If you experience a Google Chrome extension, you’re not alone on this. There are reports of increase infections on PUP (potentially unwanted programs. This installs on your computer which mask as legitimate internet browser extension. Generally, this unwanted applications are bundled with free softwares which can be downloaded online. And you can easily get infected by this when you are not closely paying attention on the steps of the installation process.
To prevent such accidental adware installation, when choosing to install freeware downloads, follow these advices:
• Watch the steps of the downloading process, then there is part that you’ll be asked to choose the type of installation (Custom or Typical), better select the Custom Installation.
• You need to make sure to opt-out of any changes when it comes to your browser settings.
• Don’t allow any additional software to be installed.
Removal Guide on Google Chrome Extension
Extension Check:
• Go to the right top corner of Chrome screen, click bar icon and choose Tools and then Extensions.
To be able to know which software related to the Google Chrome extension by checking the most recent software installation of the OS (Operating System) “Add/Remove Programs”. Then uninstalling this software can remove those linked with the browser extension.
To the Windows 8 Users:
• At the lower left corner of the screen, from the Quick Access Menu,you need to select Control Panel.
• A window will open and choose Uninstall a Program.
• Then look for the latest added software, then select them one by one and click Uninstall.
To the Windows 7 Users:
• At the bottom left corner of your screen, click the Windows Logo/Start, select the Control Panel.
• Find and click the Programs and Features.
• Go and find those recently softwares that have been added, select each entry and click uninstall one by one.
To the Windows XP User:
• Go and click the Start button.
• Select Settings and click Control Panel.
• Find and click the Add or Remove Programs.
• Look for and choose Programs and Features.
• Search on the list the softwares recently installed and select them.
• Then click remove.
You also need to check your browser extensions, if ever you keep having unwanted entries on your Google Chrome extensions list, then repeat the removal instructions.
First Step: ID the unwanted extension. Later in the removal step, you’ll need this information so you can be able to identify the ID of an extension.
• On the top right of the Google Chrome, click the bars icon.
• Choose Tools and then click on Extensions.
• Choose Developer Mode.
To Delete the Chrome extension, you need to close Google Chrome.
Second Step: When done closing the Google Chrome, remove the registry of the extension.
Windows XP
• Go and click the Start then in the opened window type “regedit” and click the Run button.
Windows 7
• Go and click the Windows Logo (Start button).
• When you are in the field of Search Programs and Files, enter “rededit” and hit enterkey.
In the widow of the Register Editor, click the Edit and choose Find..
From the opened window, you need to paste the ID of the Chrome extension you want to remove, then click Find Next button.
You can delete the registry key that matches the data value of the extensions ID, just right-click the registry key and select Delete.
Click the Yes button to remove the registry entry.
Third Step: Removal of associative files
1. You need to open My Computer and direct the path drive to “C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions”.
2. Delete the directory with the same ID of the Chrome Extension.
3. Access the AppData directory by entering “%USERPROFILE%” (for Windows XP) or %localappdata% (or Windows 7 and Windows 8), then Run the dialog box.
4. Direct the path drive to the folder of C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine (or C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\User) and then remove the file name called Registry.pol
5. Now, open the Google Chrome and check again the extension list to see if its empty.