Words adware (virus) - Free Guide

What is Words adware?

Words adware shows intrusive advertisements when you browse the web

Words is an adware-type application you might find installed on your computer, although some users might just notice the result of its installation. This means that infected users would see intrusive pop-ups, deals, offers, in-text links, and other kinds of ads while visiting websites after being redirected or using the search feature via the web browser.

The ads that this unwanted software brings might not always be secure – they show misleading messages about computer health, offer fake gift cards, and similar phishing content. We strongly recommend you refrain from interacting with these ads and instead opt for the removal of adware^[1] as soon as possible.

Most people do not install Words adware intentionally, and they are tricked into doing so thanks to freeware^[2] bundles downloaded from third-party websites. It is actually rather easy to avoid unexpected installation of PUPs – we explain how to do just that and effective ways of removing the infection.

Symptoms of Words adware infection

Adware is sneaky, and suspicious activity during web browsing sessions might not always be recognized immediately. It is not surprising, as those who do not employ ad-blockers might see pretty intrusive ads when visiting various websites online, thus not thinking of anything suspicious in general.

However, there are some symptoms that you should look out for when you suspect Words adware infection:

• Advertisements are shown outside of your browser (often as pop-ups);
• Link clicks redirect you to potentially dangerous phishing websites;
• The advertisements often ask to install fake Adobe Flash Player or other fake software updates. Prompts about having a virus on your system can also be common;
• “Words” application installed on your system, which runs a processes “Words app 2022” and “Words tech Copyright All rights reserved.”

Remove Words adware

Adware is relatively deceptive software, especially if it is installed as a program on the system level. This allows such apps to root themselves deeper into the system and perform more damaging actions. For example, some infections might start running background connections with insecure domains, transferring data, or making people vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Words adware is more dangerous due to it being installed on the system, although it is not always easy to spot it running. The files of the application reside in the “AppData” folder and may remain there even after the main app is uninstalled. As a result, the infection might return later.

Therefore, the easiest way for the virus removal would be by performing a full system scan with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes security software. You can then be sure that all the files from all locations on your computer would be eliminated at once. Alternatively, proceed with the following:

Windows 10/8

• Enter Control Panel into the 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.

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.
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.

Once the main program is deleted, you need to remove the leftover files as follows:

• Press Win + E to open File Explorer
• At the top, go to the View tab
• Mark the Hidden items checkbox
• Next, go to your main drive (usually drive C) and enter the following path:
  C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming
• Locate the Words folder and delete it all.

Clean your browsers

After the removal of adware and other potentially unwanted applications, it is strongly recommended to clean cookies,^[3] caches, and other web data from your browser. Cookies used by PUPs for data tracking can remain on the system for years if not deleted and continue their activities.

In order to stop the unwanted data tracking and remove other leftover files of the Words adware, you should use FortectIntego, which could also be used to fix virus damage on the system. Alternatively, could proceed with the following:

Google 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.

Mozilla Firefox

• Click Menu and pick Options.
• 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.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Click on Menu and go to Settings.
• Select Privacy and services.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Under Time range, pick All time.
• Select Clear now.

Internet Explorer

1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
2. Under Browsing history, click Delete…
3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.