Win 10 Tweaker (virus) - Free Instructions

Win 10 Tweaker Removal Guide

What is Win 10 Tweaker?

Win 10 Tweaker was flagged by 30 security vendors as malicious, so can be considered a PUP

Win 10 TweakerWin 10 Tweaker is a PUP disguised as a handy system optimization tool

Win 10 Tweaker is a potentially unwanted program that says can optimize your system but requires you to disable your anti-malware software. That is unusual behavior for a legitimate program that does not have any malicious intent. It is not clear what specific tasks this software performs on your PC, but you should reconsider having it installed in your system as it was marked by 30 security vendors and 1 sandbox[1] as either suspicious, malicious, or even a Trojan.

Automatic computer maintenance tools have been at the center of discussion for a long time now. Do they actually do something? Some of them do, and some of them don't. The problem is, it is very hard to find one, that would not do something additionally to clearing up cache. Some of these tools cannot even do that simple task.

Many users swear by optimization tools and say that they notice significant boosts of performance after deploying such software. Security researchers agree that it can be a result of the placebo effect.[2] People watch the progress bar, they see how much space the app cleared or everything that it repaired – it is a very satisfying process.

NAME Win 10 Tweaker
TYPE Registry fixer; System optimizer; Potentially unwanted program
SYMPTOMS The program appears running on the machine, causing the usage of extra CPU power. Additional browsing-related processes can be associated with the app, like redirects and pop-up ads
DISTRIBUTION Deceptive and misleading advertisements, bundled software
DANGERS Users can experience performance issues while using their PC. Your privacy is also in danger since usually PUPs can track your activity
ELIMINATION Anti-malware tools can be helpful in fully eliminating PUPs, so run a system scan and remove the intruder
FURTHER STEPS Use FortectIntego to repair any damage left

Everything you need to know about the Windows registry

Do not mess with it! It is a database of settings for all hardware, software, and user preferences on your computer that controls how Windows interacts with your hardware and applications. Windows continually references the registry in the background and it is not designed to be accessed or edited by everyday users.

Some of these registry cleaning utilities like Win 10 Tweaker, suggest that the registry needs to be maintained regularly and cleaned. However, serious issues can occur when you modify the registry incorrectly. These issues might even lead to users having to reinstall the operating system completely due to instability.

Win 10 Tweaker System ToolWin 10 Tweaker has many functions that might not be functional after all

Microsoft does not guarantee that these problems can be solved without a reinstallation of the operating system as the extent of the changes made by registry cleaning utilities varies. Microsoft support policy[3] for the use of registry cleaning utilities states:

Microsoft does not support the use of registry cleaners. Some programs available for free on the internet might contain spyware, adware, or viruses. If you decide to install a registry cleaning utility, be sure to research the product and only download and install programs from publishers that you trust.

A damaged Windows registry can exhibit a range of symptoms including excessive CPU usage, longer startup and shutdown times, poor application functionality, or random crashes and errors. This can lead to data loss due to the system's inability to save data back to the storage location during the occurrence.

The rise of potentially unwanted applications

In recent years, the activity of programs that perform unwanted tasks in the background without the user's knowledge has skyrocketed. Apps like Win 10 Tweaker usually generate profit for their developers by showing ads[4] or by special features that you need to pay for if you want to use them. Usually, these programs are disguised as “handy” tools that help take care of some kind of problem they cannot fix themselves easily.

You can actually launch The Windows Registry editor by executing “regedit” from the Run menu. The reason why it is made that hard is to keep it hidden from people. It is a way to prevent users who may not know what they are doing from making changes that might break their operating system. Why would you think that it is completely safe for a random app you saw an ad for to do so?

Win 10 Tweaker.exeWin 10 Tweaker.exe file has been flagged as malicious in the database

The installation of such programs may not always be voluntary. PUPs are often distributed on unofficial sites that distribute freeware. People rush through the installation process and do not notice the additional programs that are included. That is why it is important to always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, so no steps would be hidden from you. That way you will be able to read the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy as well as inspect the files up for installation. Untick the boxes next to apps that you do not need.

You can also go to Windows Task Manager to check what processes are running in the background and see if there is anything suspicious.

Shut down unwanted processes

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

Ways you can remove malicious applications

Manual removal of PUPs may not always work, as you can uninstall the program itself, but leave some related files behind. That is why we suggest using professional security tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes in this instance. These anti-malware tools will completely eliminate the application with all of its files and registries. If you still want to do this yourself, you can follow the guide below:

Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.Uninstall from Windows 2

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Repair the damaged operating system

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are nothing unusual after a virus infection. These types of intruders can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged, antivirus software cannot fix it.

Manual troubleshooting of such damage is also very complicated and can take a long time. This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this actually useful maintenance tool, not a Win 10 Tweaker PUP, you could prevent yourself from having to reinstall WIndows completely.

  • Download the application by clicking on the link above
  • Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  • If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
  • Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
  • The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
  • Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
  • You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
  • If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.Reimage results

If you experience setting changes in your browsers, like the homepage, new tab address, redirects, or push notifications, you can look for instructions on how to deal with that below this article. Guides are available for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, and Internet Explorer.

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.

Offer
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Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Win 10 Tweaker. Follow these steps

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. 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. Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data. Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings. Reset Chrome 2
ChromeFirefoxEdge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove. Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Options.
  3. Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data…
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear. Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information. Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox. Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click on Uninstall at the bottom. Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear. Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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. Reset MS Edge

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.

  1. Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
  2. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
  3. Right-click on them and pick Delete Advanced MS Edge reset 1
  4. Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  5. 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 Advanced MS Edge reset 2

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove. Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now. Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset. Reset Chromium Edge

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 Win 10 Tweaker 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 system tools

Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool

Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.

 

Lost your files? Use data recovery software

While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.

To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.

About the author
Gabriel E. Hall
Gabriel E. Hall - Passionate web researcher

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