What Is Winsnare : How To Remove Winsnare Virus From Your Computer

What is Winsnare?

Winsnare is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP), or we can call it a virus as it is a self-replicating program that works with amuleC malware or Qtipr adware. Once your computer is infected with this virus, it will make changes on all the installed web browsers on your PC. This is a kind of virus designed explicitly to infect the web browsers it would club itself into the web browser and make changes in it. Once the virus is active the other malware, i.e., amuleC or Qtipr - would also become active.

Here this malware holds the ability to steal the user’s confidential detail, i.e., login ID and passwords, banking account details. On the other hand, it has a different role to play this virus would display ads every time you go online this is the primary feature used to make money. The developers get paid every time the user clicks on the ad this technique of making money is called pay per click.

Also read: How To Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack Adware

How does it get installed on the system?

The developers use a widespread strategy known as “bundling” to spread the virus. Bundling is a process in which the target application is attached to a freeware program and gets installed with the freeware program. And the other most popular way of spreading such applications is through advertisements pop-ups. Vendors are hired for this purpose they help in creating the sponsored product ads for the developers. This kind of ads are designed using attractive taglines or by offering fake discount coupons so that people are attracted and feel a need download such applications or at least to give it a try. The promotional ads can show up on any web browser but the most common targeted browsers are Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox. These ads are activated if you enter a third-party web sites or if you are infected with an adware.

Adware is a malicious program and the chances of getting hit by it is very common. It could strike you system if you don’t have an antivirus or let us say a firewall or in case if your security program is outdated or expired.

How to block Winsnare or any such program initially before it strikes on a PC?

Someday when you plan on installing a freeware software or a freeware game make sure you read the complete license agreement section and read all the terms and conditions. And if that is too much or you don’t feel like reading it just make sure if an installation comes up with the options “custom or automatic”, it is always recommended that you go with custom installation process as this would disclose the other programs that might get installed along with it. If you see any additional addons or toolbars checked, then remember to uncheck them this would avoid the installation of browser hijacker or adware.

Since, now we have reached to an understanding that Winsnare is categorized as a potentially unwanted program, we would recommend you to get rid of it.

Also read: How to get rid of Wirex Botnet

Follow the instruction below initially to uninstall Winsnare and then create a firewall for your computer all by yourself.

Steps-by-step instructions to remove Winsnare:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously. This will get you the windows task manager. Here, make sure that you are looking into the application tab and now search for Winsnare. If present, then select it and click on End Task.
2. Now you can close the task manager.
3. Now, we need to open control panel from the start menu or by holding Windows key + R key at the same time. This would bring up the “RUN” box now in this box you need to type control and hit ok.
4. Here, in the control panel click on Add/Remove program.
5. This will show the list of all the installed program.
6. Look for Winsnare or any program you find suspicious and uninstall them.

Now let us look at the steps you need to follow to prevent such programs from installing on your computer without your permission by creating a strong firewall. By doing this, you will never have to worry about the security or the performance of your computer. Let us get started.

1. Initially, you need to download a conventional antivirus software like “McAfee” and then get a Malware Removal Tool like “Free Malware RemovalTool”.
2. Doing this would enable the advanced firewall. Now, you need to run the scan using both the applications. Initially, this would get rid of all the PUP programs and malicious programs.
3. Later to keep the firewall intact, the only thing you need to follow routinely is to keep both the programs updated and run a periodic scan to help them detect the latest malicious programs.