YTDownloader Adware

What is YTDownloader?

The YTDownloader application is presented as a great tool to facilitate download of videos from various video sharing websites. This software may seem legitimate and useful, however, YTDownloader is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

This association is made due to a deceptive software marketing method employed by the developers called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party applications together with the chosen software). YTDownloader installation is known to cause browser redirects to the www-searching.com website and intrusive online advertisements (Ads by Shopper-pro and iWebar).

Advertisements generated by applications bundled with YTDownloader often redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content, thereby exposing your computer to risk of infection.

As with other potentially unwanted applications, YTDownloader tracks Internet browsing activity and collects various software and hardware information. Collected information types include (but are not limited to) Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine users' geographic locations), website URLs visited, search queries entered, pages viewed, and cookies.

This recorded data may contain personally identifiable information, and therefore, the presence of YTDownloader on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Bundling is popular among developers of potentially unwanted applications.

Further examples of applications distributed using this method include UnknownFile, 1Player, MediaPlayerRS, and CorAdviser - these claim to provide various useful features, however, they mostly install without users' consent.

The purpose of these applications is simply to generate revenue by the display of ads and sharing collected information with third parties. For this reason, you are strongly advised to uninstall the YTDownloader application from your system.

At time of research, YTDownloader was distributed via small programs called 'download clients' (also called 'download managers', 'installers', etc.) on freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com. Download clients offer installation of third party software to monetize these websites' free services and traffic.

Additional applications are often hidden within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options. Although these promoted apps are described as '100% legitimate and virus-free', most are classed as adware or malware. To avoid such infections, closely analyse each step of the free software download procedure and ensure that no additional software is included.

Furthermore, use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options when installing software downloaded from the Internet - this will reveal any concealed applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have inadvertently installed YTDownloader, follow the guide below to eliminate this potential threat from your system.

YTDownloader installer set-up:

Deceptive free software installers used in YTDownloader adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is YTDownloader?
• STEP 1. Uninstall YTDownloader application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove potentially unwanted plugins from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove unwanted ads from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove unwanted extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

YTDownloader  potentially unwanted application 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 "YTDownloader", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove". You should also check for other potentially unwanted applications - YTDownlaoder commonly installs together with "Shopper-Pro", "Search module", "iWebar", and other adware.

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove YTDownloader bundled adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, YTDownloader did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your 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 any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ytdownloader pup, 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 "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ytdownloader pup, 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ytdownloader pup 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 ytdownloader pup, 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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