WinVPN Adware

What is WinVPN?

WinVPN is a rogue application that stealthily infiltrates systems without users' consent. It delivers intrusive advertisements and gathers information relating to web browsing activity. For these reasons, WinVPN is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and adware.

Following infiltration, WinVPN delivers pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any visited website. Therefore, ads often conceal underlying content, thereby diminishing the browsing experience.

In addition, intrusive advertisements might lead to malicious websites - clicking them can result in high-risk computer infections. Another important issue is information tracking. As with most adware, WinVPN gathers information relating to browsing activity.

Recorded information (such as IP addresses, search queries, websites visited, and so on) often includes personal details that are shared with third parties and misused to generate revenue. Therefore, data tracking might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to eliminate WinVPN adware immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by WinVPN
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 similar to WinVPN. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) Search Monkeys, SpeedyCar, VeberGreat, and TextToTalk. By offering 'useful applications', adware-type applications attempt to give the impression of legitimacy and trick users to install.

In fact, these programs deliver no real value for regular users and are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than enabling the functions promised, apps such as WinVPN continually gather information and deliver intrusive advertisements. Potentially unwanted applications pose a direct threat to your privacy and web browsing safety.

How did WinVPN install on my computer?

As mentioned above, WinVPN typically infiltrates systems without users' consent, since developers proliferate this potentially unwanted application using intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of PUAs together with regular software/apps.

Developers do not adequately disclose installation of potentially unwanted applications properly - they are hidden within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, many users often click advertisements and skip mostdownload/installation steps. This behavior often results in inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted applications.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Lack of knowledge and careless behavior are the main reasons for computer infections. Therefore, pay attention when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Remember that intrusive advertisements typically seem legitimate and useful, but redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).

If you experience suspicious redirects, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, carefully analyze all steps of the download/installation processes and decline offers to download/install additional applications. We recommend that you download your applications from official sources only, using direct download links.

Third party downloaders/installers often include rogue applications, and thus these tools should never be used. The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with WinVPN, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.

Screenshot of WinVPN application:

WinVPN adware process in Windows Task Manager:

Deceptive free software installer distributing WinVPN adware:

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

WinVPN 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 "WinVPN", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove WinVPN adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, WinVPN 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 ads by winvpn, 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 ads by winvpn, 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 ads by winvpn 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 ads by winvpn, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on ads by winvpn or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion