How to remove Web Companion from PC

Simple process to delete Web Companion effectively

Web Companion is antivirus type programs that are specific designed to protect device from harmful malware infections and privacy breaches. It is also known as Lavasoft that has been developed by Adaware. Due to its improper infiltration methods, this app is considered to be potentially unwanted application. According to the expert, the program can add an extra layer of protection by disabling PUPs like adware or browser hijackers.

However, this type of apps is installed by users without paying enough attention and thus allows the software to make unwanted changes into browser settings. Thus, many people skip software installation setups and agree to do everything. Further, such installers are promoted by Bing, Yandex and Yahoo search engines. Thus, providing them changing to browser settings might cause new tab URL, default search engine and homepage options.

The main problem related to the software is the method used in its distribution. The developers of Web Companion have already admitted that their product is distributed through popular marketing method called bundling. Although, it is not a malicious programs but PUAs are distributed in bundles that might include adware or browser hijackers. Furthermore, this type of app can track data.

It can steal your personal and sensitive information and used for illegal purposes. Remember that all these entire illegal activities are performed by cyber criminals. Therefore, presence of unwanted applications on computer might results into huge risk of privacy issues, financial losses and even identity theft. Due to all these critical issues you are highly recommended to remove Web Companion and all PUPs immediately upon detection.

How your PC gets infected from Web Companion?

• Pirated or cracked software: If you are using pirated software in your machine then you might get lots of junk files or viruses.
• Malicious ads or popup: It can come in your computer from malicious ads or popup messages which are displayed on your browser by third parties websites.
• Freeware or shareware: It can get install in your system from bundles of free software packages which you have downloaded from the internet.
• Infected external media drives: It can come in your PC from infected sources such as CD, DVD, SD cards and others.

How to avoid intruding PUAs?

It is very much important to be very careful while installing any program. Check all available settings and deselect all unwanted applications and then only finish the download or installation processes. Avoid using third party downloader, questionable pages, peer to peer sharing networks and other similar sources to download software. For any software download, use only official websites and direct download links.

Intrusive ads seem legitimate as cyber criminals invest lots of money into designing it. Once clicked, they redirect you to untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations of software. In order to keep computer harmless and secured it is highly suggested to remove Web Companion as soon as possible from the system.

Threat Analysis

Name: Web Companion

Threat Type: PUP (potentially unwanted program), PUA (potentially unwanted application)

Symptoms: A program that you don’t recall installing suddenly appeared on your computer. New application is performing computer scans and displays warning messages about found issues.

Distribution methods: spam email attachments, porn or torrent sites, pirated or cracked software, deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.

Damage: Monetary loss (unnecessary purchase of fake software), unwanted warning pop-ups, degrade computer performance as well as slow down internet speed.

Removal: In order to remove Web Companion, you are advised to use some reputable antivirus removal tool such as Spyhunter.

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 Web Companion:

Remove the related items of Web Companion 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 Web Companion 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 (Web Companion) 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 Web Companion 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 Web Companion 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 Web Companion 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 Web Companion 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 Web Companion (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.