How to uninstall Data Shield for Chrome

What is Data Shield for Chrome?

According to cyber threat analysts, Data Shield for Chrome is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the family of browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a kind of software that is developed to change the internet browser settings without the knowledge or permission of the computer user, and it usually redirects the affected system’s web browser to certain advertisement-related web sites. A browser hijacker redirects user web searches to its own web page, installs multiple toolbars on the internet browser, modifies the default web-browser search provider or startpage, generates multiple pop-up advertisements and initiates numerous pop-ups. If your computer is infected by a browser hijacker you need to follow manual steps or use a malware removal tool to revert changes made to your internet browsers.

Most often, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by setting their address as the default search engine. In this case, the hijacker installs search.wiseghostapp.com as a search provider. This means that users whose web browser is hijacked with the browser hijacker are forced to visit search.wiseghostapp.com for Chrome each time they search in the Internet, open a new window or tab. And since search.wiseghostapp.com is not a real search provider and does not have the ability to find the information users need, this website redirects the user’s internet browser to the Yahoo search engine.

And finally, the Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker can collect your privacy information like what web-pages you’re opening, what you’re looking for the Internet and so on. This information, in the future, may be used for marketing purposes.

How can a browser hijacker get on your device

Browser hijackers and PUPs come as a part of various free applications, malicious downloads and fake updates. This means that you need to be very careful when installing programs downloaded from the Web, even from well known download sites. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only the Manual, Advanced or Custom installation type, switch off all additional modules and applications are offered to install.

Threat Summary

Name	Data Shield for Chrome
Type	redirect virus, PUP, start page hijacker, browser hijacker, search provider hijacker
Associated domains	search.wiseghostapp.com
Affected Browser Settings	search engine, new tab URL, home page
Distribution	malicious popup ads, free programs installation packages, fake software updaters
Symptoms	Unexpected ads appear on web pages that you are visiting. When you go to a web-page, you are often redirected to another web-page that you do not intend to visit. Unwanted application installed without your knowledge. An unwanted web-browser addon appears in your browser. Your web-browser home page or search provider keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor.
Removal	Data Shield for Chrome removal guide

How to remove Data Shield for Chrome from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

Without a doubt, browser hijackers are harmful for your device. So you need to quickly and completely remove this unwanted software. To delete the browser hijacker, you can use the manual removal tutorial that are given below or free malware removal tools such as Zemana AntiMalware, MalwareBytes AntiMalware or HitmanPro (all are free). We suggest you use automatic removal method which will help you to get rid of Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you’re well versed in computer or in the case where hijacker is not uninstalled automatically. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to exit your web browser or reboot your PC.

To remove Data Shield for Chrome, follow the steps below:

1. How to manually delete Data Shield for Chrome
   • Remove dubious applications using Windows Control Panel
   • Remove Data Shield for Chrome from Chrome
2. Automatic Removal of Data Shield for Chrome
3. How to stop Data Shield for Chrome redirect

How to manually delete Data Shield for Chrome

Data Shield for Chrome is a browser hijacker that can replace your web browser settings and redirect you to the web-pages which may contain tons of ads. Not every antivirus program can find and remove PUPs and browser hijackers easily from the PC. Follow the instructions below and you can remove hijacker by yourself.

Remove dubious applications using Windows Control Panel

In order to delete Data Shield for Chrome, first thing you need to do is to delete unknown and questionable applications from your device using MS Windows control panel. When deleting this browser hijacker, check the list of installed apps and try to find questionable programs and remove them all. Pay special attention to recently installed apps, as it is most probably that the Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker сame along with it.

It will show the Windows Control Panel as displayed below.

Next, press “Uninstall a program”
It will open a list of all apps installed on your personal computer. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown apps. To quickly find the latest installed applications, we recommend sort apps by date in the Control panel.

Remove Data Shield for Chrome from Chrome

If you are still experiencing issues with Data Shield for Chrome, you need to reset Google Chrome browser to its default values. This step needs to be performed only if hijacker has not been removed by the previous steps.

1. First launch the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will show the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
3. You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the addon labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
5. You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
7. The Google Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
8. Next press the “Reset” button.
9. Once this process is complete, your browser’s default search engine, new tab page and startpage will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Automatic Removal of Data Shield for Chrome

Use malware removal tools to get rid of Data Shield for Chrome automatically. The free tools specially developed for hijacker, adware and other potentially unwanted apps removal. These utilities can get rid of most of browser hijacker from IE, MS Edge, Firefox and Chrome. Moreover, it can remove all components of browser hijackers from Windows registry and system drives.

Run Zemana Anti-Malware to delete Data Shield for Chrome hijacker

Zemana AntiMalware is a malicious software removal tool designed for MS Windows. This utility will allow you remove Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker, various types of malicious software (including adware and PUPs) from your PC. It has simple and user friendly interface. While the Zemana Anti-Malware does its job, your PC system will run smoothly.

Installing the Zemana is simple. First you will need to download Zemana on your Microsoft Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

Once the download is finished, launch it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana will try to update itself and when this process is finished, click the “Scan” button to start scanning your personal computer for the Data Shield for Chrome hijacker.

Depending on your PC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the Zemana is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software. Review the results once the tool has done the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Next” button.

The Zemana will delete Data Shield for Chrome hijacker.

Delete Data Shield for Chrome hijacker from browsers with HitmanPro

If the Data Shield for Chrome problem persists, run the HitmanPro and check if your web browser is infected by browser hijacker. The Hitman Pro is a downloadable security utility that provides on-demand scanning and allows remove adware software, PUPs, and other malicious software. It works with your existing anti-virus.

1. First, click the link below, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of HitmanPro.
   
   

   HitmanPro
   12077 downloads
   Author: Sophos
   Category: Security tools
   Update: June 28, 2018
   
2. Once the download is complete, start the HitmanPro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
3. If the “User Account Control” prompts, press Yes to continue.
4. In the Hitman Pro window, press the “Next” . Hitman Pro application will scan through the whole computer for the Data Shield for Chrome hijacker. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your PC and the speed of your device. While the HitmanPro is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.
5. After the checking is done, a list of all threats detected is prepared. Review the report and then click “Next”. Now, click the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to remove all malicious software found.

How to remove Data Shield for Chrome with MalwareBytes AntiMalware

We suggest using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware which are completely clean your computer of the hijacker. The free tool is an advanced malicious software removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you remove hijacker, PUPs, malware, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your personal computer for free.

Download MalwareBytes from the following link.

After downloading is finished, close all apps and windows on your computer. Double-click the setup file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as displayed in the following example, click the “Yes” button.

It will open the Setup wizard which will help you set up MalwareBytes on your PC. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.

Once install is done successfully, click “Get Started” button. MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the screen below.

Now click the “Scan” button for scanning your computer for the Data Shield for Chrome hijacker. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your device and the speed of your personal computer. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.

After MalwareBytes Anti-Malware completes the scan, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will open a list of detected threats. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and press “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will delete Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker and move the selected items to the Quarantine. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to restart the PC system.

We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware to remove adware, hijacker and other malicious software.

How to stop Data Shield for Chrome redirect

To put it simply, you need to use an ad blocker utility (AdGuard, for example). It will stop and protect you from any unwanted websites, malicious ads and pop ups. To be able to do that, the ad-blocking application uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious web-site, an advertising content, a banner and others. The ad-blocker program automatically uses these filters, depending on the websites you’re visiting.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.

After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to launch it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen like 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 instructions as shown below.

Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your device, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Data Shield for Chrome redirects, 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, that can be found on your desktop.

To sum up

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-up ads and intrusive malicious web sites) and Zemana (to periodically scan your computer for new malicious software, hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for MS Windows operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, malicious apps and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Data Shield for Chrome from your web-browser, then ask for help here.