App Graffiti Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is App Graffiti?
Created by a company called Omega Partners Ltd, the App Graffiti browser add-on promises to enhance users' social networking experience by enabling custom backgrounds, themes, and layouts within Twitter and Facebook.
While this functionality may seem legitimate, Internet users should be aware that this browser extension is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application. App Graffiti and its promoted third party software installs on browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent and generates intrusive banner and pop-up ads.
Furthermore, this add-on tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording Internet Protocol ('IP') addresses, browsers types, browser languages, dates and times of user requests, search terms, and may include domain names and date/times of pages viewed.
Having this plugin installed on your Internet browsers can lead to malware infections and privacy issues. Developers of this plugin use a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', thus, App Graffiti is commonly installed together with free software.
Computer users should be aware that, today, most freeware download websites employ 'download clients' - small programs offering installation of advertised browser extensions together with the chosen free program. Not paying close enough attention when downloading and installing free software can lead to inadvertent installation of App Graffiti or other adware infections.
App Graffiti is similar to other potentially unwanted applications distributed using free software downloads. Examples include VeeHD, CostMin, and Media View. While this browser extension may seem legitimate, in fact, it adds no significant value, diminishes browser performance, and can generate intrusive ads.
To avoid installation of adware such as this, computer users should be attentive when downloading and installing free software.
If your download in managed by a download client, opt-out of installation of advertised browser plug-ins by clicking the 'decline' button. When installing free software, use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will list any intended installation of bundled software. If you have already installed App Graffiti, use this removal guide to eliminate it from your Internet browser/s.
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Quick menu:
- What is App Graffiti?
- STEP 1. Uninstall App Graffiti application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove App Graffiti add-on from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove App Graffiti plugin from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove App Graffiti extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove App Graffiti extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
App Graffiti 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 "AppGraffiti", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
At time of research, this adware was installed with "24x7 Help", "Crawler Toolbar", "Inbox Toolbar", "Online Vault", "PC Power Speed", "Rebate Informer", and "SiteRanker". When removing "App Graffiti", also remove these programs.
After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (which cause App Graffiti ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove App Graffiti 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 "Crawler Toolbar", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the app graffiti adware, 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: "AppGraffiti", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the app graffiti adware, 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", in the opened window remove "App Graffiti".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with app graffiti adware 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 app graffiti adware, 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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