PCBackupWizard Unwanted Application

What is PCBackupWizard?

The PCBackupWizard application supposedly allows users to backup selected data by uploading it to the cloud - "PCBackupWizard - SAFE AND SECURE PC BACKUP. Access your files anywhere, anytime from your PC. Online Backup for your photos, music, emails, videos, documents & more!" 

On initial inspection, this functionality may seem legitimate, however, PCBackupWizard often infiltrates systems without users’ permission. Furthermore, it often tracks information relating to users' web browsing activity and displays intrusive online advertisements. For these reasons, PCBackupWizard is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

After successful system infiltration, PCBackupWizard generates various intrusive online advertisements that do not originate from visited websites. By concealing the underlying content, these ads significantly diminish the web browsing experience. Note that some can lead to dubious websites containing infectious content - clicking them can lead to further computer infections.

Another downside of PCBackupWizard is information tracking. This PUP collects personally identifiable information that is later shared with third parties who misuse private details to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of a data-tracking application such as PCBackupWizard on your system can lead to serious privacy issues. We strongly advise that you uninstall this PUP immediately.

There are hundreds of potentially unwanted programs with similar characteristics to PCBackupWizard including, for example, Ad Stopper, Driver Restore, and PC Mechanic. All claim to enhance the web browsing experience in certain ways, however, they are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Most deliver no real value for users. Potentially unwanted programs simply cause unwanted browser redirects (thereby increasing the traffic of certain sites), collect private data (which is later sold to third parties), and deliver intrusive advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model).

How did PCBackupWizard install on my computer?

Although, PCBackupWizard has an official download website, many users install this app inadvertently without their consent. The developers know that many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software, and for this reason, hide PUPs within the 'Custom/Advanced' download/installation section.

By skipping this section, user install potentially unwanted programs such as PCBackupWizard inadvertently.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be cautious when downloading and installing software. Select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings and closely observe each step. Furthermore, download/installation of all third party programs should be cancelled.

Deceptive free software installer distributing PCBackupWizard PUP:

Screenshot of PCBackupWizard application:

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Quick menu:

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

PCBackupWizard 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 "pcbw", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, PCBackupWizard 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 pcbackupwizard potentially unwanted program, 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 pcbackupwizard potentially unwanted program, 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 pcbackupwizard potentially unwanted program 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 pcbackupwizard potentially unwanted program, 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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