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Web Companion is among the potentially harmful programs that install as website browser extensions without your knowledge. After installing on your web browser, Web Companion starts distributing adverts. After that, you will encounter numerous coupons, displays banners and links to many ad websites each time you start browsing the internet. Moreover, this browser extension will add intrusive toolbars and change your browser settings – for example, the browser homepage. After doing that, it starts replacing your search results with advertising links.
Even though it is not a virus, Web Companion will cause many irreparable damages to your computer. It will gather your personal information and direct it to third party sites. Even more, it will increase web traffic and slow down the speed of your computer significantly. So, you should uninstall the extension immediately you realize that it is running on your computer.
How Lavasoft Web Companion enters your computer?
Such programs will install on your computer if you are not careful when browsing the internet. It might also come bundled with some programs that people download from the available freeware sites. You are likely to follow the entire installation process but you will not know that your computer is at great risk.
Before pressing the “Next” button during the installation of a new program, read the user’s agreement. That way, you will be sure that the program you are dealing with is safe. To eliminate the harmful files during installation, opt for the custom installation method. And because the internet offers many versions of the highly downloaded programs, read reviews before clicking on the install button. If your computer is already infected here is what to do.
How to uninstall Web Companion web extension
For Lavasoft Web Companion removal on Windows 10, use malware removal tools such as WiperSoft AntiSpyware from WiperSoft. The program will detect all Web Companion folders, files and registry keys in addition to many other hijackers, adware and toolbars. SpyHunter 5 from EnigmaSoft Limited is the other reliable tool to use. In addition to detecting and removing Web Companion’s folders, files and registry keys, the tool will uninstall millions of hijackers, adware and toolbars. Again, the SpyHunter 5 trial version offers 1-time free removal and virus scan.
Here are the steps to follow if you prefer removing the Web Companion web extension manually:
– Click on the Start menu button and type command prompt on the search bar. Identify the Command Prompt on the results and click on it. Choose “Run as Administrator”.
– Type in these commands and execute them.
rd /S /Q “%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers”
rd /S /Q “%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy”
gpupdate /force
Remove Web Companion via Control Panel
Even though manual Adware Web Companion removal method through the control panel will be successful, you need to use CleanMyPC tool to clean all the leftover items after the uninstallation ends. Here are the instructions to follow if you are a Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 user.
For Windows XP users
– Click on the Start button
– Click on Control Panel
– Click on “Add or Remove Programs”
– Search for Web Companion
– Click Uninstall
For Windows 7 users
– Click on the Start button
– Click on Control Panel
– Click “Uninstall a Program”
– Find the Web Companion program and click on Uninstall
For Windows 8 users
– Hover the cursor to the right-bottom corner of your computer screen for the Menu button to appear
– Click Search
– Click on Apps
– Proceed to Control Panel
– Click on “Uninstall a Program” located under Programs
– Find the Web Companion Program and click on Uninstall
To remove Web Companion Windows 10, use these methods.
Method 1
– Click on the Start button
– In the window that opens, choose Settings
– Click the System tile
– Click “Apps & Features” and locate the Web Companion program in the list
– Click on it and click the Uninstall button next to it
Method 2
– Right-click on Start menu
– On the menu that opens, choose “Programs and Features”
– Find the Web Companion program and click on it
– Click on the program and then on Uninstall button above it
At times, the program will not uninstall. All you will get is a “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall Web Companion” message. Contact the system administrator if that happens. “Access Denied” error will pop up because some of the services or processes do not allow uninstallation. The best solution is to uninstall the program in safe mode. Do the following.
– Reboot the computer
– Press F8 while the system starts booting
– The computer will open the Advanced Boot Options menu
– Select Safe Mode
– Wait for your Windows system to load
– Move to Control Panel >> Uninstall a Program >> Web Companion
Another option would be to use the SpyHunter 5 tool or Malwarebytes AntiMalware. They allow easier removal of the program.
Remove the Web Companion browser extension
Removal of the Web Companion program might not offer the desired results. So, you need to remove the web browser extensions too. Here are the steps to follow for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers.
Google Chrome
– Start Google Chrome browser
– Paste chrome://extensions/ in the address bar
– Locate the Web Companion extension
– Now, click on the trash can icon
– The process should be complete
Mozilla Firefox
– Start the Mozilla Firefox browser
– Type in about:addons in the address box
– Select the Web Companion extension
– Click on “Disable or Remove” button
Internet Explorer
– Open Internet Explorer
– Click on the asterick icon on the top-right corner
– Choose Manage Add-ons on the opened menu
– Choose Toolbars and Extensions
– Click Disable Web Companion
After uninstalling the browser extensions, remember to reset the browser settings to default. Here are the instructions you need.
For Google Chrome
– Start Google Chrome Browser
– Paste chrome://settings/ in the address bar
– Scroll down to find “Show Advanced Settings” link
– Click the link and scroll to the bottom
– Click “Reset browser Settings” button and then on Reset to confirm
For Mozilla Firefox
– Start Firefox browser
– Type in about:support in the address box
– Click Reset Firefox button
– Click Reset Firefox to complete
For Internet Explorer
– Start Internet Explorer
– Click on the asterick/gear icon on the top right-hand corner
– Choose Internet Options
– Click Advanced Tab
– Click on the Reset button
– Choose “Delete personal settings” and choose Reset
Use Avast Browser Cleanup utility to get rid of WEB Companion folders, files and registry keys. Ensure that it has all the administrator privileges so that it can get rid of all files with a bad rating. The problems will end after the uninstallation is complete.
