Aartemis Virus

What is Aartemis?

The Aartemis virus is a browser hijacker, which modifies users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) by assigning the homepage and default search engine settings to Aartemis.com This redirect adware is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'.

Commonly, computer users install this browser hijacker inadvertently without their consent when downloading free software. Internet users should be aware that, today, most freeware download websites use 'download clients' - small programs, which manage the download process of the chosen free software. Download clients are also used to promote free browser plugins.

Internet users who do not pay close enough attention to the download steps of chosen freeware can inadvertently install Aartemis or other potentially unwanted applications. Some free software download websites use dubious download clients that conceal the 'decline' button used to opt-out of installation of advertised browser extensions.

Whilst Aartemis.com is advertised as a 'useful website', in fact, you are advised not to use this site for daily Internet searches. The Internet search engine presented by this site is crowded with sponsored search results, which may lead to malware and virus infections.

If your Internet browsers redirect you to Aartemis.com, your computer is infected with adware, and therefore, you are advised to eliminate it from your Internet browser/s.

The Aartemis browser hijacker is similar to other adware, which modifies browser settings, including Govome, Omiga Plus amongst many others.

Whilst there are many other examples of adware that modifies the browser homepage and default search engine settings, Aartemis is especially rogue since it is bundled with a browser 'helper object' (Wsys Control), which prevents users from rolling back these changes.

Moreover, this browser hijacker modifies the installed Internet browser shortcut targets, a change made in order to force computer users into visiting Aartemis.com To avoid installation of this adware, users should be attentive when downloading free software.

If your download is managed by a download client, opt-out of installation of promoted browser plugins by clicking the 'decline' button. If your Internet browsers redirect you to this website, use the removal guide provided to eliminate the Aartemis browser hijacker from your computer.

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Quick menu:

• What is Aartemis?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Wsys Control application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Aartemis.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Aartemis.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Aartemis.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Aartemis.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Aartemis virus 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 "Wsys Control", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove". Note that you must not skip this step since "Wsys Control" is a browser helper object, which prevents user-modification of Internet browser settings.

After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the Aartemis.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Aartemis.com homepage and default search engine removal from browsers:

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

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

The Aartemis browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate your Internet Explorer shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate Target field and eliminate text (hxxp://www.Aartemis.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change homepage:

 

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove Aartemis.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change default search engine:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Aartemis".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the aartemis redirect, 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:

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

The Aartemis browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate your Google Chrome shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu choose "Properties". In the opened window locate Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.aartemis.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Remove Aartemis related browser extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "Extended Protection" and "Lightning Newtab", select them and click the trash can icon.

Change homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over Aartemis.com and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Aartemis" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the aartemis redirect, 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:

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

The Aartemis browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate your Mozilla Firefox shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu choose "Properties". In the opened window locate Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.aartemis.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Change homepage:

To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove Aartemis.com and enter your preferred domain.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "aartemis"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with aartemis redirect 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 and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

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 top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the aartemis redirect, 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:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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