websites |
| Removal | Perform a full system scan with security software or check for manual instructions below |
| System fix | After the virus removal, scan your device with FortectIntego for best results |
Adware can be extremely annoying. It produces advertising posts which are a way for the developers to gain profit. These advertisements can come in forms such as:
- Pop-up ads;
- Pop-unders;
- Banner ads[1];
- Sales' coupons.
You should remove the virus if you want to stop the advertising. If you do not eliminate the potentially unwanted program, the number of adverts will increase and intrude on you each time you try browsing via the infected web browsers. Later on, regular slowdowns and crash downs will make the surfing process almost impossible to carry out normally.
There is no need to keep adware on your computer – all it does is gather browsing activity-related details to generate beneficial adverts, which sometimes might convince users to buy unneeded services and products. Use tools such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes to find all related components in the system.
Keep in mind that you are likely dealing with a browser extension, so you should promptly clean your browsers from cookies, caches, and other web data. If you have never done this before, we strongly recommend using the FortectIntego tool – it can remove the leftovers with just one click. Alternatively, you'll find all the manual instructions at the bottom of this post.
It is important to know that adware cannot cause damage directly, but it can take you to a harmful web page after all. If you encounter a suspicious website you were taken by it, close it immediately as it might have virus-related content. This is one of the most common ways how users get their computer system infected by malware very easily.
PUPs spread via bundling and in other ways
Adware-related programs have more than one distribution method. However, it is very important to know the most common spreading techniques and how to avoid deceptive installation. Here are some basic tips on prevention:
- Adware can come bundled with other freeware or shareware. Stop secret infiltration by choosing the Custom mode as prevention. Activate it, and you will be able to track all downloads and opt-out the ones you did not request for.
- Questionable websites can also spread adware. If you ever overcome a dubious-looking page, be quick to eliminate it. Adware can be injected into a hyperlink anywhere else.
- Prevent PUP-related infections by purchasing a reputable antivirus program. Do not be afraid to invest in a truly reliable computer security tool as these programs will ensure that your computer system is always protected and kept safe from various issues.
Get rid of Exelator malware
Exelator removal is not a difficult process if it is done by using anti-malware software[2]. However, if you decide to carry out the process manually, you will have to bring more effort. Deleting it manually means that you will need to open your infected web browser and get rid of all PUP-added components such as unknown browser extensions, plug-ins, add-ons, and so on, permanently.
According to tech specialists from SemVirus.pt[3], you need to remove the Exelator virus if you want to browse successfully without any intruding advertisements. Make sure you take care of the process as soon as you spot the cyber threat in your system. Moreover, check if all infected web browsers were cleaned successfully, otherwise, the ad-supported program might renew its activity with the next computer boot and you will struggle with all the redirecting and advertising all over again.
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 Exelator. Follow these steps
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 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.
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.
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 Exelator 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
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
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- ^ Sean ORourke. Banner ad. Marketing terms. Definitions.
- ^ Forrest Stroud. Anti-malware. Webopedia. IT definitions.
- ^ SemVirus.pt. SemVirus. Tech-related news and articles.