Remove polo4.me (Virus Removal Instructions) - updated Aug 2019
polo4.me – a dubious website that supports the Marco Polo app
polo4.me is a dubious app that can be found on official stores but can also travel in software bundles
polo4.me is a questionable website that offers users the installation of Marco Polo application created by Joya Communications Inc. Unfortunately, the app is known to disturb users' web browsing sessions on Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and other browsers by injecting them with pop-ups, banners, deals, offers, in-text links, auto-play ads, and similar unwanted content. While PC and macOS users can be victims of this adware,[1] the unwanted program is most prominent in Androids and iPhones. Users also complained about receiving strange text messages from the app, asking to click on a suspicious link.[2] polo4.me should not be trusted, as the questionable activity can lead to malware[3] infections, data leak or money loss.
| Summary | |
| Name | polo4.me |
| Type | Adware |
| Infiltration | Google Play, App Store, bogus networks, and third-party software packages |
| Compatible with | Windows, Android, macOS, iOS |
| Affected browsers | Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and others |
| Symptoms | Intrusive ads disturbing internet browsing, unauthorized text messages sent to users in the contact list |
| Elimination | Use security software or our guide below. After removal, scan your device with Reimage to make sure it is in a fully working state |
Initially, polo4.me adware might not cause any harm, as it is a legitimate application offered on official stores. However, not all apps that come from official sources are entirely safe, and polo4.me is one of them. Rogue programs often prompt users to interact with the commercial content, or click on certain links to achieve its goals.
The primary purpose of the suspicious application is displaying sponsored links and ads, in order to increase the revenue to its developers. However, polo4.me links are not always safe, and users who are not attentive enough can get themselves in trouble. The app might force the user to land on an unsecured website that has malware strains in it.
Therefore, we advise users not to interact with suspicious links and other content the app shows and remove polo4.me from iPhone, Android, Windows OS or iOS devices immediately. This adware program might even try to lure you into scams that aim to swindle money or personal information from the user. Be aware of such scamming messages as they can force you to face big monetary losses or reveal private data to complete strangers.
Despite being available on the official stores, polo4.me adware can enter machines with the help of software bundling. The optional install is included within the download manager and often hidden under Advanced installation mode. Thus, users often miss the step by picking Recommended settings. This is one of the reasons why this ad-supported application is also recognized by the term polo4.me virus.
polo4.me is a potentially unwanted application that plagues Android, iPhone, PC and Mac users
Another concern when it comes to polo4.me is information gathering. The app is known to collect personal data using third-party services. The information is harvested with the help of such technologies as cookies and beacons.
We use a third-party Service Provider (defined below) to automatically log information about you and your computer or mobile device, and how you use and interact with the Service.
Such information might refer to the user's name, surname, email address, residence address, browser type used, OS used, and various browsing activity-related data such as links clicked, pages entered, offers search for, bookmarks saved, and similar. Later on, these details are very likely to be used to provide attractive-looking offers to you.
In general, the app acts similarly to malware, as it sends out text messages from the host phone without the owner's consent. Therefore, such operation of the adware is suspicious, to say the least. Furthermore, as long as it is a PUP, PUPs such as adware apps are capable of modifying browsers' homepage and new tab URL zones. polo4.me might also make such changes to your browser apps (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Explorer, Safari).
If you have lately been bothered by this adware and its activities, you should opt for the polo4.me removal process. This type of task can be carried out in two different techniques. The first one is known as the automatical version which involves antivirus software such as Reimage while the other one requires cleaning both the operating system and web browsers on your own. Find detailed instructions at the end of this article.
Adware is hidden as an optional component in software bundles
Software bundling is the most common distribution technique used by freeware developers and PUP authors. While many question the integrity of the practice, it is widely used, but most end users are not aware of it. Therefore, it is vital to find out how to bypass unwanted applications during the installation of free software downloaded from the internet.
Experts[4] recommend following these simple tips:
- Choose legitimate sources for your downloads. Avoid third-party file sharing sites;
- When installing a new program, make sure you read ToS and Privacy Policy (never install applications that do not provide such documents);
- When prompted, pick Custom or Advanced installation settings (avoid Recommended/Quick ones at all costs);
- Remove all the pre-checked marks next to add-ons, media players, system optimizers, and similar useless software;
- Make sure you run anti-malware software[5] at all times.
Uninstall polo4.me virus from Android, iPhone, PC, and Mac
To remove polo4.me ads from your device, several steps must be executed. Down below, you will find detailed instructions on how to eliminate potentially unwanted applications from the system, as well as how to clean your browsers afterward. As soon as polo4.me removal is complete, make sure you run PC repair software like Reimage for best results.
To get rid of polo4.me virus from Android, follow these steps:
- Power off your phone
- Press the Power button and immediately press and hold both the Volume Up and Volume Down
- Once the device boots, you will be in the Safe Mode
- Go to Apps and uninstall Marco Polo and any other suspicious entries from your phone
- Reboot to exit Safe mode
To eliminate polo4.me from iPhone or iPad, follow these instructions:
- Power off your phone
- Turn it back on, and, as soon as the device light up, hold down Volume down button until you see Apple logo
- Once the device boots, you will be in the Safe Mode
- Now, select Settings > Storage
- Select the app you want to delete and select Delete app
- Repeat the above to eliminate all the suspicious entries on your iOS
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, 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 polo4.me, follow these steps:
Erase polo4.me from Windows systems
To remove polo4.me adware from Windows, follow these instructions:
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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 polo4.me and related programs
Here, look for polo4.me or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Delete polo4.me from Mac OS X system
Mac users can follow these guidelines to get rid of the unwanted app:
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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 polo4.me or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate polo4.me from Internet Explorer (IE)
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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.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for polo4.me 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 polo4.me removal.
Uninstall polo4.me from Microsoft Edge
Remember that you have to reset MS Edge after the elimination of the dubious program is complete:
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, polo4.me should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Remove polo4.me from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
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Here, select polo4.me 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.
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Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete polo4.me removal.
Get rid of polo4.me from Google Chrome
If the adware has left any rogue changes or objects in your Google Chrome web browser, eliminate all of them by completing the following steps:
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions.
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Here, select polo4.me 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 polo4.me removal.
Erase polo4.me from 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.
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Here, select Extensions and look for polo4.me 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....
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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 polo4.me removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ What is Adware?. Kaspersky. Resource Center.
- ^ Text spam from Marco Polo App. Reddit. Social network.
- ^ Malware. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ DieViren. DieViren. Cybersecurity researchers.
- ^ Margaret Rouse. Antimalware (anti-malware). Search Security. Tech Target.
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