Driver Maximizer Unwanted Application

What is Driver Maximizer?

Driver Maximizer is one of many dubious applications that is promoted as a software update tool for system drivers, or as a means to find the correct drivers for your computer. Judging by the appearance of this app and its website, it may seem to be a legitimate and useful program, however, developers proliferate it using the "bundling" method.

When an app is installed using this method, it usually indicates that the application was installed unintentionally. Therefore, Driver Maximizer is categorized as potentially unwanted application (PUA).

When Driver Maximizer finishes the scan, it displays a list of drivers that (supposedly) need to be updated or installed. This type of application often informs users of 'outdated drivers', even if all drivers are up-to-date. These are merely attempts to trick users into purchasing the "full version" (since the "free versions" are apparently only able only to detect problems, not solve them).

Your installed drivers are likely to be up-to-date, and purchasing the full version is unnecessary. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that purchasing this app will provide the updates. Therefore, do not purchase any of this software and uninstall all potentially unwanted applications immediately.

Most bundled apps, including Driver Maximizer, are likely to be rogue. Furthermore, this app might be one of a number of PUAs installed, including browser hijackers, and other adware. 

These applications deliver intrusive ads, force users to visit untrustworthy websites, and collect data. After uninstalling Driver Maximizer, check for additional unwanted applications (browser plug-ins) and remove them.

The internet is full of potentially unwanted applications, all of which are very similar or identical. Two examples include WinZip Driver Updater and Kimetrak.

These are promoted as 'useful apps', since they offer various features/tools and other functionality, however, PUAs generate revenue for their developers by collecting data, delivering ads, causing redirects, and promoting in-app purchases.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Driver Maximizer can be downloaded from its official website, but many potentially unwanted applications are installed together with other software. This is called "bundling" - a method used to stealthily install PUAs with other apps by hiding them in "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings/options of the installation processes.

Furthermore, many users skip installation steps without checking the contents of the setup, thus allowing PUAs to be installed. This behaviour can result in various privacy issues or even more serious problems (identity theft).

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key to safety is caution. Pay attention when browsing the web and downloading/installing software (especially if it is free). Take your time, analyze each step of the download/installation dialogs, and deselect all additionally-included applications. Use official sources and direct links to download software.

Remember, most third party downloaders/installers are monetized by promoting/including rogue apps - do not use this software as a download source. Furthermore, many cyber criminals distribute PUAs using intrusive advertisements (that redirect to malicious websites and execute scripts that download and install other PUAs or even malware).

They may seem legitimate, but often redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, or other untrustworthy websites. If you experience unwanted redirects, check the list of installed apps/browser add-ons and eliminate any suspicious entries immediately.

If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate them .

Screenshot of Driver Maximizer application:

Driver Maximizer installation setup:

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Quick menu:

• What is Driver Maximizer?
• STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove malicious plug-ins from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Removal of potentially unwanted applications:

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 "Driver Maximizer" and other suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove rogue extensions from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Driver Maximizer did not install any unwanted browser extensions, however, some unwanted applications can be installed together with adware and browser hijackers. If you experience unwanted ads or unwanted redirects when browsing the Internet, continue with the removal guide below.

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 driver maximizer 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 driver maximizer 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 driver maximizer 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 driver maximizer 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.

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