Chameleon Explorer Pro Adware

What is Chameleon Explorer Pro?

Chameleon Explorer Pro is presented as a high quality file/folder management tool. Judging on appearance alone, Chameleon Explorer Pro may seem legitimate and useful, however, this tool is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and adware.

Be aware that this PUA is likely to infiltrate systems without users’ permission. Furthermore, Chameleon Explorer Pro delivers intrusive ads, gathers sensitive information, and proliferates other rogue apps.

Once Chameleon Explorer Pro has infiltrated the system, users will continually see dubious applications that seem to appear randomly, since the PUA causes chain infections (one potentially unwanted application infiltrates another into the system). Most distributed apps are categorized as adware and browser hijackers.

Adware is notorious for delivering coupon, banner, pop-ups, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ various tools (such as "virtual layers") that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, intrusive ads are very likely to conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

Furthermore, these ads can lead to malicious websites or execute scripts that download/install other rogue apps (or even high-risk malware). Therefore, clicking them might lead to various system infections.

Browser hijackers are mainly designed to infiltrate browsers and modify settings (e.g., homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL) to promote rogue sites, most of which are fake search engines. Information tracking is also common to potentially unwanted applications.

The list of collected data types typically includes (but is not limited to) IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, keystrokes, and other collected data that is likely to contain personal details. Developers share these details with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private information to generate revenue.

Therefore, the presence of information-tracking apps can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, you should eliminate Chameleon Explorer Pro and other dubious applications immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Chameleon Explorer Pro virus
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are hundreds of adware-type applications, all of which are very similar. Most offer "useful features" in attempts to give the impression of legitimacy, however, they typically deliver no real value for regular users, since their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than delivering any real value, adware delivers intrusive ads and records information, thereby posing a direct threat to your browsing safety and privacy.

How did Chameleon Explorer Pro install on my computer?

This potentially unwanted application has an official download/promotion website, however, it often infiltrates systems without permission, since developers proliferate it using intrusive advertisements and the "bundling" method (stealth installation of PUAs together with regular programs). Developers do not adequately disclose these installations.

Therefore, all "bundled" apps are concealed within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users click ads and skip download/installation steps. This behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of PUAs - users expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUAs, be cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Bear in mind that most intrusive ads may seem legitimate, since developers invest many resources into their design, however, they often lead to dubious sites (e.g., gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).

If you experience these redirects, eliminate all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, carefully analyze each download/installation step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, opt-out of additionally-included programs, and decline offers to download/install them.

Avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since developers monetize them by promoting PUAs. Software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. The key to computer safety is caution.

If your computer is already infected with Chameleon Explorer Pro, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.

IMPORTANT NOTE! Chameleon Explorer Pro is sophisticated adware and designed to set itself as the default file browsing application in Windows. Therefore, there is a high probability that you will not be able to use Windows File Explorer properly after removing this adware.

In this case, you should download an application called Portable Windows Repair, which restores all default Windows programs to their original states.

Screenshot of Portable Windows Repair application:

Website promoting Chameleon Explorer Pro adware:

Official Chameleon Explorer Pro installation setup:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Chameleon Explorer Pro?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Chameleon Explorer Pro application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Chameleon Explorer Pro adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Chameleon Explorer Pro ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Chameleon Explorer Pro' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Chameleon Explorer Pro extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Chameleon Explorer Pro 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 "Chameleon Explorer Pro", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes Chameleon Explorer Pro ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Chameleon Explorer Pro adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Chameleon Explorer Pro 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 chameleon explorer pro virus, 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 chameleon explorer pro virus, 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 chameleon explorer pro virus 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 chameleon explorer pro virus, 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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