Windesk Winsearch Adware

What is Windesk Winsearch?

PCSoftware, the company responsible for the development and release of Windesk Winsearch, claim that their product allows users to search the Internet directly from the desktop. Some users may find this functionality legitimate and useful, however, Windesk Winsearch is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

This application is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software) to install without users' permission.

Once installed, Windesk Winsearch tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various information such as IP addresses, websites visited, search queries, pages viewed, etc. Some of this collected data might be personally identifiable, and therefore, having this PUP installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

During Internet searches (and prior to redirection to the bing.com search website), the Windesk Winsearch application redirects users to propcapps.com. Therefore, you are advised against the use of this bogus application and if installed, you should remove it immediately.

There are hundreds of bogus applications with similar or identical behavior to Windesk Winsearch. Adware-type applications are likely to redirect users to various dubious websites, display intrusive online advertisements (that may cause further system infections), collect personally identifiable information, and diminish computer/browser performance.

They provide no real value to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by sharing collected data with third parties, increasing traffic of certain websites (through unwanted redirects), and displaying intrusive online ads.

This type of application is often distributed using small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, softonic.com, and downloads.com. Download clients supposedly ease the download procedure, however, they are developed merely to offer installation of third party apps, thereby monetizing the traffic and free services of download sites.

The promoted applications are presented as '100% legitimate and virus-free', however, rushing download and installation of freeware exposes the system to risk of infection. This situation can be avoided by analysing each step of the free software download procedure to ensure that only the chosen application is installed.

Furthermore, install downloaded applications using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any third party apps listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have inadvertently installed Windesk Winsearch, and you observe an unwanted toolbar on your desktop, the following guide will help you to eliminate this problem from your system.

Screenshot of the Windesk Winsearch application:

Deceptive free software installers used in Windesk Winsearch adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is Windesk Winsearch?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Windesk Winsearch application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove unwanted plugins from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove adware from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove unwanted add-ons extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Windesk Winsearch 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 "Windesk Winsearch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Windesk Winsearch toolbar appear on the desktop, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Windesk Winsearch adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Windesk Winsearch 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 propcapps.com 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:

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 propcapps.com 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 plug-ins 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 propcapps.com 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, 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 propcapps.com 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:

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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