How to uninstall Lightening Media Player
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Lightening Media Player?
As its name suggests, Lightening Media Player is supposedly a media player, however, this program is distributed by including it into the installation set-ups of other software. Typically, people download and install these programs unintentionally.
For this reason, Lightening Media Player is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). This program might also function as adware, feeding users with intrusive ads.
In most cases, adware-type software serves intrusive ads. For example, coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, and so on. People who click them usually arrive at various untrustworthy websites, or they unintentionally cause unwanted downloads or even installations.
Ads of this kind sometimes run scripts that download and install unwanted software. Note that adware might also record browsing data.
For example, IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, and so on. Developers usually share the details with third parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue.
Some adware-type apps collect personal, sensitive information. In any case, you are advised to uninstall all adware and PUAs immediately.
Research shows that Lightening Media Player is distributed together with several other apps of this type.
| Name | Ads by Lightening Media Player |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus. |
| Supposed Functionality | This software supposed to be a media player. |
| Detection Names | Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
Other examples of software categorized as adware are Bookmark this Page, Pagefinder, and MessengerNow. In most cases, developers of adware advertise this software as supposedly useful, delivering various features, and so on.
In fact, the programs are generally useless and designed only to help developers to generate revenue by serving advertisements and collecting browsing (and other) data. Having this adware installed might lead to unwanted downloads/installations, problems with browsing safety and privacy, and even identity theft.
For these reasons, adware should never be trusted. Remove all software of this type from the operating system and browser immediately.
How did Lightening Media Player install on my computer?
Adware and other PUAs are usually downloaded and/or installed through the set-ups of other software. This distribution method is known as "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading/installing potentially unwanted software with other (usually free) programs.
To achieve this, developers hide information about additionally-included apps in settings of the download or installation set-ups, such as "Custom", "Advanced", etc. Furthermore, many people leave the settings unchecked and unchanged, thereby inadvertently agreeing by default with offers to download and install PUAs.
These unintentional downloads can also be caused by clicking deceptive ads (mentioned above).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Do not use Peer-to-Peer networks, unofficial pages, third party downloaders, installers or other similar sources/tools to download or install software (or files). The best way to download software is using official websites and direct download links. If a setup contains settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", check them carefully and decline offers to download or install unwanted software.
Do not click intrusive ads displayed on dubious web pages, since they can open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. If unwanted ads appear on all visited sites or the browser opens dubious web pages automatically, check for unwanted extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins installed on the browser, or programs installed on the computer.
Remove/uninstall them immediately. If your computer is already infected with Lightening Media Player, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.
Screenshot of the official Lightening Media Player installer:
Lightening Media Player included in the installation setup of other software:
Website promoting Lightening Media Player 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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Lightening Media Player?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Lightening Media Player application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Lightening Media Player adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Lightening Media Player ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Lightening Media Player' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Lightening Media Player extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Lightening Media Player 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 "Lightening Media Player", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes Lightening Media Player ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Lightening Media Player adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Lightening Media Player 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 lightening media player, 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 lightening media player, 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 lightening media player 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 lightening media player, 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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