The “You need to install the update” is a misleading web page, already at the first sight of which there are various doubts. This webpage is developed only for one purpose to force you into installing an questionable software (browser extension). if the Mozilla Firefox opens automatically to this fake alert then it is possible that a malware from the adware (ad supported software) family get installed on your computer. All the time, while the ad supported software is running, your web browser will be fill with annoying ads (including misleading ads like those fake warnings). Moreover, this adware can be used to collect user information, everything related to what are you doing on the World Wide Web.
The adware that causes multiple misleading “You need to install the update” alerts and popups, is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, modifies web-browser settings and blocks them from changing. Also the adware can install additional web browser plugins and modules that will inject sponsored links within the Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Internet Explorer’s screen. Moreover, the adware may install web browser hijacker that once started, will change the web-browser’s start page and search provider. The worst is, the adware can gather privacy info such as what sites you are opening, what you are looking for the Net and so on. This privacy information, later, may be transferred third party companies.
The malicious programs from the adware family that changes the settings of web-browsers usually infects only the IE, MS Edge, Firefox and Chrome. However, possible situations, when any other web browsers will be affected too. The adware may alter the Target property of a browser’s shortcut, so every time you run the browser, instead of your home page, you’ll see the annoying “You need to install the update” site.
So, if you happen to encounter intrusive “You need to install the update” pop up warnings, then be quick and take effort to delete adware which cause misleading “You need to install the update” popup to appear as quickly as possible. Follow the steps below to get rid of “You need to install the update” popup warnings. Let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
How to remove “You need to install the update” fake alerts
In order to remove “You need to install the update” fake alerts from the Firefox and other browsers, you need to reset the web browser settings. Additionally, you should look up for other suspicious entries, such as files, programs, web-browser plugins and shortcut files. However, if you want to remove “You need to install the update” fake alerts easily, you should run reputable anti malware tool and let it do the job for you.
To remove “You need to install the update”, complete the steps below:
- How to remove “You need to install the update” popup warnings without any software
- Run free malware removal tools to completely get rid of “You need to install the update” fake alerts
- How to stop “You need to install the update” pop up warnings
- How to prevent “You need to install the update” pop-up scam from getting inside your computer
- To sum up
How to remove “You need to install the update” popup warnings without any software
These steps to remove “You need to install the update” pop up scam without any apps are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step tutorial completely to fully delete this adware that causes internet browsers to open misleading “You need to install the update” warnings.
Delete PUPs through the Windows Control Panel
We advise that you start the PC cleaning procedure by checking the list of installed software and remove all unknown or questionable software. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the harmful programs such as ad supported software and browser hijackers may be bundled with free applications. Uninstall the unwanted apps can remove the intrusive ads or web browser redirect.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the MS Windows logo, and then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as on the image below.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as displayed below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and select the ‘Control Panel’ at right as on the image below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (MS Windows 7 or Vista) as shown in the figure below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed apps and delete all questionable and unknown programs. We suggest to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed software by date. After you’ve found anything questionable that may be the ad-supported software which developed to show misleading “You need to install the update” pop up warnings within your web browser or other potentially unwanted application (PUA), then choose this program and press ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the questionable application blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to completely get rid of it from your PC.
Fix internet browser shortcuts, modified by ad supported software
The ad-supported software that causes multiple misleading “You need to install the update” alerts and pop-ups, may hijack various Windows shortcut files on your desktop (most often, all web-browsers shortcut files), so in this step you need to check and clean them by removing the argument like http://site.address/.
Click the right mouse button to a desktop shortcut which you use to start your web-browser. Next, choose the “Properties” option. Important: necessary to click on the desktop shortcut file for the web-browser that is rerouted to the “You need to install the update” or other unwanted website.
Further, necessary to look at the text that is written in the “Target” field. The adware which shows misleading “You need to install the update” fake alerts on your system can rewrite the contents of this field, which describes the file to be start when you start your web-browser. Depending on the internet browser you are using, there should be:
- Google Chrome: chrome.exe
- Opera: opera.exe
- Firefox: firefox.exe
- Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe
If you are seeing an unknown text like “http://site.addres” which has been added here, then you should remove it, as shown in the figure below.
Next, press the “OK” button to save the changes. Now, when you run the web browser from this desktop shortcut, it does not occur automatically redirect on the “You need to install the update” web site or any other annoying web pages. Once the step is finished, we recommend to go to the next step.
Remove “You need to install the update” pop-up from Mozilla Firefox
Resetting your Mozilla Firefox is basic troubleshooting step for any issues with your internet browser application, including the redirect to “You need to install the update” web page.
First, open the Mozilla Firefox and press button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the internet browser. Further, press the Help button () as shown on the image 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 adress bar and press Enter. It will show the “Troubleshooting Information” page as displayed on the image below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will display the confirmation dialog box. Further, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Mozilla Firefox will begin a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the ‘ad supported’ software that causes multiple misleading “You need to install the update” alerts and pop-ups. Once, it’s done, click the “Finish” button.
Delete unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Once installed, the ad supported software can add a task in to the Windows Task Scheduler Library. Due to this, every time when you start your web browser, it will open “You need to install the update” undesired site. So, you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and delete all harmful tasks which have been created by ‘ad-supported’ application.
Press Windows and R keys on the keyboard at the same time. This displays a dialog box that titled with Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and click OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click “Task Scheduler Library”, like below.
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Please select the first task, its properties will be display just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Pay attention to that it launches on your PC. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address”, then remove this malicious task. If you are not sure that executes the task, check it through a search engine. If it’s a component of the malicious programs, then this task also should be removed.
Having defined the task that you want to remove, then press on it with the right mouse button and choose Delete as shown on the image below.
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by adware. Once is done, close the Task Scheduler window.
Run free malware removal tools to completely get rid of “You need to install the update” fake alerts
The adware can hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and get rid of completely. This can lead to the fact that after some time, the ‘ad supported’ software which cause misleading “You need to install the update” pop up to appear once again infect your personal computer. Moreover, We want to note that it is not always safe to get rid of ‘ad supported’ software manually, if you do not have much experience in setting up and configuring the Microsoft Windows operating system. The best solution to detect and get rid of adware is to run free malware removal applications.
Scan and clean your internet browser of “You need to install the update” popup with Zemana Anti-malware
You can download and use the Zemana AntiMalware for free. This antimalware tool will scan all the Windows registry entries and files in your system along with the system settings and internet browser add-ons. If it finds any malware, adware or harmful plugin that is causing redirect in your browsers to the “You need to install the update” then the Zemana Anti Malware will get rid of them from your machine completely.
Click the following link to download Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM). Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.
164112 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Once downloading is finished, close all programs and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as on the image below.
When the install begins, you will see the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) on your system.
Once installation is done, you will see window as on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the adware that developed to show misleading “You need to install the update” pop up warnings within your browser. Depending on your personal computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a threat is detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
After the system scan is done, a list of all threats found is produced. Next, you need to press “Next” button.
The Zemana will delete adware which displays misleading “You need to install the update” pop up on your PC and add items to the Quarantine.
Use Hitman Pro to delete “You need to install the update” pop up warnings from browser
HitmanPro frees your PC system from hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, unwanted toolbars, internet browser extensions and other unwanted programs such as adware that causes browsers to show misleading “You need to install the update” popup warnings. The free removal tool will help you enjoy your PC to its fullest. HitmanPro uses advanced behavioral detection technologies to find out if there are unwanted apps in your system. You can review the scan results, and select the items you want to remove.
- Installing the Hitman Pro is simple. First you will need to download Hitman Pro on your system by clicking on the following link.
- After downloading is finished, double click the HitmanPro icon. Once this tool is opened, press “Next” button to search for ‘ad supported’ software which shows misleading “You need to install the update” fake alerts on your personal computer. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your system.
- When the scanning is finished, the results are displayed in the scan report. In order to remove all threats, simply press “Next” button. Now click the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to get rid of all malware found.
Remove “You need to install the update” fake alerts with Malwarebytes
Manual “You need to install the update” popup scam removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the ad-supported software may be not completely removed. We recommend that run the Malwarebytes Free that are completely free your system of adware. Moreover, the free program will allow you to delete malware, potentially unwanted apps, browser hijacker infections and toolbars that your PC can be infected too.
- Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware from the link below. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326462 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web-browser will display the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- When downloading is finished, please close all applications and open windows on your machine. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup.
- This will launch the “Setup wizard” of MalwareBytes Free onto your system. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will open and show the main window.
- Further, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the ‘ad supported’ software which developed to show misleading “You need to install the update” popup scam within your browser. This procedure may take quite a while, so please be patient. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
- After MalwareBytes AntiMalware has finished scanning, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will open a list of found threats.
- Review the results once the utility has complete the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click the “Quarantine Selected” button. Once finished, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.
- Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.
Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.
How to stop “You need to install the update” pop up warnings
One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all those annoying pages such as “You need to install the update” using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a application out that you can use to stop undesired internet browser redirections, advertisements and pop ups in any modern internet browsers including Firefox, Chrome, Microsoft Edge and IE. It’s called Adguard and it works very well.
Please go to the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Windows. Save it on your MS Windows desktop.
26658 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
When the download is finished, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as shown in the figure below.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick tutorial as shown on the screen below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop pop-up advertisements, pages like “You need to install the update”, as well as other harmful or misleading web sites. 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 desktop.
How to prevent “You need to install the update” pop-up scam from getting inside your computer
The adware spreads bundled with various free programs. This means that you need to be very careful when installing applications downloaded from the Internet, even from a large proven hosting. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, select only the Manual, Advanced or Custom install type, switch off all additional modules and apps are offered to install.
To sum up
After completing the step by step guidance above, your machine should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Firefox and other web-browsers will no longer display intrusive “You need to install the update” webpage when you browse the Internet. Unfortunately, if the guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new ad supported software, and then the best way – ask for help.
Please start a new thread by using the “New Topic” button in the Spyware Removal forum. When posting your HJT log, try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the unwanted “You need to install the update” popup warnings.