Web Connect Ads

What is Web Connect?

Web Connect is a potentially unwanted browser add-on, which is promoted using free software downloads. This browser extension promises to enhance Internet users' browsing experience by displaying related search results, comparison shopping, special offers, coupons, and website ratings.

Whilst such added functionality may seem legitimate, in fact, Web Connect is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

It installs on users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) together with free software downloaded from the Internet using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Many Internet users refer to this browser add-on as the Web Connect virus or malware.

Whilst technically not a virus, this browser plugin generates unwanted ads, causes diminished browser performance, and may lead to privacy issues.

Computer users should be aware that, today, the majority of free software download websites (such as download.com, soft32.com, etc.) use download clients offering installation of additional programs together with the chosen freeware.

Some download clients are deceptive, and therefore, it is important to pay close attention to each download step to avoid inadvertently installing various adware on your Internet browser/s. You are advised to remove Web Connect from your computer.

Web Connect is similar to other adware distributed using free software downloads including BrowseFox, Web Layers, Rolimno, and many others. An indication that your Internet browser/s are infiltrated with this adware are "Powered by Web Connect" and "Web Connect Ads" advertisements.

Note that the aforementioned browser plugins add little or no value and are used for generating revenue from ads. The best way to avoid installation of Web Connect and other potentially unwanted applications is by paying close attention to the downloading and installation steps of free software.

If your software download is managed by a download client, decline installation of any additional programs, and when installing free software, ensure that you choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this allows you to opt-out of installation of any unwanted browser add-ons.

If you feel that Web Connect was installed on your computer without your consent, use the removal guide provided to eliminate it from your Internet browser/s.

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Quick menu:

• What is Web Connect?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Web Connect application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Web Connect add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Web Connect plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Web Connect extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Web Connect extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Web Connect 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 "Web Connect", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling Web Connect scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.

Remove Web Connect from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

 

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "WebConnect" and disable it.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the webconnect virus, 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 "Tools" and click on "Extensions".  Locate: "WebConnect", select it and click on the trash can icon.

If the WebConnect extension is greyed-out and you cannot remove it ("This extension is managed and cannot be removed of disabled"), follow this removal guide - how to remove a managed Google Chrome extension?

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the webconnect virus, 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 on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable this add-on: "Web Connect". (At time of testing, the extension within Mozilla FireFox was named "Web Layers")

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with webconnect virus 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 webconnect virus, 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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