WeatherWidget Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is WeatherWidget?
WeatherWidget is a dubious application that supposedly provides weather forecasts. Initially, this functionality may seem legitimate, however, claims to provide 'valuable functionality' are merely attempts to trick users to install. In fact, WeatherWidget is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
There are three main reasons for these negative associations: stealth infiltration without users' permission, tracking of users' web browsing activity and display of intrusive online ads.
Following successful installation, WeatherWidget collects various data such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser type and language, websites visited, pages viewed, cookies, and other similar information. This data may seem insignificant, however, it will contain personal details that the developers of WeatherWidget share with third parties (who often misuse private information to generate revenue).
This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Furthermore, WeatherWidget employs a 'virtual layer' to generate various intrusive online ads (for example, banner, pop-up, etc.) The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site and, thus, the displayed advertisements often conceal underlying content of websites visited by the user.
The ads significantly diminish the web browsing experience. Furthermore, ads displayed by WeatherWidget can lead to malicious sites containing infectious content - clicking them is risky and might result in further adware or malware infections. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to eliminate WeatherWidget adware immediately.
There are many other adware-type apps offering identical functionality. For exmple: InterStat, Storm Alerts, and Windoweather. Be aware that none of these applications provide the functionality promised. Adware-type applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and provide no real value for regular users.
PUPs such as WeatherWidget simply generate intrusive online advertisements, collect personally identifiable information, and often cause unwanted browser redirects.
How did WeatherWidget install on my computer?
WeatherWidget is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, developers also distribute this PUP using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third party software with regular software/apps. For this reason, many users install WeatherWidget inadvertently.
Developers know that many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software and, thus, conceal WeatherWidget within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings of these procedures. By skipping this section, users expose their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
There are two main steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, analyze each step of the download and installation processes. Secondly, opt-out of all additionally-included programs and decline all offers to download or install them.
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Quick menu:
- What is WeatherWidget?
- STEP 1. Uninstall WeatherWidget application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove WeatherWidget adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove WeatherWidget ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by WeatherWidget' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove WeatherWidget ads from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
WeatherWidget 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 "WeatherWidget", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes WeatherWidget ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove WeatherWidget adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, WeatherWidget 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 ads by interweather, 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 ads by interweather, 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 ads by interweather 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 ads by interweather, 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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