Winner Download Manager ads: what it is and how to remove it

Winner Download Manager, developed by Winner Solution LLC, is advertised as a program not only for "downloading files from torrent trackers but look for them through the program and download files from file-hosting servers." Besides, it promises to increase download speed and offers downloading files just by clicking on the pop-up windows.

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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Winner Download Manager: app
Winner Download Manager as our 2019 report showed it.

Winner Download Manager ads: summary

DistributionHowever, it most likely infiltrates the targeted systems through packages of various unsecured programs
NameWinner Download Manager
TypePotentially unwanted program/adware application
DeveloperWinner Solution LLC
PurposeThis program claims to help users download torrenting files, however, it is a camouflaged adware application
True actionsOnce the PUP enters your computer system, you will supposedly find yourself struggling with intrusive advertising and redirecting activities. Besides, this adware might also modify the homepage/new tab search of your web browser and start collecting non-personal information about your online sessions
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 7 more facts
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DamageNot recorded in the old report
SymptomsAn unknown program in Installed apps
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
ProgramWinner Download Manager
First seen29 October 2019
Facts checked7 October 2026

Is Winner Download Manager ads dangerous?

From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since

Winner Download Manager - a suspicious program claims to be a torrent downloading app when hiding the nature of adware

Winner Download Manager, developed by Winner Solution LLC, is advertised as a program not only for "downloading files from torrent trackers but look for them through the program and download files from file-hosting servers." Besides, it promises to increase download speed and offers downloading files just by clicking on the pop-up windows.

That sounds too good to be true having in mind that all these services are offered for no cost. In reality, you will be allowed to use these services in exchange for your patience, time and cybersecurity. We say so because recently security experts have categorized Winner Download Manager as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware because it silently infiltrates random computers and initiates various unwanted activities on them.

As research has shown, the majority of Winner Download Manager users have removed this application less than a week after installing it. That's because once inside, this misleading program may infect each of your web browsers, alter major settings such as the homepage/new tab search, and deliver various pop-up, banner, and in-text ads.

You may see various advertisements promoting a variety of products and services, but we do not recommend clicking on them. If you would, you may feel confused because you may be rerouted to the websites absolutely unrelated to the content of 'Ads by Winner Download Manager'. That's because the main intention of this adware is to drive traffic to affiliate websites, earn the money and spread other PUPs more widely.

Unfortunately, Winner Download Manager redirects are not the only downside of the program. It can also track your browsing activities and share gathered information for third parties which further use it for affiliate marketing. To succeed in this task, third-parties use tracking objects such as pixels, beacons, and HTTP cookies.

Keep in mind that Winner Download Manager can act as typical adware and this means - collecting income from the cost-per-click method. The developers might try to display advertisements as attractive as possible by filling them with misleading offers to purchase rogue security software or other useless products/services.

Winner Download Manager can be promoted by various third-party sources, however, its main installation technique is bundling (when the PUP comes injected into an entire software package). After successful infiltration, the adware brings the wdm.exe executable to the computer system.

Also, you can find objects related to Winner Download Manager in locations such as C:\Program Files\ or C:\ProgramData. Note that, once eliminating the threat from your computer system, you have to clean the mentioned directories also, otherwise, the PUP can reappear soon.

Winner Download Manager removal is a process that can be carried out by two different techniques - the automatical one and manual. Automatical requires employing reliable antimalware software and the step-by-step method is described at the end of this article by our security specialists.

This software might spot all infectious components on your computer. This information might help you to remove Winner Download Manager from your machine if you are trying to take care of the process on your own.

Winner Download Manager: app
Winner Download Manager in our 2019 report.
Winner Download Manager: adware
Winner Download Manager in our 2019 report.

From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since

Ways how secret adware infiltration happens

It should be noted that typically potentially unwanted programs are spread around using bundling.

It cannot be said that all PUPs only travel bundled with various freewares\ and shareware because some are also quite often downloaded from various download websites manually.

However, more frequently suspicious software infiltrates users' computers behind their backs with the help of free software.

Moreover, it is advisable to select the Advanced or Custom installation option and look for optional downloads that are offered to you as useful tools. Make sure that you deselect all additional programs before continuing the process. In case you are not allowed to deselect checkboxes claiming that you accept to install additional programs, you should stop the installation process and try downloading it from another source.

Additionally, according to Virusai.lt experts, some third-party products might get delivered to you via suspicious advertisements or hyperlinks. Keep in mind that before entering a specific website, you have to ensure that it is safe to proceed with. If you have a concerning feeling or your antivirus flags the network as a suspicious one, do not go there.

From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Winner Download Manager

  • If you have been looking for ways to spot all potentially suspicious content on your computer, try downloading and using a tool such as

How to remove Winner Download Manager ads

How to remove the Winner Download Manager extension

Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    Winner Download Manager often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:

    • chrome://extensions
    • edge://extensions
    • Extensions and themes in Firefox

    Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.

    Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Uninstall Winner Download Manager

    Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10.

    Sort the list by install date and find Winner Download Manager, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).

    Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  3. Step 3: Reset the browser

    Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.

    Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  4. Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.

    Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    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.

Uninstall from Windows

To eliminate the PUP from Windows OS, proceed with the following instructions

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

To delete unwanted content from Google Chrome, try the following instructions

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 suspicious extensions 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
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 Remove.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 Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (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 Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

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
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.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

To reverse Mozilla Firefox back to its previous state, apply these guidelines

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 the unwanted extension 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 Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

To clean Internet Explorer from suspicious content, carry out the following steps

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

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 Oct 2019 · not reviewed since

Removing Winner Download Manager virus from PC and browsers

Beware that after installing this program you may start suffering from annoying Winner Download Manager ads, redirects, slowdowns, and other inconveniences.

To stop all these issues, you have to eliminate the PUP entirely.

Winner Download Manager removal covers all the directories where the adware might have been planted. You can find bogus entries and keys in the Windows Task Manager and Registry sections. Furthermore, your web browser settings might also be filled with unwanted extensions and add-ons.

You can remove Winner Download Manager from all locations with the help of reliable antimalware software. These products are especially beneficial for people who lack skills in the virus elimination field. Also, you can try out step-by-step guidelines that have been provided by our security experts and added down below.

Questions about Winner Download Manager ads

What is Winner Download Manager and why is it on my PC?

Winner Download Manager is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.

Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need Winner Download Manager, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.

How do I stop programs like Winner Download Manager 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 Winner Download Manager before it reached the app list.

I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?

Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.

Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.

If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.

Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?

Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.

Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.

My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?

Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.

Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.

Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?

No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:

  • running a downloaded file
  • installing an extension
  • giving a stranger remote access

That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.

Did Winner Download Manager collect my data?

Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:

  • the sites you visit
  • search terms
  • approximate location
  • browser and system details

Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.

If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.

Do I need to reset my browser after removing Winner Download Manager?

A reset is a good last step, because it undoes settings that the program changed. A reset restores the home page, new tab page and default search engine, and turns off extensions.

It does not delete your bookmarks or saved passwords in the main browsers. Add back only the extensions you trust, one at a time.

Will Fortect remove Winner Download Manager?

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 Winner Download Manager, 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

  1. Search Security: PUP (potentially unwanted program) (read October 7, 2026)
  2. Wikipedia: HTTP cookies (read October 7, 2026)
  3. Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 7, 2026)
  4. Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
  5. FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)

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