Media Downloader adware. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
MediaDownloader functions as an ad-supported program
MediaDownloader is presented as a useful tool that allows downloading and converting various media files. However, it’s a highly suspicious program that often spreads in software packages and might infiltrate both Windows and Mac OS X[1] silently. Once inside, it starts displaying annoying pop-up ads, redirects to unknown websites and similar problems
After the infiltration, Media Downloader virus employs virtual layer that allows placing third-party commercial content on each website that user enter. These ads might look legit especially if they are displayed on your favorite site. However, they might be placed on strange parts of the website and cover necessary content.
The majority of ads offer updates from suspicious sources, such as related-offers.com. According to its victims, this PUP causes “A new Media Downloader version is available,” “Do you want to update MediaDownloader?”, and similar ads that can redirect to third-party websites promoting questionable software.
However, security experts recommend staying away from ads because they might redirect to third-party websites promoting questionable software. However, these “updates” night be obfuscated potentially unwanted programs or even malware.
As you can see, MediaDownloader works as an adware,[2] or ad-supported,[3] program. Therefore, it is designed to generate revenue for its developers. Unfortunately, they do not pay much of the attention to the affiliates credibility. However, advertising issues are not the only problem.
Once you directly or indirectly agreed to install MediaDownloader to your computer, you might also install a bunch of third-party applications, such as:
- Media Downloader Toolbar;
- Conduit Toolbar;
- Norton Security Scan;
- Babylon Toolbar;
- IWantThis browser extension;
- Dealply browser extension;
- BrowseForChange browser extension;
Some of these apps are known as potentially unwanted programs that might affect all web browsers, so you can notice its ads on Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and other browsers. If you have been suffering from them, you can remove Media Downloader with Reimage.
Have you read Privacy Policy? MediaDownloader spies on you!
In the official Media Downloader download site, developers provided Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy.[4] The latter document raises the biggest concerns. Developers state that they might collect both personally and non-personally identifiable information.
The personal information is collected only if a user registers for MediaDownloader services or send an email to developers. Meanwhile, non-personally identifiable information is tracked with the help of cookies and agents. This information includes:
“type of device on which Software is used and installed, applications with which the Software has interacted, advertisements viewed, the type of browser you are using, the keyboard language, the URL you have come from and the time spent at that URL, and your domain type and server.”
Questions about Media Downloader adware
The main issue is that developers have a right to share aggregated non-personal information with “third parties, including, advertisers, sponsors, business partners, investors, affiliates, and consultants.” Thus, your browser might crash from commercial content due to an increased amount of suspicious shopping offers. That’s why you should consider Media Downloader removal.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Download sources of the adware
There are several ways how a user can install the Papp on their computers:
- Official download website;
- Free software download sites;
- Promotional websites that ask to install the software for viewing their content;
- Software bundles.
Even though users can download it voluntarily, most of the time it sneaks inside the system unnoticed. Usually, it comes to the system bundled with other installers that are promoted on third-party download websites, such as Ez Software Updater and other. Beware that even the most reliable sources can promote software with additional components, so you must double check it before installation.
To avoid such cyber threats in the future, experts from Finland[5] suggest checking the trustworthiness of the freeware by reading users' reports and other information. After that, you have to select Advanced or Custom installation option and monitor the entire process carefully. Make sure you look for various add-ons, plug-ins, toolbars, and extensions that are promoted as useful tools and opt out of them without any hesitation.
Eliminate MediaDownloader virus from Mac OS X
For a full Media Downloader removal, we recommend using two different methods. You can either run a full system scan with a reputable anti-spyware and get rid of this downloader automatically or follow manual removal guidelines. These guidelines were prepared by our experts who are seeking to help people with their computer-related issues. However, you must be very attentive while using them to prevent unexpected problems on your computer.
Besides, you should not only remove MediaDownloader from the computer but other entries that were included in the bundle with a program. As we have mentioned in the beginning, this PUP spreads together with a bunch of suspicious apps that should not be left on your device too.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Media Downloader adware, follow these steps:
Get rid of Media Downloader from Windows systems
To uninstall MediaDownloader from Windows operating system, you need to get rid of every component which is related to this adware. These programs have been noticed to be related to this adware: Media Downloader version 1.5, VideoDownloader, Ez Software Updater, MPlayerX, NicePlayer, MyShopMate.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
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Uninstall Media Downloader and related programs
Here, look for Media Downloader or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Eliminate Media Downloader from Mac OS X system
Apple users are the main victims of the virus. To get rid of it and prevent its reappearance in the future, make sure that you remove all components of this adware. In this case, you should find Media Downloader version 1.5, Ez Software Updater, MyShopMate, VideoDownloader, MPlayerX, NicePlayer and similar entries.
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Media Downloader or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Media Downloader from Internet Explorer (IE)
We highly recommend resetting Internet Explorer to quickly remove suspicious add-ons that may have been installed with MediaDownloader.
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Media Downloader and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Media Downloader removal.
Erase Media Downloader adware from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Media Downloader should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Media Downloader from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Open Firefox extensions and remove Conduit toolbar, Babylon toolbar or other suspicious add-ons.
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Media Downloader and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Media Downloader removal.
Uninstall Media Downloader from Google Chrome
Follow these steps to wipe out suspicious toolbar and extensions that may have arrived together with the software.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Media Downloader and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Media Downloader removal.
Get rid of Media Downloader from Safari
Follow these steps to clean and fix Safari:
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Media Downloader or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Media Downloader removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Do Apple Macs get viruses?. Computer Hope. The website about computers and their problems.
- ^ Adware. Trend Micro. Enterprise cyber security solutions.
- ^ Definition of: ad-supported software. PCMag. Technology product reviews, news, prices and downloads.
- ^ Adam Dachis. Do You Read Privacy Policies (and Do You Understand Them)?. Lifehacker. Tips, tricks and downloads for getting things done.
- ^ Virukset. Virukset. Finnish cyber security, spyware and malware news.