Ads by Win Guard

What is Win Guard?

Win Guard is identical to previous variants, Safe Browsing and Browsing Secure. According to the developers, Win Guard protects the system from various malicious attacks - "Win Guard This browser application is designed to secure your browser, while surfing the internet".

Initially, this functionality may seem useful, however, be aware that Win Guard is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). After stealthily infiltrating the system, Win Guard delivers intrusive advertisements and collects various information regarding users' Internet browsing activity.

The application employs a virtual layer to generate a wide range of advertisements. The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content and any website, and therefore, none of the generated advertisements originate from your visited sites. The third party advertisements conceal underlying web content, thereby diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

Although Win Guard claims to improve system protection, advertisements generated by this PUP can redirect to infectious websites. Thus, clicking them might lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, this application gathers various data that can be personally identifiable including geolocation, language, time-zone, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, type of operating system and browser, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc. This collected data is later shared with third parties and can be misused to generate revenue.

Therefore, having Win Guard installed on your system is risky and may lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that you eliminate Win Guard immediately.

This adware is identical to the aforementioned PUPs, and also similar to other apps such as Browse Plus, SearchQuest, Fast Media Converter, and 1stBrowser (adware-type applications in general are very similar). These applications claim to enhance the Internet browsing experience simply to give the impression of legitimate and useful software.

In fact, their sole purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. None provide the functionality promised. These applications merely generate intrusive online advertisements and collect private data.

How did Win Guard install on my computer?

Users are able to download this PUP on its official website, however, it is also distributed using deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs with the chosen software). Therefore, it often infiltrates systems without users' permission.

Many users are unaware that apps such as Win Guard are hidden within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. By rushing the download and installation processes, they install PUPs inadvertently and expose their systems to risk of further infection.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two main steps you should take to prevent installation of adware-type apps. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software - select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings and closely analyze each step. Furthermore, decline all offers to install additional applications and opt-out of all programs listed for download/installation.

The key to computer safety is caution. Pay close attention during download and installation of any software.

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

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

Win Guard 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 "Win Guard", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Win Guard adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Win Guard 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 win guard 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 win guard 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 win guard 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 win guard 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on win guard adware or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion