Remove YTDownloader (Virus Removal Guide) - Jan 2021 update
YTDownloader is an adware program that delivers intrusive pop-ups, banners, redirects, and other intrusive commercial content
YTDownloader (also known as YTDownloader and Converter) is a potentially unwanted application that can be downloaded on its official website, although some users might notice it installed on their machines without permission. The latter occurs due to deceptive distribution practices that the developers Goobzo Ltd use, e.g., suspicious ads, software bundles, and other methods.
Questions about YTDownloader
YTDownloader is presented as a useful program that can help users download, convert, and watch YouTube videos at any time. While this functionality may seem useful, it is important to note that the app is also considered to be adware[1] by many security vendors, as they flag it as Adware.Agent.YCX, Adware.Generic, PUA:Win32/YTDVideoDownload, PUP.Optional.YouTubeDownloader, etc.[2] Adware specializes in tracking users' online activities and delivering pop-ups, deals, offers, coupons, discounts, and other intrusive ads.
Name | YTDownloader |
Type | Adware |
Developer | Goobzo Ltd |
Distribution | The app can be downloaded from its official website, although it can also be spread via software bundle packages or deceptive ads |
Symptoms | Intrusive advertisements show up on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and other web browsers; redirects lead to potentially dangerous websites; random text on websites is turned into hyperlinks; other unwanted apps installed on the system |
Elimination | You can remove YTDownloader adware from your system by following our guide below or by scanning computer with anti-malware software |
Further checks | We recommend using ReimageIntego for computer problem elimination after malware/adware is terminated from the machine |
No matter that this program seems like a great application that can help you to find your favorite music files, YTDownloader may also cause unwanted system changes that may lead you to several problems. The most obvious issue that it may cause on your web browsers (this application may affect each of web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other web browsers) is its commercial pop-up ads, in-text links, banner ads and similar commercial content, which may appear during your browsing.
These YTDownloader ads usually contain commercial information, such as discounts, coupons, price comparisons, and similar deals. While some of them may be useful, be very careful with them because some popups may be lined to suspicious sites. The developer of this adware is sponsored by third parties for the delivery of sponsored ads on people's web browsers. However, third-party content is not monitored or filtered, thus any of the pop-ups may expose you to malware-laden sites.
Usually, people download this adware via freeware bundles. Right after the download, the application starts running ytdownloader.exe within the task manager and protects this file from being manually disabled. That's the main executable, which is responsible for a smooth run of the YTDownloader virus.
Cybersecurity experts recommend people to remove YTDownloader because of its tracking of browsing history and sharing the harvested data with third parties. The app injects tracking cookies and web beacons into the default web browser and harvests non-personal information that can subsequently be used for statistics and personalized advertising campaigns.
YTDownloader extension belongs to the group of Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP) due to misleading distribution and controversial performance
YTDownloader's ability to appear on computers without asking appropriate permission has already made Dieviren.de[3] security experts and their colleagues include this program to potentially unwanted programs category. Therefore, if you have started seeing ads brought by this application, experts recommend initiating a complete YTDownloader removal using a proper anti-malware program.
Besides, if you cannot stop the ads and other unwanted content, we recommend resetting all the web browser settings as per instructions provided below. In case your machine starts crashing or experiencing other stability issues, we recommend fixing it with unique repair software ReimageIntego.
Downloading music and other licensed content is not recommended
YTDownloader is a tool that is advertised as a video downloader, i.e., users can look for a particular video and download it on their machines. While there is nothing wrong with the technology, downloading copyrighted material is illegal (there is a reason why there is no “Download” button within the YouTube platform itself).
Therefore, we highly advise you to avoid using YouTube downloading apps such as YTDownloader, Qdownloader, Flvto, Youtubemp4.to, and many others. Not only do these apps allow enraging illegal practices by letting YouTube video downloads but also track you online, insert intrusive ads, and redirect to potentially malicious websites.
Potentially Unwanted Apps are installed as additional freeware features
As we have mentioned, this PUP can be downloaded from the Internet just like any other program. However, it may also get installed on the machine as an optional component of other software without asking for the user's permission.
In fact, adware-type programs and similar applications are actively promoted as optional components of such programs as download managers, PDF creators, video streaming software, and similar freeware. These programs are often filled with various optional components, which once installed turn out to be adware.
That's why we highly recommend you start monitoring the installation of the freeware. You should start selecting Custom or Advanced installation of the freeware. After doing so, uncheck all check marks that allow installation of toolbars, browser add-ons, and so on.
Unwanted third-party applications are aiming at spinning the circle of advertising revenue. For that, they can modify the PC's system and then start displaying various pop-ups and monitoring browsing activities. Unfortunately, the worst thing is that advertising material is not only intrusive but can also contain links to phishing sites or scams.
Main facts about YTDownloader virus
- This program is capable of spreading in a bundle with other software;
- YTDownloader has the ability to change computer's settings according to its needs;
- It causes commercial pop-up ads and third-party advertisements seeking to redirect people to required websites;
- An application can track its victims and collect non-personally identifiable information;
- Users can fail when trying to uninstall YTDownloader from their computers.
Fixing the computer requires a complete YTDownloader removal
If you have accidentally downloaded YTDownloader adware, we recommend uninstalling it because it clutters your computer and diminishes web browsing experience. Intrusive ads are not the only downfall of the app, as it also engages in online user activity tracking, which can potentially compromise one's privacy.
For the east YTDownloader removal, run a full system scan with a professional anti-virus program. It should easily detect PUPs on the system and eliminated all the suspicious files. Before performing a full system scan, ensure that the app is fully updated.
If you prefer a manual solution, you can remove YTDownloader virus by following detailed, step-by-step instructions below. To eliminate browser tracers that the app might leave, you can also reset the installed web browsers (although this step is optional).
You may remove virus damage with a help of ReimageIntego. 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.
To remove YTDownloader, follow these steps:
Eliminate YTDownloader from Windows systems
Before restoring altered web browser's settings you should remove YTDownloader malware from the system. Please note that the related application may be disguised under a different name.
To remove YTDownloader from Windows 10/8 machines, please follow these steps:
- 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 entries related to YTDownloader (or any other recently installed 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 YTDownloader from Mac OS X system
If your macOS is displaying some infection symptoms, proceed with the following guide:
Remove YTDownloader from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for YTDownloader-related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove YTDownloader, 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 related to YTDownloader and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the YTDownloader-related entries.
Uninstall YTDownloader from Internet Explorer (IE)
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for YTDownloader and other suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete…
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete YTDownloader removal.
Erase YTDownloader 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 YTDownloader-related 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.
Reset MS Edge if that 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 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 YTDownloader from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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 plugins that are related to YTDownloader and click Remove.
Clear cookies and site data:
- 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.
In case YTDownloader did not get removed after following the instructions above, 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 – this should complete YTDownloader removal.
Get rid of YTDownloader from Google Chrome
To disableYTDownloader ads, you should follow these steps. A complete resetting of web browser's settings is the best way.
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 YTDownloader 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.
If the above-methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the YTDownloader-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 to complete YTDownloader removal.
Eliminate YTDownloader from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension related to YTDownloader 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 YTDownloader 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: ReimageIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
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 Private Internet Access 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 Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
- ^ Jonathan Lemonnier & Nica Latto. What is Adware and How to Get Rid of it?. AVG. Security software developers.
- ^ Setup.exe. Virus Total. URL and file scanner.
- ^ SICHERHEIT- UND SPYWARE-NEUIGKEITEN. Dieviren. Virus and spyware news.
Your opinion regarding YTDownloader
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May 11th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
Your instructions say to use the uninstaller to remove YTDownloader, however, this virus protects itself from uninstall. The windows 8 uninstaller will not remove YTDownloader!
How do we remove this thing from my windows 8 computer????
May 28th, 2014 at 11:23 pm
This doesnt work on windows 8 Please HELP?
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:11 am
This virus protects itself from uninstall.. Help
July 11th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
I have tried installing McAfee, Spyhunter, Kapersky, and Malwarebytes and they all say the signature is corrupt. When I continue with the install, it eventually says the software will not work with my PC (windows 8)
July 11th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
I have tried installing McAfee, Spyhunter, Kapersky, and Malwarebytes and they all say the signature is corrupt. When I continue with the install, it eventually says the software will not work with my PC (windows 8)
January 13th, 2016 at 9:00 am
have used YTD on my Mac for several years and have never noticed any things like the article suggests.
Could it be that YTD HAS A THING FOR PCs? Jus sayin