WinClock Adware

What is WinClock?

According to the developers, WinClock is a highly customizable desktop clock - "Highly customizable Clocks for your desktop with a beautiful set of skins. Enjoy Win Clock by adding several clocks to your desktop for time zones and different skins and never miss the time."

Some users may believe that WinClock is a useful application, however, it is classed as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The reason for these negative associations is the behavior of WinClock, which includes stealth installation without users' consent, display of intrusive online advertisements, and tracking of Internet browsing activity.

WinClock employs a virtual layer to display various online advertisements that do not originate from the visited sites. These advertisements conceal underlying web content, thereby diminishing the Internet browsing experience. They may also redirect to malicious websites, some of which might contain infectious content.

Therefore, clicking them can lead to further adware or malware infections. WinClock is developed to monitor users' Internet browsing activity and collect various user/system information. The recorded data might contain personally identifiable details that are later shared with third parties who can misuse it to generate revenue.

Thus, the presence of WinClock on your system can lead to various privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you uninstall this app.

WinClock shares similarities with hundreds of other adware-type apps including, for example, Rapid Media Converter, DynamicWPaper, SaveDeals, and ZiperFly. These also claim to enable 'useful' functionality, however, no adware provides the functionality promised.

WinClock, and other similar applications, are designed simply to generate revenue by delivering advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click' - PPC - advertising model) and gathering personal data (which is later shared with third party companies). They provide no real value for users.

How did WinClock install on my computer?

This PUP is often distributed via a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of additional programs with regular software/apps.

The developers hide WinClock within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' download/installation settings. Unaware of this, users commonly rush the processes and skip these settings. This often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue applications and system exposure to risk of further infections.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent installation of PUPs, be attentive when downloading and installing software. Closely analyze each step and decline all third party programs listed for download or installation. In addition, these processes should be performed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any bundled applications and allow you to opt-out.

WinClock adware installer set-up:

Screenshot of WinClock application:

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Quick menu:

• What is WinClock?
• STEP 1. Uninstall WinClock application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove WinClock adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove WinClock ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by WinClock' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove WinClock ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

WinClock 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 "WinClock v1.0", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove WinClock adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, WinClock 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 winclock 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 "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 winclock 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 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 winclock 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 winclock 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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