Remove WhatsApp virus: Easy Removal Guide

Detailed Guidelines To Remove WhatsApp virus

The term WhatsApp virus simply indicates to a term describing wide range of computer infections and scams which seems related to Whatsapp. There’s a number of threats and scams available which is technically misleading and intends to let users clicking some links redirecting to unsafe websites, input some private details, and even may inject some malicious codes on targeted device and computer through the same. Therefore, the entity WhatsApp virus is all unsafe and should be tackled down on infected computer as soon as possible, once such things are identified to be activated on a machine somehow.

As per the researchers, Whatsapp now become one of the most commonly used application for wide communication all over the world, and even this service provide end to end encryption for securing private messages. But, this also allows hackers to take advantage and abuse this service as well. In most of the instances, the prevalent thetas have seen including “Martinelli” and “Qlivia hoax” scams. Also the recently discovery by security researchers have included a severe WhatsApp virus named as WhatsApp virus 2019. Through this infection and its caused vulnerabilities, the hackers manage to install Pegasus spyware on computers and access built-in camera, microphone, emails, messages, and other private data as well.

Well, speaking about the original Whatsapp application, it’s completely a safe messaging application that is not dangerous at all and never belongs to category of computer infections. Even this app is a very popular and free application that is available for almost all platforms like iPhone, Android, Windows, and so on. Also, this service acquires a large user base globally and it has around 1.2 billion users. Therefore, there’s no wonder if the scammers or hackers will try various measures to abuse this service or application with their malicious codes, and the users must be cautious against these intruders.

Threat Specifications

Name: WhatsApp virus

Type: Trojan, spyware

Description: The term WhatsApp virus is basically an indication to number infections that is somehow related to a widely popular messaging application named Whatsapp. The scammers can apply a number of scams or tricks to deceive users and their values, so, the victims must be cautious to prevent these measures.

Distribution: Email spam messages, trojans, freeware or shareware applications, and so on.

Removal: For detailed information about detection and removal of WhatsApp virus from computers, do follow the guidelines as included under this article

How WhatsApp virus should be removed from an infected machine?

Since the term WhatsApp virus is just a representation to various Whatsapp related scams, there can be a number of possible measures through which the attackers can try to trick users into getting affected. To prevent such things, the users should be cautious enough while dealing with whatsapp messages, and even while surfing the web. However, in case if you have recently noticed your machine or device is infected by some sort of WhatsApp virus, then you must try to detect and eliminate all malicious things from your device. In order to accomplish this task, we suggest you get through the guidelines section included under this article.

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 WhatsApp virus:

Remove the related items of WhatsApp virus 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 WhatsApp virus 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 (WhatsApp virus) 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 WhatsApp virus 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 WhatsApp virus 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 WhatsApp virus 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 WhatsApp virus 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 WhatsApp virus (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.