Topic Torch Virus

What is Topic Torch?

Created by Alactro, LLC the Topic Torch browser add-on claims to make users' Internet browsing experience more fun and efficient through site-independent related search tools.

While such added functionality may seem legitimate, Internet users should be aware that this plugin is categorized as a potentially unwanted application or adware, since it infiltrates browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' and generates intrusive ads.

Furthermore, this plugin is known to track users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, hardware and software details, configurations, operating systems, browsers used, connected devices, applications, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, and other information.

The presence of Topic Torch on your system can cause high-risk malware infections (when clicking third party ads generated by this add-on) and lead to serious privacy issues.

This adware infection is commonly caused by deceptive free software 'download clients' offering installation of potentially unwanted programs together with the free program chosen for download. Today, most freeware download websites employ download clients to monetize their free services, thus, reckless free software download can result in adware infections.

Topic Torch is not technically a virus or malware, however, clicking third party links and ads generated by this plugin, can cause security infections. For these reasons, you are advised to remove this adware from your Internet browser/s.

Most adware is distributed via small programs called download managers within freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, and many others - these are used to monetize their free services by offering installation of promoted browser extensions together with the chosen free software.

Thus, careless download and installation of free software may lead to adware or malware infections. This situation can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the freeware download process and never accepting installations of additional applications offered.

If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation, and you will be able to decline them.

Computer users who have already installed Topic Torch and observe "Related Searches" advertisements when browsing the Internet, should follow this removal guide to eliminate Topic Torch adware from their Internet browsers.

Topic Torch adware installer:

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Quick menu:

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

Topic Torch 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 "Topic Torch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Related Searches ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Topic Torch ("related searches") ads from 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 "Topic Torch", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the topic torch related searches 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: "Topic Torch", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the topic torch related searches 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 the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove "Topic Torch".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with topic torch related searches 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 topic torch related searches 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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