Recently, a new virus has been activated on the Internet, which belongs to the category of computer worms, or trojans. It is called Wajam. However, unlike old codes of this type, it has some differences. It will now be considered how to remove Wajam from the computer completely. As already clear, standard solutions are not suitable here.
What is the Wajam virus?
So, before you start solving the problem of how to completely remove Wajam from your computer, you should study, so to speak, its habits and features. Although this is not a new type of threat, you need to know something about it.
Immediately, we note that the program itself belongs to the category of Adware, that is, executable code that, when activated, starts adding a bunch of ads to Internet surfing, not in the form of links, but in the form of banners, and also suits the user with a constant redirect (redirect) to other sites. And what is most sad, the complete removal of Wajam is sometimes difficult if you do not know exactly what steps need to be taken in this direction.
How a virus enters the system
If we talk about the mechanisms of the appearance of a virus in a computer network, most often this is due to the installation of some small programs and applications that were downloaded from questionable sources. Sometimes surfers, despite warnings by the anti-virus system about the unreliability of some resource or site, ignore them and still try to access the desired program.
The following is the installation, during which users usually simply agree with all the conditions, not paying attention to some additional lines with the suggestion of installing, say, additional panels in the browser or search engines by default. As already clear, this is fraught with consequences. And only when the code starts to work, many naturally question: “How to remove Wajam from the computer completely?” One would like to ask: “Where have you been before?”
How it works?
A few more words about how the work of the virus affects the user system. No, no, the virus does not have any critical effect on the OS or system files. He is more interested in the user's work on the World Wide Web (for starters).
After activation, the virus is embedded in all used browsers in the form of a special add-on (plug-in) and replaces the search system, disabling which does not give any positive result (it is activated again and again). It is in the active state that the virus begins to make it difficult to surf the Internet. A lot of ads appear on the pages in the form of huge banners that are so large that they completely cover, for example, the text material of the site. It is impossible to get rid of them.
The user begins to click on them to remove, and as a result, they are redirected to some kind of commercial page, say, with a job or purchase offer. Moreover, all these sites, as a rule, are included in the list of resources that pay the creators of the virus for each transition to their site. In fact, this is somewhat reminiscent of the old grandfather's way of making money on the Internet, when you had to click on the banners as much as possible, and each click cost so much and so much. But only in this case it is not the user who earns, but the creators of this code.
But that is not all. Over time, the program begins to affect search engines and social networks, because it is there that you can find the most users. In the end, this leads to the fact that even if you set some conditions in the search engine, the result will be only sites that are redirected by the virus itself.
Further worse. When deeply introduced into the system, the virus begins to intercept personal data (logins and passwords), and then uses them on the same social networks to send spam. And this is only fraught with the fact that all friends and acquaintances will simply turn away from the user in the "social network". Not a very pleasant situation, right?
Uninstall Wajam. The complete guide "How to remove it?"
Now we pass to the most important thing. First you will need to use the standard Windows uninstaller. However, in the question "how to remove the Wajam virus from the computer completely", each user should understand that the matter is not limited to the standard process. The only thing that pleases is the fact that the program is present in the standard list of installed applications.
So, the very first step involves the use of the standard "Task Manager", in which you need to terminate the Wajam process forcibly, provided that you have previously closed all active Internet browsers.
Next, go to the “Control Panel” and select the program installation and removal section (in later versions of Windows, this is the program and component section). In the list of installed applications, we find Wajam and perform the standard removal procedure.
But this is only the beginning. The problem we are considering (how to completely remove Wajam from a computer) suggests a more complex solution. Now in the same “Control Panel” you need to enter the settings of the “Task Scheduler” and remove Wajam from the library of scheduled tasks.
After that, you will also have to use the registry editor called by the regedit command in the Run menu (Win + R). There is a small problem. The fact is that climbing a tree of keys is a rather tedious procedure, therefore it is strongly recommended to start the search system (Ctrl + F) and enter the Wajam value in the field. All found results can be deleted without a twinge of conscience, anyway this will not have any effect on the system’s performance.
But even this does not solve the question of how to remove Wajam from the computer completely. The next step should be to delete all files of the same name and folders located on the hard drive and logical disk partitions. Again, the easiest way will be to use the search built into the standard “Explorer” (a special field in the upper right corner).
As already clear, all found directories and files are subject to deletion with the subsequent cleaning of the "Recycle Bin". Please note: in some cases, in the "View" menu, you should enable the display of all hidden objects.
Additional tips
Now a few more recommendations on resolving the issue of “how to remove Wajam from the computer”. At the first stage, it is advisable not to use the standard Windows uninstaller, anyway it leaves a lot of garbage.
It is better to seek help from one of the most powerful utilities of our time called iObit Uninstaller. This program is able to find both residual registry keys and remaining files in Forced Uninstall forced mode. In some cases, this may eliminate the use of steps to clean the registry and remove garbage. But in general, even when using such a powerful utility, it is better not to skip these steps.
Naturally, you can use various third-party utilities to remove threats like Adware. Some people put Spyhunter on themselves. This is not recommended. Then do not get rid of this utility. For that matter, it is better to find a specially designed tool called the Wajam Removal Tool and try to remove Wajam viruses from your computer with its help. Although not the fact that a complete removal will occur. However, this is a purely personal matter.
Change Google Chrome settings
Unfortunately, in browsers, even after a complete removal, the add-on remains. Sometimes it is deactivated, but can manifest itself at any moment. It should be completely removed or even disabled if it is in an active state.
In the Chrome browser, you need to use the additional tools section from the main menu, and then select the extensions item. Next, opposite the Wajam, the button with the image of the basket is pressed and the removal of the add-in is confirmed. Then, from the settings section and the "Open at Startup" menu, the "Add" button is selected, after which the about: blank command is entered for the home page (blank page).
Change Internet Explorer Settings
Here you will need to enter the service menu (Alt + X) and use the add-ons section. Opposite Wajam, the shutdown button is pressed.
For the start page, we use the browser properties from the same service menu, and in the start page field on the general tab, set a blank page.
Change Mozilla Firefox Settings
This browser is also simple. We use the transition on the main menu, first to the add-ons section, then to the extensions section. Again, in front of Wajam, press the shutdown button.
For the home page we use the basic settings, and in the corresponding field indicate a blank page. In the address bar, enter about: config (change the display of the page being opened), agree with the warning, then find the browser.newtab.url parameter, click on it and select the "Reload" line.
Change Opera Settings
In the address bar, enter about: plugins or opera: plugins (depending on the version of the browser) and use the disconnect hyperlink. The parameters of the start page are set in the main settings similar to previous browsers.
Total
Here, in fact, all on the question of how to remove Wajam from the computer completely. As you can see, there is nothing particularly complicated about this, unless it takes a little time and patience. But for the future, for many users this can be a good lesson.