Developers of this program, present this browser redirector as a free search tool that generates advertising-based revenue for planting trees. According to their information, they have already planted more than 9 million trees with the help of 5.5 million active users in Indonesia, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Peru, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. Despite the ambitious and generous goal to plant a billion trees until 2020, Ecosia.org virus is still considered a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
Targeted Browsers
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Internet Explorer
What will Ecosia.org do to malfunction the system?
- It installs malicious extensions to bring you spam ads, coupons, deals and fake alerts everywhere
- It overly consumes CPU to severely slows down your PC performance.
- It makes your search engine and homepage to be replaced by hijacker.
- It downloads various infections in the background.
- It exploits bugs of your system to help hacker get inside your computer remotely.
- It also tracks users’ searches, visited sites, IP address, and similar information. Collected data helps in setting the behavioral marketing strategy.
How Ecosia infects on your PC?
- Bundling / Freeware-It is installed in your PC as a PUP bundled with freeware program such as archivers, download managers, players and so on.
- Malicious links/websites-This is also marketed using online advertisements. Thus be very selective in what you click while surfing the internet. Some sites offer useful extensions and install such hijackers.
- Spam Email– Double-check any new emails and text messages before you respond to them, especially if they have files attached with them or if they contain shady-looking links. If you think that the new message might be spam, make sure to avoid it and delete it if you can.
How to Remove Ecosia Virus?
You can remove it using the given methods:
Method-Automatic: Using Ecosia RemovalTool
Scan your PC with:
1. Download Ecosia RemovalTool by clicking on the given link:
Ecosia RemovalTool
2. As soon as you open the downloaded file a security warning will pop-up as shown below, click on ‘Run’ button.
NOTE: You will not see this pop-up in Windows 10.
3. A pop-up window will appear again. Click on ‘Yes’.
4. Now, It will automatically detect and show the active threats present in your system.
5 Then a setup window will open, click ‘Next’ button to start the installation process.
6. To remove all the threats which were detected, click on ‘Clean Now’.
NOTE: If any browser is still running, close it before proceeding.
7. A window will now show up saying all the infected files, folders and registry entries has been removed successfully.
Tips to Prevent Ecosia from Infecting Your System:
- Enable your popup blocker: Pop-ups and ads in the websites are the most adoptable tactic used by cyber criminals or developers with the core intention to spread malicious programs. So, avoid clicking uncertain sites, software offers, pop-ups etc.
- Keep your Windows Updated:To avoid such infections, we recommend that you should always keep your system updated through automatic windows update. By doing this you can keep your device free from virus. According to survey, outdated/older versions of windows operating system are an easy target.
- Third party installation:Try to avoid freeware download websites as they usually install bundled of software with any installer or stub file.
- Regular Back up: Regular and periodical backup helps you to keep your data safe in case the system is infected by any kind of virus or any other infection. Thus always backup important files regularly on a cloud drive or an external hard drive.
- Always have an Anti-Virus: Precaution is better than cure. We recommend that you install an antivirus like McAfee or a good Malware Removal Tool like Free Malware RemovalTool. Apart from this we would suggest a regular updating of these software to detect and avoid latest infections.
- Install a powerful ad-blocker for Chrome, Mozilla and IE.
