Junk Cleaner Unwanted Application

What is Junk Cleaner?

Junk Cleaner is a deceptive app claiming to significantly improve computer performance - "Junk Cleaner is one of the finest PC performance tools available in the market today, when it comes to improving performance and speed of your PC. It serves some very important functions which makes it a popular product."

On initial inspection, this software might seem legitimate and useful, however, Junk Cleaner is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware, since it infiltrates systems without users' permission and generates fake error messages.

Although Junk Cleaner claims to 'improve computer performance', this statement is false. The application continually generates fake error messages stating that the system is infected or has encountered certain problems. Furthermore, these messages encourage users to contact the developers via the telephone number provided (1-866-606-9133) to solve these problems.

When users call the number, they are asked to pay a specific amount to receive assistance. In fact, users cannot be sure that they will receive any help. Therefore, paying is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals - you will simply support their malicious business.

This behavior is common to many adware-type applications (including, for example, MovieDea and GamesDesktop). Fake error messages are also displayed by rogue antivirus programs. We strongly advise that you ignore these message and uninstall Junk Cleaner immediately.

There are hundreds of PUPs similar to Junk Cleaner including SwiftSearch, MapsWorld, and DesktopClock. The only difference being that regular adware-type apps usually display advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click' [PPC] advertising model) and collect personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third party companies).

All adware claims to provide various useful features to trick users to install, however, the true purpose of these PUPs is to generate revenue for the developers. Neither Junk Cleaner, nor any of these other adware-type apps, provide the functionality promised.

How did Junk Cleaner install on my computer?

Users are able to download Junk Clear on its official website, however, this application is commonly distributed as a 'bundle' with other (mostly free) applications. Bundling is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software. Developers conceal PUPs within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings.

Many users skip this section, which leads to inadvertent installation of bogus applications such as Junk Cleaner. The developers are concerned only with the amount of revenue generated, which is dependent on the number of PUPs distributed, and hence, they intentionally hide them.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The only way to safely download and install your chosen software is to pay close attention during these processes. Select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any hidden PUPs and allow you to cancel them. The key to computer safety is caution. Never rush when downloading and installing software.

Junk Cleaner PUP generating fake error messages:

Text presented in Junk Cleaner fake error messages:

Warning! Malware Detected! Your computer is in critical state because of external malware attack, your personal and privacy settings may be shared over the Internet. To get immediate support Call us on: 1-866-606-9133

 

Windows Security Alert Your PC Antivirus crashed Your computer Antivirus program is going to Crash or out of date, To keep it up to date Call us on: 1-866-606-9133

Junk Cleaner encouraging users to buy the full version:

Screenshot of Junk Cleaner application:

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Quick menu:

• What is Junk Cleaner?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Junk Cleaner application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove rogue plug-ins from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove bogus extensions from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove deceptive add-ons from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove dubious extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Junk Cleaner 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 "Junk Cleaner", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Junk Cleaner adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Junk Cleaner 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 junkcleaner adware, 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 junkcleaner adware, 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 junkcleaner adware 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 junkcleaner adware, 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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