Chroomium Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Chroomium?
Chroomium is another rogue chromium-based web browser identical to BrowserAir, WebDiscover, and many others.
It is presented as a legitimate application, but Chroomium is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted application (PUA), since it often infiltrates systems without permission, causes unwanted redirects, delivers intrusive advertisements, and gathers information. Chroomium's processes in Windows Task Manager are "Chroomium.exe" and "browseServer.exe".
Be aware that Chromium and Chroomium are not identical. Chromium is an open-source web browser project developed by Google. It is legitimate and accessible to anyone, however, cyber criminals release rogue browsers by taking Chromium's original source code and modifying it so that released browsers perform malicious actions.
In this case, Chroomium causes redirects, delivers ads, and gathers sensitive data. This browser redirects users to "cloud.chroomium.com", "xa.chroomium.com", and "clouda.chroomium.com". Furthermore, it delivers intrusive advertisements that might also lead to malicious websites.
Therefore, using Chroomium can lead to high-risk computer infections. Furthermore, intrusive ads often conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the browsing experience. Another important issue is information tracking.
As with most adware, Chroomium gathers data relating to browsing habits and might include personal details that are shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) and misused to generate revenue.
Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, we strongly advise you to uninstall Chroomium adware immediately.
| Name | Chroomium potentially unwanted application |
| 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. |
The Internet is full of adware-type applications, all of which are very similar. By offering "useful features", potentially unwanted applications attempt to give the impression of legitimacy and trick users to install. Bear in mind, however, that such apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than giving any real value for regular users, potentially unwanted applications cause redirects, gather information, and deliver intrusive advertisements, thereby posing a direct threat to your privacy and web browsing safety.
How did Chroomium install on my computer?
To proliferate Chroomium, developers use "bundling" and intrusive advertising methods. "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of potentially unwanted applications together with regular software. Developers hide "bundled" applications within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes.
These people do not disclose such information properly. Furthermore, many users rush and skip these procedure steps. In addition, they click various advertisements without understanding the possible consequences. This behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted applications, such as Chroomium.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent adware infiltration, be very cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. It is important to remember that intrusive ads typically seem legitimate, since developers invest many resources into the design, however, they often redirect to dubious sites, such as gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.
If you continually see these ads, eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, study each download/installation step and cancel all additionally-included third party apps. You are advised to download software from official sources only, using direct download links.
Third party downloaders/installers often include rogue apps, and thus you should avoid using these tools. If your computer is already infected with Chroomium, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
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Quick menu:
- What is Chroomium?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Chroomium application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Chroomium adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Chroomium ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Chroomium' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Chroomium extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Chroomium 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 "Chroomium", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes Chroomium ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Chroomium adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Chroomium 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 chroomium potentially unwanted application, 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 chroomium potentially unwanted application, 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 chroomium potentially unwanted application 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 chroomium potentially unwanted application, 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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