How to remove SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse virus

Complete guide to delete SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse

SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse is a potentially unwanted application that causes the installation of various unwanted applications, displays rogue ads, causes redirects to various questionable pages, and record browsing based data. The software usually gets installed together with freeware or shareware applications. So, the installation of the unwanted application is not known to the users and so all these ill-browsing behavior will be not more than surprising for the users.

The SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse ads displayed in pop-ups, banners, in-text hyperlinks, sponsored search results and so on. These ads are intrusive and dangerous that might lead to privacy loss, more infection with PUAs and even more uncomfortable situation. Further, the adware causes redirects to various affiliated and sponsored pages that could contain inappropriate or malicious content. This article informs you about its dangers, distribution techniques and removal methods.

Threat Summary

Name: SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse

Threat type: Adware, potentially unwanted application

Activities: The adware gets users involved in advertising and redirecting their activities after its installation process. Also, the users might experience browser changes in the homepage, new tab page and the URL sections, injection of the helper objects like extensions, plug-ins, cookies, beacons etc also takes place

Targets: This perilous threat can appear on Windows and the Mac OS devices. Some Android also reported about this infection

Removal: Use reliable software to get rid of the adware infection or follow manual step-by-step guidelines provided below the post

Potentially unwanted apps impede with the browsing experience and the system performance both. There are two broad categories of PUAs- adware and browser hijacker. The latter one causes the redirects and alters the browsers’ settings to promote an affiliated search engine and show ads with search results. Adware on the other hand, show deceptive ads and cause redirects without doing any such alterations to the browsers’ settings.

The adware, in this case, shows pop-ups, banner and any other form of ads that might attract the users’ attention so as to display imaginary breaking news, amazing deals or other catchy content. Once clicked on, these ads redirect the users to various rogue websites including gambling, adult dating, pornography, fake updates, tech support scams, useless apps and etc. These ads should never be clicked.

The adware might sometimes redirect to such deceptive pages even when the users do not click on any of the ads as it displays on-demand pages through the redirects. This is how the adware generate revenue by forwarding various affiliated pages. The PUP related pages may have data tracking feature. Various browsing based data that the adware can collect include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLS visited, ISP, Geo-locations and etc.

The only possible solution for such is to perform the SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse removal. This can be done easily by using some reputable antivirus tool. Or, you have an option to choose our manual removal mode for this adware removal. The former one is comparatively easy for you as the software will do all the things required for you to perform the removal process. However, you are free to choose any of the stated method. Kindly remove the adware as soon as possible to avoid any major damages.

Software bundling, deceptive ads and fake flash player updates – the methods used for PUAs delivery

We all encounter various intrusive ads in our daily live. These ads portray as some amazing deals. However, they often redirect to the pages that have nothing in common to the ads themselves. Such ads are usually used to distribute various potentially unwanted applications – that are advertised as tools that would improve the system performance or providing some extensively good features. In reality, all that they do is conduct damages to the system.

Fake flash player installers are also categorized ad deceptive ads. Users get the recommendation of update/ install the installed Flash Player- service which was discontinued at the end of the last year. When you receive any such prompts, kindly close the page, clear the browser and never visit the page again. To avoid PUAs promoted through bundling, i.e., with the download/ installation of regular software as additional software, you need to be very attentive during download/ installation – analyze each step using Custom/Advanced option and manually opt out all additionally attached apps.

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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse:

Remove the related items of SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse 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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse 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 (SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse) 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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse 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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse 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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse 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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse 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 SoftwareBundler:Win32/OutBrowse (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.