What is Web Safety?
According to computer security professionals, Web Safety is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the category of browser hijackers. A common tactic used by the developers behind PUPs is to alter web browser’s settings such as new tab, home page and search engine by default so that the hijacked browser goes to a web site under the author’s control. Perform the few simple steps below to remove Web Safety and protect you from other browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs.
When you perform a search through Web Safety, in addition to search results from Yahoo, Bing or Google Custom Search which provide links to web pages, news articles, images or videos you’ll also be shown tons of intrusive ads. The creators of Web Safety doing this to make advertising revenue from these ads.
The cyber threat analysts do not recommend having potentially unwanted programs like Web Safety on the PC system, as it is not known exactly what it does. In addition to the above, it can collect lots of user info that can be later sold to third parties. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. And of course you completely do not know what will happen when you click on any advertisements on the Web Safety web-site.
In order to get rid of browser hijacker from your personal computer, clean the affected web-browsers and return the Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and MS Edge settings to its default state, please use the Web Safety removal instructions below.
How can a browser hijacker get on your device
Browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs are usually distributed as part of other applications and are often installed without notifying the owner of the PC system. This happens especially when you are installing a freeware. The application installation package tricks you into accepting the installation of third party apps, that you do not really want. Moreover, some paid applications can also install optional software which you don’t want! Therefore, always download freeware and paid software from reputable download webpages. Use ONLY custom or manual installation type and never blindly press Next button.
Threat Summary
Name | Web Safety |
Type | start page hijacker, browser hijacker, redirect virus, search engine hijacker, PUP |
Affected Browser Settings | new tab URL, search provider, startpage |
Distribution | fake software updaters, misleading popup ads, free programs install packages |
Symptoms | Pop up ads won’t go away. Your browser is redirected to web pages you did not want. Your PC starts automatically installing unexpected programs. New web-browser toolbars on your desktop. Unexpected changes in your browser like displaying new tabs you did not open. |
Removal | Web Safety removal guide |
How to remove Web Safety from Windows 10 (8, 7, XP)
In the step-by-step guide below, we’ll try to cover the MS Edge, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome and provide general help to get rid of Web Safety browser hijacker. You may find some minor differences in your Microsoft Windows install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: remove all suspicious and unknown apps, reset web-browsers settings, fix web browsers shortcuts, run free malware removal tools. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your PC or shut down this web page. So, read this tutorial carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.
To remove Web Safety, perform the following steps:
- How to manually remove Web Safety
- Automatic Removal of Web Safety
- Use AdBlocker to stop Web Safety redirects
- To sum up
How to manually remove Web Safety
The useful removal guide for the Web Safety hijacker. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to remove Web Safety hijacker let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
Delete questionable applications using Microsoft Windows Control Panel
When troubleshooting a PC, one common step is go to Windows Control Panel and remove questionable applications. The same approach will be used in the removal of Web Safety hijacker. Please use steps based on your Microsoft Windows version.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Microsoft Windows logo, and then click 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 such as the one below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and choose the ‘Control Panel’ at right as shown in the figure below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (MS Windows 7 or Vista) like below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and delete all dubious and unknown apps. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed programs by date. When you have found anything suspicious that may be the Web Safety browser hijacker or other potentially unwanted application (PUA), then choose this program and press ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious program blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully get rid of it from your computer.
Remove Web Safety from Chrome
Reset Google Chrome settings will delete Web Safety from home page, newtab and default search provider and disable harmful extensions. It will also clear cached and temporary data (cookies, site data and content). When using the reset feature, your personal information such as passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
First launch the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots ().
It will open the Chrome menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed addons. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option named “Settings”.
The internet browser will display the settings screen. Another solution to open the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown on the image below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will open the confirmation prompt as shown below.
You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The internet browser will run the process of cleaning. Once it’s done, the internet browser’s settings including start page, newtab and default search provider back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your personal computer.
Remove Web Safety from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
The Firefox reset will remove unwanted search provider and startpage such as Web Safety, modified preferences, extensions and security settings. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
First, start the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button ().
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as shown below.
Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.
Delete Web Safety browser hijacker from IE
If you find that IE web browser settings such as homepage, newtab page and search engine had been hijacked, then you may restore your settings, via the reset browser process.
First, run the Internet Explorer, press ) button. Next, click “Internet Options” as displayed on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, press Reset button. The Internet Explorer will open the Reset Internet Explorer settings dialog box. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and press Reset button.
You will now need to reboot your PC system for the changes to take effect. It will remove Web Safety hijacker, disable malicious and ad-supported web-browser’s extensions and restore the Internet Explorer’s settings such as home page, new tab and search provider by default to default state.
Automatic Removal of Web Safety
AntiMalware software differ from each other by many features like performance, scheduled scans, automatic updates, virus signature database, technical support, compatibility with other antivirus applications and so on. We recommend you use the following free apps: Zemana Free, MalwareBytes Anti Malware and Hitman Pro. Each of these programs has all of needed features, but most importantly, they can identify the browser hijacker and get rid of Web Safety from the Edge, Firefox, IE and Google Chrome.
Use Zemana to get rid of Web Safety hijacker
Thinking about delete Web Safety hijacker from your web-browser? Then pay attention to Zemana Anti-Malware. This is a well-known tool, originally created just to detect and remove malware, adware and PUPs. But by now it has seriously changed and can not only rid you of malware, but also protect your computer from malware and adware, as well as find and delete common viruses and trojans.
First, please go to the following link, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of Zemana.
163845 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is finished, start it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana AntiMalware will try to update itself and when this process is done, click the “Scan” button to detect Web Safety browser hijacker.
This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malware, adware software or PUPs are detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is finished. Review the report and then press “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti Malware will delete Web Safety browser hijacker and move the selected items to the Quarantine.
Remove Web Safety browser hijacker and malicious extensions with Hitman Pro
Hitman Pro is a free removal utility that can be downloaded and use to remove browser hijackers, adware, malicious software, potentially unwanted programs, toolbars and other threats from your PC. You can run this tool to detect threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.
Download Hitman Pro on your computer from the link below.
Download and run HitmanPro on your personal computer. Once started, click “Next” button for scanning your device for the Web Safety browser hijacker. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan Hitman Pro will search for threats exist on your device..
When finished, it will display the Scan Results.
Review the scan results and then click Next button.
It will open a prompt, press the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to delete all malicious software found.
Remove Web Safety browser hijacker with MalwareBytes
We recommend using the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) which are fully clean your computer of the browser hijacker. The free utility is an advanced malware removal program created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you get rid of hijacker, potentially unwanted apps, malicious software, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your device for free.
MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.
326148 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once downloading is complete, close all apps and windows on your computer. Double-click the install file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as displayed on the screen below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the Setup wizard which will help you setup MalwareBytes Free on your computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is complete successfully, click “Get Started” button. MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.
Now press the “Scan” button to start checking your device for the Web Safety browser hijacker. When a malware, adware software or potentially unwanted applications are found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is finished.
When MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is done scanning your computer, you’ll be displayed the list of all found items on your device. All found threats will be marked. You can remove them all by simply click “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Free will start to get rid of Web Safety hijacker. After finished, you may be prompted to reboot the PC system.
We advise you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes Free to remove adware software, hijacker and other malicious software.
Use AdBlocker to stop Web Safety redirects
We recommend to install an ad-blocker program that can stop Web Safety and other annoying webpages. The ad blocking utility such as AdGuard is a program that basically removes advertising from the Internet and blocks access to malicious web pages. Moreover, security experts says that using ad blocker apps is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Web.
AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
26560 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as displayed in the following example.
Follow the prompts. After the installation is done, you will see a window like below.
You can press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will allow 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 start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Web Safety, 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 can be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Now your PC should be clean of the Web Safety hijacker. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-ups and intrusive malicious web-pages) and Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) (to periodically scan your PC system for new malware, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for MS Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, harmful software and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of Web Safety hijacker from your internet browser, then ask for help here.