Gdiview virus: what it is and how to remove it
Gdiview app is a potentially unwanted program distributed via questionable pages that can lead to dangerous online material. It is not clear what the program is set for because it can run in the background unnoticed and does not trigger any particular symptoms.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Gdiview virus: summary
| Distribution | It is distributed via questionable sites and can be spread via bundling like other PUPs[1]. It also can be found in packages on peer-to-peer services |
|---|---|
| Name | Gdiview virus |
| Type | Adware, Potentially unwanted program |
| Issues | The program adds Managed by your organization feature on Chrome browser and affects the browsing online |
| possible AV detections | Win32:Trojan-gen, Gen:Variant.Babar.23607, HEUR:Trojan-PSW.Win64.Convagent.gen, Microsoft: Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA9C, etc. |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 6 more facts
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Gdiview virus |
| First seen | 22 January 2021 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA9C |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Gdiview virus dangerous?
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Gdiview virus is the program set to infiltrate other intruders on the targeted machine
Gdiview app is a potentially unwanted program distributed via questionable pages that can lead to dangerous online material.
It is not clear what the program is set for because it can run in the background unnoticed and does not trigger any particular symptoms. This application can install browser hijackers or adware programs without any other permissions needed and significantly affect the machine's speed and performance.
It is also associated with Managed by your organization feature addition on the browser. The intruder annoys people first with additional installs and suspicious behavior, and the removal of this app. It becomes difficult because the program cannot be found on the desktop or in program folders.
This application's problem is unintentional downloads that users might trigger once the suspicious site is visited and the particular download started. Gdiview virus installation can happen very quickly, and users only see those changes on the Google Chrome browser or other additional issues triggered on the machine or the browser.
Gdiview, as any other potentially unwanted program or browser-based threat can trigger various advertisements in the form of coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, redirects. It can promote various other tools, system applications. It can even install other software or run certain scripts to affect the performance further.
Typically such intruders can affect the system's performance and web browsing applications by only showing intrusive advertisements and rerouting online traffic. PUPs have various sponsors and commercial content creator relations, so material that appears on the screen can be suspicious, harmful, or even dangerous and lead to malicious installations.
Nor Gdiview virus developers nor distributors can be responsible for the issues with thrid-parties and other online material. You need to avoid any suspicious programs, so you can avoid using tools like or in the future. Unfortunately, given all the distribution issues and other circumstances, these anti-malware tools are the ones that can help with infections like PUPs and rogue applications.
You should think about removing this Gdiview application as soon as you notice the suspicious activity or even encounter some error messages about the program or its files:
Make sure to properly remove Gdiview virus from the machine, so you cannot encounter such messages or different system issues. You might need additional help from tools like because of the particular system corruption and alterations.
Gdiview virus removal is difficult because the particular program is not found easily. Still, anti-malware tool detection alaysis show that the intruder can be found and eliminated using security tools. You should rely on such a method and clean the machine immediately. There is no need to keep the suspicious app on the PC.
- "GDIView.exe Application Error."
- "GDIView.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
- "GDIView.exe is not a valid Win32 application."
- "GDIView.exe is not running."
- "Error starting program: GDIView.exe."
- "Faulting Application Path: GDIView.exe."
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Gdiview virus
- Win32:Trojan-gen, Gen:Variant.Babar.23607, HEUR:Trojan-PSW.Win64.Convagent.gen, Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA9C, etc.
- You should remove Gdiview virus from the system using tools like anti-malware or security programs
- The machine gets slower and performs poorly, so make sure to repair any damage with
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Deceptive material can lead to dangerous content or even trigger unwanted installations
PUAs can spread around without interruption because freeware installation procedures are quick.
Especially when the particular distribution involves free download sites, p2p services, and similar platforms where the software is provided in bundles with other programs and in packages that get promoted as useful additions.
You should rely on official sources, avoid ay questionable pages, and always exit any update pages or program promotional ads. Make sure to choose Advanced or Custom installation options, so you can see all additional pieces and decide what programs get to be installed.
Otherwise, you allow the quick installations to launch during which app pre-packed applications get added to your device. Do not skip through any steps, and do not ignore any messages about particular changes applications want to make on the machine. Be more suspicious.
Check your browser and PC
Microsoft Defender reports Gdiview virus as Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA9C.
In a Defender name, the part before the colon is the category, the part after it is the platform, and the part after the slash is the family Microsoft assigned. A suffix after ! is an internal Microsoft marker, not a different threat.
Generic labels such as Agent, GenericKD or Malware.AI only say that a file looks malicious, not what it does; our guide to antivirus detection names shows how to read them.
How to remove Gdiview virus
How to remove the Gdiview virus extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall Gdiview virus
Gdiview virus is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select Gdiview virus, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Gdiview virus that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Remove Gdiview app via Control Panel and make sure to eliminate other PUPs too
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Reset the browser to default fully to fight Gdiview PUP
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Rely on professional tools and remove Gdiview virus from the machine
You need to note that this Gdiview application is not only suspicious or annoying due to the silent infiltration, but it can trigger dangerous changes on the browser or the device itself. It is intrusive and possibly malicious since those detections indicate all sorts of aliases. make sure to choose a proper system security tool for the elimination.
Gdiview virus removal results closely related to the program you choose to use when terminating the PUP. You might need to pay attention closely to results and then follow the suggested steps when the system check is done. Remove all indicated threats and then run a tool like PC repair or optimization program, so system issues get fixed.
Questions about Gdiview virus
What is Gdiview virus and why is it on my PC?
Gdiview virus is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.
Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need Gdiview virus, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.
Gdiview virus came back after I uninstalled it. Why?
Something else is reinstalling it. Common causes are a second program from the same publisher, a scheduled task that downloads it again, or a browser extension that keeps prompting for it. Sort Installed apps by install date and uninstall each entry from the same day that you did not choose.
Then open Task Scheduler and look in the Task Scheduler Library for tasks with updater-style names that you do not recognise. Check Startup apps in Task Manager too. If Gdiview virus still returns, start Windows in Safe Mode, uninstall it there and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan, which looks for loaders that ordinary scans can miss.
Is Gdiview virus a virus?
Not in the strict sense. A virus copies itself into other files; Gdiview virus does not. Security companies classify it as adware or a potentially unwanted program, and Microsoft Defender reports it as Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA9C.
The label "not a virus" does not mean safe, though. Gdiview virus changes what you see in the browser, collects browsing data and sends you to pages that sometimes carry real malware or scams. Treat it as something to remove rather than something to live with, and follow the plan above for each browser you use.
Is Microsoft Defender enough to remove Gdiview virus?
For most home PCs it is a solid first step. Defender detects this threat as Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA9C, and a full scan followed by an offline scan covers the places where Gdiview virus usually hides. The offline scan runs before Windows starts, so malware that hides while Windows is running cannot interfere: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
Defender does not undo everything, though. It does not restore browser settings, decrypt files or change passwords that may have been copied, which is why this guide has separate steps for those. If Defender finds the same item again after removal, something else keeps reinstalling it.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Gdiview virus?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Will Fortect remove Gdiview virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Gdiview virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Potentially unwanted program (read October 7, 2026)
- CSOonline: What is adware? (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Virus detection (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)