Removal instructions for the Mental Mentor potentially unwanted application
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Mental Mentor?
Mental Mentor is an application promoted as a tool for improving users' well-being. This software boasts such features like dream interpretation, divination, and related courses. However, it also requests permission to utilize users' "free resources" for downloading public data from the Internet. This could pose a risk to users' privacy. Therefore, Mental Mentor is classified as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).
Mental Mentor overview
When Mental Mentor is installed, it requests permission to use the device's "free resources" and IP address to download public information from the Web. By "free resources", the agreement likely refers to employing unused Internet resources. Thus, the app likely functions as proxyware.
Software within this category could be used in innocuous ways, such as conducting market/demographic research by browsing legitimate webpages like reputable news, e-commerce, and similar sites. However, this ability could be utilized for nefarious purposes. For example, proxyware can be used to mass-register online accounts (e.g., emails, social media, etc.) for spam and malware-spreading purposes.
Additionally, the software could download highly sensitive data from governmental, public service, judiciary, and similar sites. The collected information may then be sold to third-parties or used to craft personalized scams. Proxyware can also make visits to harmful webpages like those that stealthily infiltrate malware into systems or illegal sites that may lead to victims facing some kind of consequences (e.g., fines, legal prosecution, etc.).
Furthermore, how proxyware is used might not even depend on its developers, as the capabilities of these programs are often shared or sold to third-parties that then employ them as they see fit. Likewise, any vulnerable data gathered by proxyware could be shared with third-parties, who might have no qualms in distributing it further. Thus, the information may end up in the hands of malicious entities.
Mental Mentor's agreement stresses that the users' personal data will not be accessed or harvested. Yet there are no guarantees that that is the case or that it will remain so in the future (e.g., should the app be sold to a different publisher). In summary, the presence of an app like Mental Mentor on devices is a privacy concern and may pose serious threats.
Name | Mental Mentor potentially unwanted application |
Threat Type | PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program), PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) |
Supposed Functionality | Dream interpretation, divination, and courses. |
Detection Names (installer) | ESET-NOD32 (Win32/MentalMentor.A Potentially Unwant), Fortinet (Riskware/MentalMentor), GData (Win32.Application.Agent.G3841X), Malwarebytes (PUP.Optional.MentalMentor), Microsoft (PUADlManager:Win32/OfferCore), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Detection Names (app) | ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/MentalMentor.A Potent), Ikarus (PUA.BrightData), Malwarebytes (PUP.Optional.MentalMentor), Rising (PUA.MentalMentor!8.1A030 (CLOUD)), Xcitium (ApplicUnwnt@#1ec9yxc91myma), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Symptoms | A program that you do not recall installing suddenly appeared on your computer. Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Rogue redirects. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
Distribution Methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling). |
Damage | Privacy issues, unwanted warning pop-ups, slow computer performance, decreased browsing speed. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Potentially unwanted application examples
Unwanted applications usually appear legitimate and innocuous. Users may be enticed into downloading/installing this software by promises of "useful" and "advantageous" features. However, these functionalities seldom operate as advertised, and in most cases – they are completely nonoperational.
These apps often possess undesirable and even harmful abilities. Prevalent ones include gathering data (e.g., browsing histories, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, etc.), modifying browsers (browser hijackers), and displaying advertisements or generating redirects (adware).
PixelSee is an example of an app similar to Mental Mentor. Woiap WApp, StealthGuard, Traw Dapp, Kowi SApp, Disoaq App, and Rotq App are merely some of our latest articles on PUAs.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
Mental Mentor has an official download webpage. However, PUAs are also pushed through fake promotional pages and scam sites. Most visitors access them via redirects caused by websites that utilize rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, and installed adware.
"Bundling" – packing regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious additions – is also used to distribute PUAs. Downloading from suspicious sources (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushing through installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping sections, etc.) – increases the risk of unintentionally permitting bundled content into the system.
Intrusive advertisements proliferate unwanted software as well. Some of these ads can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform sneaky downloads/installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
We strongly advise researching software before downloading or purchasing it. Additionally, all downloads must be made from official and verified channels. Installation processes must be approached with caution, e.g., by reading terms, investigating available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, etc.
Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, while intrusive adverts may look harmless – they redirect users to unreliable and questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, gambling, etc.).
In case of continuous encounters with such ads/redirects, check the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Installation setup of Mental Mentor application:
Information provided by Mental Mentor application's installation setup:
Mental Mentor application's official promotional website:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Mental Mentor?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 5. 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 "Mental Mentor" 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, Mental Mentor 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 redirects when browsing the Internet, continue with the removal guide below.
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
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 extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mental mentor 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with mental mentor 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 mental mentor 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of an unwanted application?
The purpose of unwanted applications is to generate revenue for their developers/publishers. However, this goal is achieved through nefarious means like functioning as proxyware, tricking users into buying fake activation keys, promoting in-app purchases, endorsing content (through ads, redirects, etc.), gathering/selling private information, and so forth.
Is Mental Mentor unwanted application legal?
In most cases, unwanted applications are indeed considered legal due to their EULAs (End User License Agreements) providing information concerning the software's modus operandi. When Mental Mentor is being installed, its setup does request permission to utilize the device's free resources and IP address to download data from the Web.
Is having Mental Mentor installed on my computer dangerous?
Mental Mentor might operate as proxyware and be used to collect sensitive data for malicious purposes or to visit harmful sites. Therefore, the presence of this app on a device may lead to severe privacy issues and possibly other serious problems.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Mental Mentor unwanted application?
Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate detected unwanted/malicious apps. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be an ideal solution. In some cases, after an application has been manually removed – various file remnants stay hidden within the system. Furthermore, these components might continue to run and cause problems. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate software thoroughly.
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