Update Checker Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Update Checker?
Developed by MySoftPack, Update Checker is a rogue application that supposedly helps to keep various applications and drivers up-to-date. Judging on appearance alone, Update Checker may seem legitimate, however, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
The main reasons for these negative associations are installation without users' consent, display of intrusive advertisements, and tracking of personal information.
Update Checker adware delivers coupon, banner, pop-up, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ various tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying website content, thereby significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.
More significantly, intrusive advertisements often redirect to malicious websites and even run scripts that stealthily download and install malware. Therefore, even accidental clicks can result in high-risk computer infections. As with most adware, Update Checker also gathers various information relating to web browsing habits.
IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, queries entered into search engines, and other collected data is later shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). Note that this recorded information might contain personal details that third parties misuse to generate revenue.
The presence of data-tracking app such as Update Checker can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. In addition, applications that "help" users to install software are likely to stealthily install other potentially unwanted programs.
In other words, there is a high probability that Update Checker will install other adware. For these reasons, you should uninstall this PUP immediately.
| Name | Update Checker potentially unwanted program |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Symptoms | Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are dozens of potentially unwanted programs similar to Update Checker. Current Me, SlikDealer, Clean Grill Grates, and ProxyGate are just some examples from many.
As with Update Checker, these applications also claim to enable certain functions, however, all potentially unwanted programs are designed only to help developers generate passive revenue. Adware-type programs deliver no real value for regular users - they spread intrusive ads and collect sensitive data, thereby posing direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.
How did Update Checker install on my computer?
Adware such as Update Checker is typically distributed using "bundling" and intrusive advertising methods. Essentially, "bundling" is stealth installation of unwanted programs together with regular (typically free) software. Developers are aware that many users rush download/installation processes and skip steps.
Therefore, they hide "bundled" apps within various sections (in most cases "Custom" or "Advanced" settings) of these procedures - criminals do not disclose these installations properly. Therefore, skipping download/installation steps and clicking ads often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs such as Update Checker.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are careless behavior and poor knowledge of current threats. Therefore, to prevent system infiltration by potentially unwanted programs, be very cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software.
Research shows that many intrusive ads seem legitimate, however, most redirect to dubious sites such as gambling, pornography, and so on. If you continually encounter these ads, immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions.
Remember also to closely analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Furthermore, cancel all additionally-included applications and decline offers to download/install them. If you are unable to do this, cancel the process immediately.
We advise you to download your applications from official sources only using direct download links, since criminals monetize unofficial downloaders/installers using the "bundling" method. These tools should not be used. Note that having a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and running is also paramount. The key to computer safety is caution.
Update Checker adware installation set-up:
Screenshot of Update Checker adware:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Update Checker?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Update Checker application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Update Checker adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Update Checker ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Update Checker' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Update Checker extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Update Checker adware removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window, look for "Update Checker", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Update Checker ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Update Checker adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Update Checker did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the update checker potentially unwanted program, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the update checker potentially unwanted program, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with update checker potentially unwanted program removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the update checker potentially unwanted program, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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Outstanding!
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