What is Dark Browse
Dark Browse is supposed to be a browser extension that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security professionals, this extension acts as adware. Adware is a form of malicious software designed to bombard you with unsolicited ads and pop-up windows that could potentially be dangerous for your computer. Adware can change web browser settings and install malicious browser addons.
Even worse, the Dark Browse adware can analyze the location and which Net websites you visit, and then display ads to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Its authors can collect and sell your surfing information and behavior to third parties.
Below we are discussing the solutions which are very effective in removing adware software. The instructions will also help you to remove Dark Browse from your personal computer for free.
How does Dark Browse get on your computer
Adware usually is bundled within malicious downloads, fake updates and free programs. So, when you installing new software, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced installation method to watch for additional programs that are being installed, because some of the programs are PUPs, browser hijackers and adware.
Threat Summary
Name | Dark Browse |
Type | adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), pop up virus, pop-ups, popup advertisements |
Symptoms |
|
Removal | Dark Browse removal guide |
How to remove Dark Browse from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Even if you’ve the up-to-date classic antivirus installed, and you have checked your PC for malware and removed anything found, you need to do the tutorial below. The Dark Browse removal is not simple as installing another antivirus. Classic antivirus programs are not developed to run together and will conflict with each other, or possibly crash Microsoft Windows. Instead we recommend complete the manual steps below after that run Zemana, MalwareBytes AntiMalware or Hitman Pro, which are free tools dedicated to locate and remove adware software. Use these utilities to ensure the adware is removed.
To remove Dark Browse, execute the steps below:
How to manually get rid of Dark Browse
In this section of the post, we have posted the steps that will help to remove Dark Browse adware manually. Although compared to removal utilities, this way loses in time, but you don’t need to download anything on the computer. It will be enough for you to follow the detailed guide with images. We tried to describe each step in detail, but if you realized that you might not be able to figure it out, or simply do not want to change the MS Windows and browser settings, then it’s better for you to run tools from trusted developers, which are listed below.
Removing the Dark Browse, check the list of installed software first
First, you should try to identify and remove the program that causes the appearance of annoying ads or web browser redirect, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Microsoft Windows logo, and then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter like below.
Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as on the image below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and choose the ‘Control Panel’ at right as shown below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Windows 7 or Vista) as shown on the screen below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and delete all questionable and unknown apps. We suggest to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed programs by date. When you have found anything suspicious that may be the Dark Browse adware or other PUP (potentially unwanted program), then select this application and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious application blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully remove it from your personal computer.
Delete Dark Browse from Firefox by resetting browser settings
If the Mozilla Firefox settings like default search engine, new tab and startpage have been modified by the adware software, then resetting it to the default state can help. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu like below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button like the one below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to restore your Mozilla Firefox browser settings to their default values.
Remove Dark Browse from Internet Explorer
In order to recover all web browser newtab, start page and search engine by default you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the Microsoft Windows was installed on your PC system.
First, launch the IE, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will show the Tools 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, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as shown on the image below.
After the process is finished, click “Close” button. Close the Microsoft Internet Explorer and reboot your device for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your browser’s search engine by default, newtab page and startpage to default state.
Remove Dark Browse adware from Chrome
Reset Google Chrome will allow you to delete Dark Browse adware from your browser as well as to recover web-browser settings infected by adware software. All unwanted, harmful and ‘ad-supported’ addons will also be removed from the browser. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
First start the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots ().
It will open the Google Chrome menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the add-on signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, press the option called “Settings”.
The web browser will open the settings screen. Another way 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 screen below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Chrome will display the confirmation dialog box similar to the one below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The browser will run the procedure of cleaning. When it is complete, the internet browser’s settings including new tab page, search engine by default and homepage back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your computer.
Automatic Removal of Dark Browse
The adware software can hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and delete completely. This can lead to the fact that after some time, the Dark Browse adware once again infect your device. Moreover, We want to note that it is not always safe to delete adware manually, if you do not have much experience in setting up and configuring the Microsoft Windows operating system. The best solution to detect and delete adware is to use free malware removal programs.
Use Zemana Anti-Malware to remove Dark Browse adware
Zemana Anti-Malware is one of the best in its class, it can locate and get rid of a large amount of of different security threats, including adware software, browser hijackers, spyware and trojans that masqueraded as legitimate system programs. Also Zemana Anti-Malware includes another tool called FRST – is a helpful program for manual removal of files and parts of the Windows registry created by malware.
Installing the Zemana AntiMalware is simple. First you’ll need to download Zemana Anti-Malware on your MS Windows Desktop from the following link.
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Once the downloading process is done, close all programs and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as displayed in the following example.
When the install starts, you will see the “Setup wizard” that will help you setup Zemana on your PC system.
Once setup is done, you will see window as displayed below.
Now click the “Scan” button . Zemana AntiMalware program will scan through the whole PC for the Dark Browse adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your device. When a threat is found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is complete.
When Zemana is complete scanning your computer, the results are displayed in the scan report. Review the report and then press “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti-Malware will begin to remove Dark Browse adware software.
Delete Dark Browse adware software and harmful extensions with Hitman Pro
Hitman Pro is a free removal tool that can be downloaded and use to remove Dark Browse , browser hijackers, malicious software, potentially unwanted programs, toolbars and other threats from your computer. You can use this utility to search for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.
Hitman Pro can be downloaded from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
Download and use Hitman Pro on your personal computer. Once started, click “Next” button to begin scanning your device for the Dark Browse adware. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the HitmanPro is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware..
After Hitman Pro completes the scan, it will open the Scan Results.
In order to remove all items, simply click Next button.
It will show a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to remove all malware found.
Use MalwareBytes AntiMalware to remove Dark Browse adware
You can get rid of Dark Browse adware automatically through the use of MalwareBytes AntiMalware. We suggest this free malware removal tool because it can easily delete hijackers, adware software, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
- Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware from the following link. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326464 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will show the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- Once downloading is complete, please close all apps and open windows on your computer. Double-click on the icon that’s called MBSetup.
- This will run the Setup wizard of MalwareBytes AntiMalware onto your PC. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes AntiMalware will start and open the main window.
- Further, press the “Scan” button to look for Dark Browse adware. Depending on your PC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
- When finished, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will show you the results.
- Next, you need to press the “Quarantine” button. When finished, you may be prompted to restart the device.
- Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.
Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.
How to stay safe online
In order to increase your security and protect your personal computer against new annoying ads and harmful webpages, you need to use ad-blocking program that blocks an access to malicious ads and web pages. Moreover, the program can stop the display of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web-sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
- Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
Adguard download
26659 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After the download is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the setup is done, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired ads, block Dark Browse redirects, as well as other malicious or misleading websites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, that can be found on your desktop.
Finish words
We suggest that you keep Zemana Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your computer for new adware softwares and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-ups and malicious web-pages). Moreover, to prevent any adware software, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs, make sure that your antivirus application, turn on the option to search for potentially unwanted programs.
If you need more help with Dark Browse related issues, go to here.