Word Counter Widget adware (spam) - Free Instructions

Word Counter Widget adware Removal Guide

What is Word Counter Widget adware?

Word Counter Widget adware is a browser extension that can cause unwanted pop-ups and redirects

Word Counter WidgetFake plugins are created by crooks to generate passive income from ads

The Word Counter Widget plugin is advertised as one that counts the words on websites. The fact that it displays a variety of adverts is not mentioned in its description, though. Applications that rely on advertising frequently use unreliable advertising, especially those that are delivered and promoted in questionable ways.

The Word Counter Widget's advertising may contain links that lead to websites that are intended to deceive users into giving sensitive information, downloading potentially unwanted software,[1] dialing phony technical helplines, etc. Additionally, it might result in unforeseen downloads and installations.

The Word Counter Widget may read and modify data on any website, as we also discovered. It's possible that its creators are utilizing it to compile browsing-related or other data. Acquired data may be exploited for commercial gain, sold to third parties, and made profitable in other ways.

NAME Word Counter Widget
TYPE Adware
SYMPTOMS Annoying pop-ups and other types of advertisements start appearing on the screen
DISTRIBUTION Shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations
DANGERS Links embedded in the ads might lead to dangerous websites
ELIMINATION Eliminate the extension through your browser settings; scanning the machine with anti-malware tools is recommended
FURTHER STEPS Use FortectIntego to get rid of any remaining damage and to optimize the machine

Distribution methods

Users are invited to install the “Free Downloader Extension” on one of the websites offering the Word Counter Widget. After following the instructions on that page and opening the page after selecting “ACCEPT AND CONTINUE,” the Word Counter Widget is installed to a web browser.

Additionally, installers for other (usually free) apps may provide optional installations of advertising-supported software. When users complete installs without adjusting “Advanced,” “Custom,” or similar options or unticking checkboxes, adware[2] is installed alongside other software.

To avoid adware infections, download software only from trusted retailers and legitimate pages. Before downloading any programs, always check the reviews. Steer clear of downloading from dubious websites, P2P networks, free file hosting services, etc. Before completing downloads and installations, search installers and downloaders for undesirable software and reject them. Ads and links on shady websites should not be trusted.

Word Counter Widget adwareUsers should be careful when downloading applications online

Freeware distribution platforms

After using freeware distribution sites, users frequently begin to experience unpleasant symptoms. Your device can have acquired Word Counter Widget adware without your knowledge. Unsafe download channels add extra programs to the installers to increase the profitability of their business.

Bundled software frequently serves little purpose for users. The installation process demands your whole attention. Always select “Custom” or “Advanced” installation options, and make sure you've read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Checking the file list and unticking the boxes next to any unrelated apps is the most crucial step.

Remove Word Counter Widget adware

Word Counter Widget adware can be removed by going to the browser settings and looking at the extension list. We recommend removing plugins one by one to see if you notice any changes.

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.Remove extensions from Chrome

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

MS Edge (Chromium)

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

Mozilla Firefox

  • 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.Remove extensions from Firefox

Safari

  • Click Safari > Preferences…
  • In the new window, pick Extensions.
  • Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.Remove extensions from Safari

Protect your privacy

Almost all websites and web applications nowadays require you to accept cookies[3] by throwing a big prompt in your face obstructing the view. Frustrated, many just click “Accept” because they want to proceed as quickly as possible. Because you experienced pop-up spam without knowing, there is a big chance you were browsing through questionable sites that could still be tracking your browsing activity.

Cookies can store data such as the websites you visit, links you click on, things you type in the search, and what you purchase online. It can alter be sold to advertising networks or other third parties. We recommend using a repair tool like FortectIntego, which can automatically clear your browsers from cookies and cache, clear up space, fix corrupted files, system errors and optimize the performance of the device.

Scan your system with anti-malware tools

If you completed all the previous steps but you still experience unwanted symptoms, you should check your system for other PUAs. We suggest using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes anti-malware tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes.

Manual removal of potentially unwanted programs can sometimes result in the renewal of the infection as users often fail to eliminate all the related files and entries. Besides, crooks often disguise them as “handy” tools so it can be difficult to identify them. If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:

Windows 10/8:

  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

Windows 7/XP:

  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.

Mac:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
  3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)Uninstall from Mac 1

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
  3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
  4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.Uninstall from Mac 2
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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.

How to prevent from getting adware

Protect your privacy – employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals. 

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

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

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