SoftPlanet Software Assistant: what it is and how to remove it
SoftPlanet Software Assistant is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) developed by the SoftPlanet corporation. It means that it is not recommended to use.
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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SoftPlanet Software Assistant: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | SoftPlanet Software Assistant |
| Type | System optimizer |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| 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 4 more facts
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Program | SoftPlanet Software Assistant |
| First seen | 8 January 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is SoftPlanet Software Assistant safe? Why it is flagged
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
SoftPlanet Software Assistant is a PUP that changes web browser settings and shows pop-up ads
SoftPlanet Software Assistant is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) developed by the SoftPlanet corporation.
It means that it is not recommended to use.
Free Antivirus and other AVSoftware from questionable download websites. On top of that, our research team has revealed that SoftPlanet Software Assistant is also commonly spread in one pack with freeware and is responsible for injecting other potentially unwanted programs like, for instance, Conduit, Amazon Toolbar, Pc Optimizer Pro, and many others.
Therefore, as soon as you install this PUP, you may find your web browser's settings corrupt. In other words, your default start page, search provider, net tab window may be replaced by some doubtful search provider, various toolbars may be installed without requiring your permission, and so on.
Besides, you may start receiving catchy-looking ads on each website that you are visiting. So it is worth thinking about removing SoftPlanet Software Assistant.
In addition to that, this browser add-on is not recommended using if you want to prevent privacy-related issues. Once installed, it may activate tracking cookies and start collecting various information:
Therefore, if this PUP has landed on your PC by accident, you are strongly advised to launch ] and remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant with the whole bundle that it might have inserted in your PC's system.
- user location data,
- email address,
- IP address and other data.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Potentially unwanted programs easily enter computer along with other software
As we have already mentioned, this particular PUP can be downloaded on various freeware sharing websites, peer-to-peer sites, and other download websites.
Besides, its developer (SoftPlanet) also has an official website and provides people with a long list of both well-known and doubtful programs.
Unfortunately, but it can not only be downloaded for a reason. It may also infiltrate your PC without requiring explicit authorization. That's because it spreads via software packages.
Therefore, whenever you decide to install freeware on your computer, take some precautionary measures because you may end up with a whole bouquet of potentially unwanted programs.
That's why no matter whether what kind of program you decide to install, make sure that you select the Advanced or Custom installation option and carefully check if your selected freeware carries 'optional downloads' or not. If it does, deselect each of them and only finish to install it.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SoftPlanet Software Assistant
- Besides, many people have reported that it has entered their computers right after installing Avast!
How to uninstall SoftPlanet Software Assistant
How to remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant
Uninstall it, then remove what keeps it starting with Windows.
Nothing it flagged needs fixing.
Step 1: Uninstall SoftPlanet Software Assistant
SoftPlanet Software Assistant 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 SoftPlanet Software Assistant, 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 2: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after SoftPlanet Software Assistant, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86)too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of SoftPlanet Software Assistant 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.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Instructions on how to remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant virus
This tool is legitimate free software, so you should quite easily remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant by yourself.
You can use our tips at the bottom of the text.
However, don't forget that one of the factors why this tool has been categorized as a potentially unwanted program is the fact that it is basically used for spreading various toolbars, plug-ins, and ad-supported browser add-ons.
Therefore, in order to get rid of SoftPlanet Software Assistant virus for good, you have to remove the entire bundle that it might have been carrying. The easiest and most reliable way to do so is to initiate a full system check with or .
Also, once you have removed all the threats, be sure to fix the system.
[GI=method-1]You may need to enter Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]If you want to prevent SoftPlanet Software Assistant from operating, the System Restore function can be useful too
Questions about SoftPlanet Software Assistant
Can I safely uninstall SoftPlanet Software Assistant?
If you did not install SoftPlanet Software Assistant yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows.
Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name. Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps.
Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
How do I stop programs like SoftPlanet Software Assistant from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped SoftPlanet Software Assistant before it reached the app list.
Could SoftPlanet Software Assistant be a legitimate program?
Possibly. Some programs that cause softPlanet Software Assistant in the list of installed apps are real products from real companies that simply use aggressive distribution. Check the publisher in Installed apps and the digital signature in the file's Properties.
A known publisher and a program you actually use mean you can keep it and only adjust its settings. An unknown publisher, a program you never opened and no clear purpose mean it should go.
If it came bundled with something else, the decision is easy: you did not choose it, so remove it and keep the program you actually wanted.
Is SoftPlanet Software Assistant why my PC is slow?
It can be one reason. Programs of this kind often start with Windows, run updaters in the background and keep a process open all the time.
The sign reported, softPlanet Software Assistant in the list of installed apps, means at least one such program is active. Open Task Manager, sort by CPU, memory and network, and see whether SoftPlanet Software Assistant or a related process is near the top.
If it is, removing it will help. If not, the slowdown has another cause, but removing a program you never chose is still worth doing. A restart after removal shows the difference best.
Can Windows Security remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant?
Often yes, if Potentially unwanted app blocking is on. Microsoft Defender detects many bundled and unwanted programs as PUA, but by default it only blocks them during download in some cases. For a program already installed, uninstall it yourself from Installed apps first, then run a full scan in Windows Security to catch leftovers.
If softPlanet Software Assistant in the list of installed apps returns after that, run the Microsoft Defender offline scan, which works before Windows starts. Switching on the PUA setting afterwards helps keep similar programs out.
Is SoftPlanet Software Assistant harmful?
It is unwelcome rather than destructive, based on what has been reported: softPlanet Software Assistant in the list of installed apps. Unwanted programs like this slow Windows down, use your connection, show offers or change settings, and they make money for their publisher at your expense. The bigger concern is what arrived with them.
Bundled installers often add two or three programs at once, and some of those change the browser or install updaters that fetch more software later. Remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant, then sort Installed apps by date and remove anything else from the same day. A full scan in Windows Security afterwards confirms that nothing more serious came along.
Why does SoftPlanet Software Assistant reinstall itself?
Programs like SoftPlanet Software Assistant are often installed with an updater or a companion app whose job is to keep them present. When you uninstall the main program, the helper downloads it again at the next scheduled run or restart.
Find the helper by sorting Installed apps by date and by checking Task Scheduler and Services for entries with the same name or publisher. Remove them all, then delete leftover folders. Turning on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security also stops many reinstall attempts.
How do I stop programs like SoftPlanet Software Assistant from installing?
Turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings, with both Block apps and Block downloads checked. Download programs from the developer's own site or the Microsoft Store, choose Custom in installers and untick extra offers, and treat large download buttons on file sites as ads.
Apps from the Microsoft Store are checked by Microsoft and uninstall cleanly. Keep real-time protection on, so that bundled offers flagged as unwanted are stopped before they install.
SoftPlanet Software Assistant will not uninstall. What can I do?
Close it first: in Task Manager, select every process with its name and click End task, and exit its tray icon. Then uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps. If the uninstaller fails, shows an error or just reopens offers, restart Windows in Safe Mode, where third-party programs do not start, and uninstall from there.
Afterwards, delete its folders in C:\Program Files and %AppData%, remove its scheduled tasks and run a full scan in Windows Security. As a last step, System Restore to a date before the install can help.
Will Fortect remove SoftPlanet Software Assistant?
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 SoftPlanet Software Assistant, 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
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)