WinArcher virus (Removal Instructions) - Free Instructions
WinArcher virus Removal Guide
What is WinArcher virus?
What is WinArcher program doing in my computer?
WinArcher virus is not a malware-type[1] software; however, its existence on your PC is not a good sign, either. The only reason why we mentioned the word “virus” is that computer users tend to call WinArcher this way after discovering it on the computer system. Once installed, this questionable piece of software starts digging the system for certain information, for example, IP address[2], installed software, search queries and search history related data, and then transmits such information to an adware distribution network. The software is not analyzed precisely yet, so we cannot provide more details about it. One thing is for sure – it works as a data collector, and currently it is unknown where such data is going to be used. Therefore, it is highly recommended to remove WinArcher PUP from the system without any hesitations. We doubt that you need such component in your PC, especially because it lacks beneficial features.
Researcher shows how the main Winarcher file looks like.
We assume that collected data might be used to deliver targeted advertising to the victim. Typically, adware programs collect information related to user’s browsing and use it to select individual ads for each victim. If you use a computer that is contaminated with some kind of adware, then WinArcher file is likely to be installed as well, and it is known to be responsible for data transmission between your PC and adware distribution network. It is advisable to take care of WinArcher removal in time otherwise, your computer might start working slowly, and the quality of your browsing experience might go down as well. For WinArcher removal, we suggest using anti-spyware programs that can precisely delete all spyware-related files from the computer system. We recommend using FortectIntego or Malwarebytes software.
How did I get infected with adware?
Adware spreads via software bundles (in most cases)[3]. You can also install adware programs if you tend to browse the Internet carelessly – it is easy to install an ad-supported program because the majority of free programs available online are ad-supported. We suggest reading comments online about computer programs before installing them on your PC. If you are looking for ways to avoid ad-supported programs, never install your downloads using Default/Standard settings because they typically contain a few statements saying that you agree to install suggested third-party applications or browser toolbars[4]. These additional programs usually appear to be adware or browser hijacker-type programs, and it is better to keep your PC free of them. To drop these additional items off, just choose Custom or Advanced installation option and deselect suggested third-party applications manually. Finish the installation and enjoy your new program, but make sure it doesn’t send you annoying pop-up advertisements as links integrated into them can cause danger to your PC!
How to remove WinArcher adware?
If you want to remove WinArcher, Archer.dll and other adware-related files successfully, you have to find a program that is related to it. It can be hard to understand which program brought this file into your PC system; therefore, we suggest using automatic spyware removal tool for this task. It can quickly complete WinArcher removal and save you tons of time. If you do not have an anti-spyware or anti-malware program yet, consider trying one of the programs that our team recommends using. You can find a list of them below, and you can read their reviews[5] on our Software page.
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 WinArcher virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
First of all, read this guide attentively. Your first task is to find questionable programs on the computer system and delete them one after another via Control panel.
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)
Firefox is vulnerable to adware programs and can be easily taken under their control. This tutorial will explain you how to remove WinArcher PUP and related components from your Firefox browser.
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
Remove all suspicious extensions from Chrome and change settings that were modified. This tutorial explains what should you do. Follow these instructions carefully and you will remove WinArcher by yourself.
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.
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 WinArcher 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
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
- ^ Information about malware and removal instructions. NoVirus. Malware removal guides.
- ^ Stephanie Crawford. What is an IP address?. HowStuffWorks Computer. Gets you explanations, reviews, opinions and prices for the Internet, home networking, hardware, and software.
- ^ Katherine Noyes. Adware turns a tidy profit for those who sneak it into downloads. PCWorld. News, tips and reviews from the experts on PCs, Windows and more.
- ^ Top 10 Ways PUPs Sneak Onto Your Computer. And How To Avoid Them. Emsisoft Blog. All about cyber security.
- ^ Software review. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.