Luckwinner.me (Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Luckwinner.me Removal Guide
What is Luckwinner.me?
Luckwinner.me – a push notification virus that will deliver ads directly to your desktop or screen
Luckwinner.me redirect is caused by adware or misleading ads on questionable websites
Luckwinner.me is one of many rogue websites that try to hoodwink their visitors into clicking the Allow button to enable its notifications. Various tricks are used to accomplish that. Depending on your geolocation, you could be pushed into allowing the notifications to redeem a prize, to continue watching a video, reveal hidden content, prove that you're not a robot, and so on.
When you enable Luckwinner.me notifications, ads will start popping up directly on your phone screen or your desktop. Browsers don't even have to open for this action. In most cases, these ads will be deceptive, as the portals you'll end up on if the ads are clicked have nothing to do with them.
When you're redirected to this portal, that means you have an adware infection. And that's where it gets dangerous as you might be redirected to harmful sites with various malicious content. Therefore, you should consider removing it ASAP. By reading this article, you'll find out how to do that, how to avoid similar infections, and how to fully recover your device.
name | Luckwinner.me |
---|---|
Type | Redirect, push notification virus, adware |
IP address | 34.231.89.205 |
Purpose | Show ads of affiliated websites |
Symptoms | Ads as notifications, redirects to dubious portals, slower device performance |
Risks | Redirects may force you into visiting questionable sites where you could be forced to install other PUPs |
Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads, fake Flash Player updates, torrent sites |
Removal | Scan your device with a reliable anti-malware tool to remove any suspicious files and adware causing Luckwinner.me redirect |
System tune-up | PUP infections often cause various system issues. To revert any changes and get your device back on track, use the all-in-one FortectIntego system repair software |
As we've stated before, if Luckwinner.me pop-up appears out of nowhere, you have adware installed on your device. People might think that adware can't be that harmful if it's categorized as a potentially unwanted program. But that's where they're wrong.
Adware could act as a gateway to malware. Luckwinner.me ads might redirect you to portals, which might try to draw out personal or banking information, push to install other PUPs (browser hijackers, unwanted toolbars, etc.), or even download malware automatically through drive-by downloads.[1]
Disciplinea.fun virus, Aporasal.net virus, Artepigr virus, and other sites similar to Luckwinner.me virus generates revenue from showing you misleading ads. Since PUP developers don't care for their user safety, you might get redirected to any affiliated site which contents could include:
- other push notification viruses,
- scams,
- porn,
- gambling,
- malware,
- PUPs, etc.
Furthermore, potentially unwanted programs are capable of opening new tabs with promotional content without you even clicking on anything and messing up system settings. All suspicious portals leave their marks on your devices, called tracking cookies. These entries and altered settings will slow down your machine visibly.
Luckwinner.me ads will start to appear if you subscribe to sites push notifications
Therefore, you should remove Luckwinner.me, and any other unwelcomed guests immediately. For that, you'll need a trustworthy anti-malware tool such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. You can download them both for free. Afterward, run a full system scan and let the security tool of your choice do the rest.
Cybersecurity experts[2] highly recommend using one more tool to finish Luckwinner.me removal. That's the FortectIntego system diagnostics tool that will restore any modifications that the infection did to the system files and settings and clean up your device from junk files and tracking cookies.
Software bundles and fake Flash Player updates cause the most PUP infections
Nowadays, people are always in a rush, and that's understandable. But when it comes to installing or updating software, they should take a deep breath and slow down. Potentially unwanted program developers use various tricks to distribute their creations as people seldomly install such apps willingly.
One of these techniques is called software bundling.[3] Packs with two or more installers for different apps are usually downloaded from third-party software vendors. All software is preselected for installation, so the only way to avoid PUPs from a bundle is to pick the Custom or Advanced installation mode and untick all software apart from the one you initially wanted.
Luckwinner.me virus is spreading through software bundles, deceptive updaters, and other sneaky methods
Fake Flash Player update prompts are a very usual sight when visiting questionable websites. People should never trust websites that tell that there's something wrong with user devices as they have no power to determine that. Avoid suspicious portals and download your desired software straight from its developers.
Remove Luckwinner.me virus instantly with proper anti-malware software
If your cell phone or PC redirects you to Luckwinner.me push notification site, or you clicked on the Allow button on the rogue website, you need to scan it for PUP or even malware infections. You should entrust dependable anti-malware software with this task.
A proper security tool will automatically detect, isolate, and remove Luckwinner.me, along with all of its components and other questionable files. Please remember to keep virus databases updated frequently so that your AV tool could stop the latest threats from infecting your devices.
By deleting notification subscriptions from your browser will finish Luckwinner.me removal process. If you're not sure how to do that, please use our free guides for Chrome, Firefox, and other browser posted below. When all is said and done, perform system diagnostics to clean up your device.
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 Luckwinner.me. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
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
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.
Uninstall from Android
Uninstall unwanted programs from Android device:
- Go to Settings -> Apps/Applications.
- Expand the full list of the installed apps.
- Scroll through the list and tap on a suspicious application once.
- Tap on it and select Uninstall.
- Reboot the device.
Clear Storage and data files on Android from Google Chrome or other apps:
- Go to Settings > Apps/Applications.
- Expand the full list of the installed apps.
- Tap on Chrome and select Storage & cache.
- Clear storage and clear cache of the app.
If you are seeing ads on top of other apps but are not sure what is causing it, perform the following steps:
- Go to Apps/Applications.
- Tap Advanced.
- Select Special App access.
- Tap on Display over other apps.
- Eliminate apps with these access rights enabled.
Stop browser notifications
Remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome (desktop):
- Open Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
- Scroll down and click on Advanced.
- Locate Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
- Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
- Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.
Remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome (Android):
- Open Google Chrome and tap on Settings (three vertical dots).
- Select Notifications.
- Scroll down to the Sites section.
- Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off setting).
Remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
- Click on Privacy & Security section.
- Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
- In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
- Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.
Remove unwanted notifications from Safari:
- Click on Safari > Preferences…
- Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
Remove unwanted notifications from MS Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
- Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
- Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
- Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.
Remove unwanted notifications from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Go to Notifications on the right.
- Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
- Click on More actions and select Block.
Remove unwanted notifications from Internet Explorer:
- Open Internet Explorer, and click on the Gear icon at the top-right of the window.
- Select Internet options and go to the Privacy tab.
- In the Pop-up Blocker section, click on Settings.
- Locate web address in question under Allowed sites and pick Remove.
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 Luckwinner.me 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
Protect your privacy – employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
- ^ Drive-by download. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ Virusai. Virusai. Spyware news and security.
- ^ Bundled Software. Techopedia.Professional it insights.