DC Locknet Adware

What is DC Locknet?

Created by SuperWeb LLC, DC Locknet is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, and other functions. While this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that it is considered to be adware.

The developers of this PUP employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) to install DC Locknet on Internet browsers without users' consent.

Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, DC Locknet generates numerous intrusive online advertisements including banner, interstitial, transitional, search, text-link, and full-page ads. There is a high probability that clicking these advertisements will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, DC Locknet continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by collecting various software and hardware information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, unique identifier numbers, search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar details that are likely to be personally identifiable.

The behavior of this PUP can lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft, and for this reason, you are strongly advised to uninstall DC Locknet from your Internet browsers.

SuperWeb LLC has released several hundred rogue browser extensions identical to DC Locknet (for example, Webrunn, Gooternet, ConstaSurf, StormVade, etc.) Neither DC Locknet, nor any of these other browser plug-ins, provide any real value for the user.

This company releases identical PUPs under different names with the intention of avoiding detection by legitimate anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. The purpose of these rogue browser add-ons is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.

Close examination of DC Locknet reveals that it is mostly distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as softonic.com, soft32.com, download.com, and many others.

Download clients are used by these websites as free service monetization tools, since they offer installation of promoted 'legitimate' browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.

This situation can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the free software download process and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered.

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

If you have already installed DC Locknet, and observe "Ads by DC Locknet", "DC Locknet Deals", and "Powered by DC Locknet" advertisements when surfing the Internet, read the following removal guide to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.

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Quick menu:

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

DC Locknet adware 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 "DC Locknet", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove DC Locknet adware 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 "DC Locknet", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the dc locknet ads, 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: "DC Locknet", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the dc locknet ads, 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 "DC Locknet".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with dc locknet ads 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 dc locknet ads, 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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