To remove aggressive browser extensions, you can use standard tools (for example, the Configure Add-ons dialog box for IE or Tools > Extensions for Chrome). However, these methods do not always work and, moreover, can cause difficulties for novice users.
Designed as a simple alternative traditional methods removing extensions.
The program does not require installation and is compatible with Windows XP, 7 and 8. The Browser Cleanup distribution takes only 2.5MB. The program is very easy to use and supports almost all popular browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. When launched, the program automatically checks installed add-ons.
When any installed extension will be regarded by the utility as particularly suspicious and will be highlighted in color in the general summary. When analyzing add-ons, you can highlight those that “have a bad reputation” among Avast users, or “actively distort your settings.” If there are additions to the summary, you can find out detailed information about them.
If the add-ons presented in the summary are not absolutely necessary, you can disable them with one click. But if you have doubts about a particular extension labeled Browser Cleanup, you can either take action yourself or leave it as is.
The summary may not list extensions at all. In this case, you can switch tabs on the left to view the add-ons for each specific browser. Of course, these operations can be done directly from the browser, however, Browser Cleanup has significant advantages. The program excludes safe extensions, allowing the user to focus only on potentially dangerous add-ons.
Browser Cleanup allows you to detect a potential problem and instantly fix it by disabling the corresponding add-ons. The program does not have an uninstall option. Apparently, the developers of avast! believe that it is safer to remove add-ons directly using the browser.
If the browser's home page and search engines have been replaced by an extension, Browser Cleanup has an option to restore the original settings.
Avast! Browser Cleanup is not the most powerful of these utilities. But the program is easy to use and effective in solving a specific problem. Using custom extension ratings is useful option when finding potential threats. The program is perfect for replacing standard means managing browser extensions.
On startup smart scanning Avast program will check the PC for following types problems and then suggest solutions to solve them.
- Viruses: files containing malicious code, which may affect the security and performance of your PC.
- Vulnerable software: Programs that require updating and can be used by attackers to gain access to your system.
- Browser extensions with a bad reputation: Browser extensions that are usually installed without your knowledge and affect system performance.
- Weak passwords: Passwords that are used to access more than one account online and can be easily hacked or compromised.
- Network threats: vulnerabilities in your network that could allow attacks on your network devices and a router.
- Performance issues: objects ( unnecessary files and applications, problems related to settings) that may interfere with the operation of the PC.
- Conflicting antiviruses: antivirus programs installed on your PC with Avast. Availability of several antivirus programs slows down your PC and reduces the effectiveness of anti-virus protection.
Note. Certain issues detected by Smart Scan may require a separate license to resolve. Detection of unnecessary problem types can be disabled in .
Solving detected problems
A green check mark next to the scan area indicates that no problems were found with that area. A red cross means the scan has identified one or more related problems.
To view specific details about detected issues, click Solve everything. Smart Scan shows details of each issue and offers the option to fix it immediately by clicking the item Decide, or do it later by clicking Skip this step.
Note. Antivirus scan logs can be seen in scan history, which can be accessed by selecting Protection Antivirus.
Manage Smart Scan Settings
To change Smart Scan settings, select Settings General Smart Scan and specify which of the following problem types you want to smart scan for.
- Viruses
- Outdated software
- Browser add-ons
- Network threats
- Compatibility issues
- Performance issues
- Weak passwords
By default, all problem types are enabled. To stop checking for a specific issue when running a Smart Scan, click the slider Included next to the problem type so that it changes the state to Turned off.
Click Settings next to the inscription Virus scanning to change scan settings.
Toolbars are seemingly useful things that tell you all the most important things in one line of the browser. important information(quantity unread messages, weather, exchange rates, etc.). There is only one BUT, in most cases, toolbars are installed either without the owner’s knowledge at all, or under serious camouflage (a bonus for the downloaded program, a warning in small text when installing the program). It turns out that most users install toolbars themselves, without even knowing it. Thus, toolbars, like uninvited guests, take over part of the browser space, and, as a rule, only get in the way. In this article we will take a look at some programs for removing toolbars, and also consider methods of dealing with special cases.
How to remove a toolbar manually?
Often, toolbars are ordinary browser add-ons and you can simply disable them. List installed add-ons can be found in your browser settings:
In Chrome: Go to Settings > Tools > Extensions.
In Firefox: Go to tools > add-ons (firefox > add-ons).
In Opera: opera > extensions.
Now all that remains is to find and delete the unnecessary toolbar.
If simply disabling it does not help, then use Avast Browser Cleanup.
Avast Browser Cleanup
Avast Browser Cleanup perfect solution from Avast (they have some of the most best antiviruses). The beauty of this little program is that it does not require installation and, upon launch, immediately scans for add-ons for browsers with a bad reputation. Usually Avast Browser Cleanup does not make mistakes and immediately after scanning you can click “Remove all extensions”, but advanced users can study the list of extensions found and correct it. At the time of testing, the toolbars “Mail.ru”, “Webalta” and “Delta Toolbar” were easily removed.
Toolbar Cleaner
Toolbar Cleaner - I recommend it for more advanced users. At least for my beloved Firefox, the program simply displayed the entire list of add-ons, of course, this way you can remove a lot of unnecessary stuff. Also Toolbar Cleaner has useful function cleaning Windows startup.
