How to remove WombatStarter.exe adware [Virus removal]

The WombatStarter.exe is classified as ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware). The appearance of WombatStarter.exe on your computer disk drive or in the list of processes means that your system is infected with adware, which can show a ton of pop-up ads within the Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge screen or redirect you to annoying ad web sites. So, if you have found this file on your PC, then you do not need to wait! Follow the few simple steps below to clean your personal computer from the WombatStarter.exe adware and thereby remove all annoying advertisements and redirects from your browsers.

The malicious applications from the adware family that changes the settings of web browsers usually affects only the Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, FF and Edge. However, possible situations, when any other internet browsers will be affected too. The WombatStarter.exe adware may change the Target property of a web browser’s shortcut, so every time you launch the browser, instead of your homepage, you will see the an unwanted web page.

The WombatStarter adware may insert a huge number of ads directly to the web-pages that you visit, creating a sense that the advertisements has been added by the creators of the web-site. Moreover, a legal advertisements may be replaced on the fake ads, that will offer to download and install various unnecessary and harmful programs. Moreover, the adware has the ability to collect lots of personal information about you (your ip address, what is a web page you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Net, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

We suggest you to delete WombatStarter adware and clean your PC system from all annoying pop-up ads and redirects as soon as possible, until the presence of the adware has not led to even worse consequences. You need to follow the instructions below that will allow you to completely remove the reroute to annoying ad web-pages, using only the built-in Windows features and a few of specialized free tools.

How can you prevent your system from the attack of WombatStarter.exe adware

The ‘ad supported’ software spreads along with various free software, as a supplement, which is installed automatically. This is certainly not an honest way to get installed onto your computer. To avoid infecting of your machine and side effects in the form of annoying advertisements, you should always carefully read the ‘Terms of Use’ and the ‘Software license’. Additionally, always select Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode. This allows you to disable the installation of unnecessary and often harmful applications.

How to manually remove WombatStarter.exe adware

If you perform exactly the step-by-step guide below you should be able to remove the WombatStarter advertisements. Read it once, after doing so, please print this page as you may need to close your web browser or reboot your personal computer.

1. Delete suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel
2. Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
3. Remove WombatStarter.exe redirect from FF
4. Get rid of WombatStarter ads from Google Chrome
5. Get rid of WombatStarter.exe from Microsoft Internet Explorer
6. Delete unwanted Scheduled Tasks

Delete suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel

Press Windows key , then click Search . Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then click “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will show the Windows Control Panel as shown on the image below.

Next, click “Uninstall a program”
It will show a list of all applications. Scroll through the all list and delete any suspicious and unknown software.

Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts

When the WombatStarter is started, it can also alter the internet browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument such as “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you run the browser, it will be redirected to an annoying advertisements.

To clear the web-browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text that starts with “http://” which has been added here. You need to remove it.

When the argument is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your web-browsers, as they may be infected too.

Remove WombatStarter.exe redirect from FF

If the FF settings have been replaced by the ‘ad supported’ software, then resetting it to the default state can help you to get rid of the redirect onto unwanted ad pages.

First, start the Firefox and click button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web browser. Next, click the Help button () as shown below.

In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the web-browser address bar and press Enter. It will show the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the screen below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will display the confirmation prompt, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will begin a task to fix your problems that caused by the ad supported software. Once it is done, click the “Finish” button

Get rid of WombatStarter ads from Google Chrome

Like other modern web-browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby get rid of the redirect to annoying advertisements that is caused by the WombatStarter.exe adware.

At first, start the Google Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will appear the main menu. Click on the option named “Settings”. Another way to display the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter.

The web-browser will open the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as on the image below and click the “Reset settings” button.

The Chrome will open the confirmation dialog box. You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The program will start the process of cleaning. Once it’s done, the web browser settings including the ‘block pop-ups’ option back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your computer.

Get rid of WombatStarter.exe from Microsoft Internet Explorer

To remove the WombatStarter.exe ads you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the Windows was installed on your machine.

First, start the Internet Explorer, then press ‘gear’ icon . It will open the drop-down menu on the right part of the browser, then click the “Internet Options” as on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” screen, you need to select the “Advanced” tab and click the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt like below. Next, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. After that, press the “Reset” button.

When the process is finished, click “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and restart your PC system for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your browser’s settings to default state and disable ‘ad-supported’ extensions.

Delete unwanted Scheduled Tasks

If the annoying ad web-site opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and remove all the tasks that have been created by unwanted applications.

Press Windows and R keys on the keyboard together. This opens a dialog box that titled as Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and click OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, press “Task Scheduler Library”, as shown on the image below.

In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be open just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Pay attention to that it launches on your machine. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete it. If you are not sure that executes the task, check it through a search engine. If it is a component of the malicious program, then this task also should be removed.

Having defined the task that you want to get rid of, then click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as shown below.

Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by ‘ad-supported’ programs. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.

How to remove WombatStarter advertisements automatically

We recommend using the Malwarebytes Free. You can download and install this utility to detect WombatStarter.exe threat and delete it, from the link below. When installed and updated, the free malware remover will automatically scan and detect all threats present on the computer.

Once installed, the Malwarebytes will try to update itself and when this task is complete, click “Scan Now” button . This will start scanning the whole personal computer to find out ad supported software and malware. During the scan it will detect all threats present on your personal computer. In order to get rid of all threats, simply click “Quarantine Selected” button.

The Malwarebytes is a free application that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about the Malwarebytes, we recommend you to read and follow the step-by-step guide or the video guide below.

Block annoying ads and misleading web sites

To increase your security and protect your machine against new unwanted ads and malicious web-sites, you need to use program that blocks access to harmful advertisements and sites. Moreover, the program can block the display of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of pages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.

When downloading is finished, launch the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the figure below.

Follow the prompts. When the setup is finished, you will see a window like below.

You can click “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop popup ads, as well as other harmful or misleading web pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your Windows desktop.

If the problem with WombatStarter.exe is still remained

If MalwareBytes cannot delete WombatStarter advertisements, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, toolbars.

1. Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the link below.
   
   

   AdwCleaner download
   225561 downloads
   Version: 8.4.1
   Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: October 5, 2024
   
2. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once the utility is opened the main screen will appear as shown on the image above.
3. Now, click the “Scan” button . This will start scanning the whole PC to find out the WombatStarter.exe adware that opens annoying ads within your browser.
4. When it has finished scanning, AdwCleaner will display a scan report. Review the report and then press “Clean” button. It will display a dialog box, click “OK” button.

The following video explains the instructions above on how to delete adware with AdwCleaner.

Finish words

Now your PC should be free of the WombatStarter advertisements. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and annoying dangerous web-pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malware and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs and ‘ad supported’ software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of WombatStarter.exe adware from your PC, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.