How To Remove DriverToolkit PUP

DriverToolkit: Complete Uninstall Guide

DriverToolkit is presented as a free useful application, created by Megaify Software Co. that supposedly cleans, repairs and optimizes PC systems. It claims to download or update system’s drivers and carry out driver backup. There are allegedly more than 12,000,000 entries involved in its database of hardware devices and drivers. At the first glance, it may look like a useful tool. However, multiple anti-virus suites including Sopgos, Avira etc. detected it as a PUP (PUA/DriverToolkit.EL.1). The reason why it has been categorized as a potentially unwanted program is its way of intrusion into the target computers and its suspicious activities inside.

DriverToolkit Downgrades Overall System Performance:

A number of users who are infected with DriverToolkit virus have reported that DriverToolkit.exe is consuming high CPU resources due to which, their Windows operating systems slowed down drastically. You can spot this executable file in C:\Program Files\DriverToolkit\DriverToolkit.exe or \Program Files(x86). It’s a 32-bit process and is directly associated with this unwanted program. The file has been said to be spread by stealth and often triggers the download/installation of Megaify Software products. If you accidentally install The DriverToolkit.exe file, it creates a Startup process to get activated every time you reboot the OS.

The resultant DriverToolkit optimizer starts on its scanner and may begin frequent system’s scans. Afterwards, the scan results are transmitted to a server to recognize complicated drivers and other objects and download the patched or updates. Nonetheless, this application has been described as a virus by most of the people who used it. The biggest reason behind this is its stealth installation and significant device’s slowdown. Furthermore, the tool has also been reported triggering frequent system crash, hard drive failure, application malfunctioning, boot errors and similar Windows issues.

Although, the DriverToolkit virus and DriverToolkit.exe file are not dangerous PC threats but still, they can’t be trusted. It may exhibit false or pre-defined scan results instead of optimizing the machine and urge you to purchase the license. As long as this infection stays inside your computer, you may constantly have to deal with multiple Windows errors, slowdowns because of enormous CPU usage by the executable file and other dilemmas. And therefore, a quick DriverToolkit removal from the work-station is highly recommended.

How Does This PUP Enter Your System?

This type of unwanted programs are most often distributed in a bundle with freeware and shareware as additional components. They are totally represented in an unclear manner. Anyway, information about the extra objects tends to be disguised under the Quick or Recommended configuration settings. When you download a freeware from third-party site like cnet.com, soft32.com, download.com, download.com etc. and then install it using the pre-set configuration settings, you risk getting infected with these PUPs. Clicking the Next button all the time automatically gives approval to install the entire freeware package, including malicious program.

So, every time you download software from unreliable page, opt for Advanced or Custom installation techniques to unbundle the package. Carefully read the given details on every window and remove the checkmarks next to the pre-selected items. In case your computer is already infected with this virus, you must remove DriverToolkit from the computer without wasting any time.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove DriverToolkit:

Remove the related items of DriverToolkit using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing DriverToolkit issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (DriverToolkit) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to DriverToolkit removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to DriverToolkit still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove DriverToolkit plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in DriverToolkit removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete DriverToolkit (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.