How to Remove the Browser Assistant Virus in 2024

Tyler Cross
Updated on: September 22, 2024 Senior Writer

Browser assistant viruses can be as dangerous as they’re annoying. We aren’t talking about one specific virus here, but rather a vast and troublesome group of software. Most browser assistants are potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), software that you most likely don’t want. They can hijack your browser, cause redirects, and harvest your personal information. Some are just straight-up malicious and can cause serious harm to your system. If you have one, you’ll want to get rid of it.

It’s possible to remove some browser assistant viruses on your own, but many will impact other parts of your device — so it’s best to use an antivirus to fully scan your system. Otherwise, there’s no telling whether a malicious extension has downloaded malware onto your device or what parts of your system it has impacted.

A good antivirus can deal with browser assistants and clean up whatever mess they’ve created on your device. Norton, for example, is capable of finding and removing complex malware, from browser assistant viruses to ransomware. It comes with extra tools that can prevent you from getting infected in the future, like web protection and an advanced firewall.

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Preliminary Step. Secure Your Browser

Before you’re ready to use your antivirus, you’ll need to clean up your browser. This process includes removing your extensions and resetting your browser entirely. Unfortunately, many browser assistant viruses are disguised to look like legitimate applications, so you’ll need to look carefully. When in doubt, it’s best to just delete an extension, as you can always re-add them later. If you use multiple browsers, you should take these steps on all of them.

Removing Suspicious Extensions

Begin by manually clearing your browser of suspicious extensions. The process is similar across all browsers, but I’ll spell out how to do it on the most common browsers: Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Removing Extensions on Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome and click on the 3 vertical dots in the upper-right corner.

2. Select Extensions from the menu, then click Manage Extensions.

3. Review the list of every extension with an eye out for any that you don’t recognize. To learn more about an extension, click Details and consider taking it a step further by visiting the extension’s page on the Web Store. Here you can look at reviews, see permissions, and find information about the developer.

4. To uninstall a suspicious extension, click the Remove button next to the extension you want to delete. You will need to confirm your choice by hitting Remove again. I suggest erring on the side of caution and removing everything that’s remotely unusual. You can always reinstall safe extensions later.

Next up, you’ll want to reset Chrome’s settings to ensure maximum security.

Removing Extensions on Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Edge and click on the puzzle icon in the upper-right corner. Click on Manage extensions.

2. Review the installed extensions. I recommend you get rid of any that you aren’t 100% sure about. You can learn more by clicking Details and going to the store page where you’ll find reviews and additional information about the extension and developer behind it.

3. Click on the Remove button next to the extension you want to get rid of. A new box will open where you will have to confirm your choice.

Once your browser is free of dangerous extensions, you’ll want to reset Edge’s settings.

Removing Extensions on Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and click on the puzzle icon in the upper-right corner.
2. Click Extensions on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. Review the list of installed extensions. Look for anything that looks unfamiliar or suspicious. Remember, malicious browser assistants and other malware might appear to be from a legitimate company. To learn more about an extension, click the 3 dots next to it and select Manage.
4. To delete a suspicious extension, click the 3 dots next to it and select Remove. A new box will open up where you’ll have to confirm your choice. I recommend erring on the side of caution and removing anything remotely unusual, because many browser assistant viruses pose as legitimate software.

With all suspicious extensions dealt with, your next step is to reset Firefox back to its default settings.

Resetting Your Browser to Default Settings

Browser assistant viruses will do everything they can to make your computer more vulnerable. This usually means altering your browser’s settings to make you more open to threats. The fix is to reset your browser. Deleting your cookies will have some small side effects, but you shouldn’t notice anything major. Your browser history won’t be deleted.

I’ll show you the exact steps to take on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, but the process is similar on other browsers too.

Reset Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome and click on the 3 vertical dots in the upper-right corner.

2. Click on Settings (you’ll find it near the bottom of the drop-down menu) and a new window will open. Find and click on the Reset settings button in the left-hand toolbar on the new page.

3. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults and confirm your choice.

Reset Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge and click on the 3 horizontal dots in the upper-right corner.

2. In the drop-down menu, find and click on Settings.

3. In the new window, click on the 3 horizontal lines in the top-left corner. In the toolbar that opens, find and click on Reset settings.

4. In the new page that opens, click Restore settings to their default values and confirm your choice by clicking Reset.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox and click on the puzzle icon in the upper-right corner.

2. In the drop-down menu, click Help. In the new box that opens, select More troubleshooting information.

3. Click on Refresh Firefox… under the Give Firefox a tune-up section. Click Refresh Firefox again to confirm that you want to reset the browser.

By following these steps, you make sure that the virus is unable to reinfect your browser. You’re not done yet though. Now, you’ll need to use your antivirus to make sure the virus is really gone.

Step 1. Identify the PUP With Your Antivirus (And Don’t Make the Problem Worse!)

Start by taking out any USB sticks or other removable media if you have any plugged in. Viruses can infect external devices, which would in turn reinfect your computer the next time you plug it back in.

Once that’s done, download a high-quality antivirus if you don’t already have one on your computer. When the antivirus is installed (or you find the one you already have), open it up and run a full scan. Your antivirus will begin analyzing every file on your computer, searching for potential threats. Sit tight and be patient — it can take a while. Norton is very fast, but other options could take as long as a few hours to fully scan your system.

Even if your antivirus identifies the browser assistant virus, do not stop the scan. There’s no telling how many files are infected or what the source of the virus is, so just be patient and let your antivirus finish the process. But you can rest a bit easier, as antiviruses like Norton are able to detect and remove 100% of malware.

Once the scan is complete, you can move on to step 2.

Step 2. Remove the PUP and Delete Any Other Infected Files

Your antivirus will now show you a list of the infected files it discovered. While expert users may want to check through the list to find potential false flags, beginner users should trust their antivirus’s judgment and get rid of whatever it flags as dangerous.

Once it finishes deleting the malware, you’ll need to restart your computer.

Here’s where it could get tricky. Because of how browser assistant viruses work, there’s a chance your problem file reproduced itself as it was being deleted by the antivirus. For this reason, you’ll need to run a second full scan of your system and check your browsers to make sure that any suspicious extensions haven’t returned.

If the second full scan doesn’t detect any threats and you can’t find anything wrong with your computer, that’s great. Still, I recommend opening up your browser to make sure that all suspicious extensions are still gone.

Step 3. Keep Your Device From Being Infected In The Future

Even though we’ve removed the virus, we aren’t quite done yet. Now, you need to learn how you can protect yourself going forward to avoid a future infection. Remember that malware is dangerous, so you need to make sure you’re properly protecting yourself.

• Keep your software, OS, and drivers up-to-date: Having out-of-date software makes it much easier to get PUPs and viruses. Software developers regularly fix key vulnerabilities when they release security patches. Without the most recent patch, you’re left exposed to problems that may have already been solved. This is true of individual apps, operating systems, and drivers. While most of these update automatically, it’s a good idea to manually check to see if everything is up-to-date.
• Avoid downloading suspicious files: Most versions of the browser assistant virus come from free software bundles or from opening malicious websites. Never click anything on a suspicious website and avoid opening email attachments from senders you don’t recognize. If you do get a strange email from a legitimate-looking company, do some research to make sure the email you received matches the company’s official email address. Always look out for small misspellings, as they can indicate fakes.
• Use reliable web protection extensions: Web protection tools like those included with Norton and TotalAV protect you from accessing phishing sites or opening malware-ridden links. These protective tools make it significantly harder to get infected by another browser assistant virus.
• Install a good antivirus: While most computers have a built-in antivirus, these aren’t enough to protect you against all forms of malware. Top antiviruses like Norton and Bitdefender have effective malware scanners that are better at catching threats than any built-in antivirus. They also typically bundle other important security features, such as web protection, dark web monitoring tools, and a VPN for more comprehensive protection.

3 Best Antivirus Programs for Removing The Browser Assistant Virus

How Does the Browser Assistant Virus Get Onto Your Device?

A browser assistant virus can find its way onto your device through a variety of methods. The most common ways to get one are:

• Software bundling: This type of malware often comes bundled with free software and applications. Many times these free downloads include optional bundled software, with the option to download them being on by default. If you’re not careful, you may give consent to the malware to install itself on your computer.
• Malicious websites and ads: Visiting compromised or malicious websites can trigger the automatic download of the browser assistant virus. To protect yourself from shady sites, consider installing Norton’s web protection tools, which can prevent you from opening malicious links entirely. Also, double-check each website you visit to make sure that its domain matches the official website’s domain.
• Fake software updates: Malicious browser assistants often disguise themselves as a legitimate software update, such as for your browser or a popular application. When you download and run these fake updates, you inadvertently install the virus. Be careful when installing and updating apps. If you get a pop-up while browsing the internet that says something is out of date, there’s a good chance it’s a fake.
• Phishing emails: Cybercriminals often use phishing emails to trick users into downloading the virus. These emails may contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, may automatically install malware onto your computer. At best, these will take you to fraudulent websites that are built to steal your personal or financial data.  Like with malicious websites, you can use good web protection tools included in the top antiviruses to shield yourself from email phishing scams.
• Infected browser extensions: Some seemingly harmless browser extensions actually carry lingering viruses or, at best, collect and sell users’ personal data. These browser assistance extensions are actually PUPs waiting to alter your homepage, spam you with ads, and infect you with further malware. While browser extensions can be useful, I can’t really imagine any need for a browser assistant, as modern-day browsers work well on their own.

It’s easy to avoid these issues when you see them, but remember that phishing scams work by trying to build trust with you. For example, the malicious email or website might claim that it’s from a legitimate company like Amazon to bait you into installing malware. The two best solutions are to install a good antivirus and stay vigilant on all websites you visit.

Common Signs of the Browser Assistant Virus

Detecting browser assistant viruses can be tricky. This type of malware comes in many forms and each version has different symptoms. In general, here’s how you can tell if you’re infected:

• Sudden changes in browser settings: If your homepage, default search engine, or new tab page has been altered without your input, it’s likely a browser assistant PUP or another form of malware is affecting your browser. These changes are typically made to redirect your searches to malicious pages or to revenue-generation sites.
• Frequent advertisements: If you’re suddenly getting an influx of pop-up ads and redirects to advertisements, you likely have a browser assistant virus or similar type of malware. These can be especially dangerous, as just clicking one of these ads could be enough to prompt a malware installation.
• Slow or unresponsive browser: Viruses eat your system resources, causing your browser to perform sluggishly, frequently crash, or regularly require you to reload pages. If your browser is performing notably worse than it usually does, it’s time to use an antivirus like Norton to scan your computer.
• Unfamiliar browser extensions or plugins: The clearest indication that you have a browser assistant virus is…having a visible browser assistant extension. These typically come bundled with free software installations, so they can get on your browser without you knowing. You’ll need to immediately uninstall these. If you find one, there’s a good chance you have other malware and need to run a scan with your antivirus.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should immediately follow my steps above. Uninstall your browser extensions and reset your browser. Following that, use Norton, Bitdefender, or another top antivirus to scan your computer for lingering viruses. Even if it isn’t the browser assistant virus, there’s likely some type of malware that’s causing the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the browser assistant virus do?

The browser assistant virus is a term for a set of PUPs that share common features. These PUPs typically hijack your browser and change your search engine to one that’s built to lead you to phishing scams and malicious sites. They also inject your computer with frequent pop-up ads for fraudulent products. They can weaken your browser’s security settings, making it easier to get infected in the future.

For all of these reasons, it’s important to remove the virus as soon as possible.

Why doesn’t my antivirus recognize the browser assistant virus?

Some PUPs are designed to trick Windows Defender or other antiviruses into believing that they’re legitimate programs. Some versions of the browser assistant virus are capable of masking themselves from sight, meaning you’ll need a top-tier antivirus to route them out.

When this happens, you’ll need to do a bit of work yourself. Uninstall every extension on your browser and then reset it entirely. After that, run an antivirus scan.

Can I get the browser assistant virus on Mac?

Yes! If you make the smallest of missteps, you can get a malicious browser extension whether you use a Mac, Windows, or a Linux system. Remember, browser assistant virus is a catchall term. There are lots of them out there.

There are some steps you can take on your own, but ultimately you’ll need to use an antivirus to be certain that you’re safe.

What can happen if I don’t remove the browser assistant virus?

Letting it linger on your computer is a guaranteed method of contracting additional malware infections. You should immediately take the first steps to getting rid of it. This is important because browser assistant viruses weaken your browser’s security settings and internal defenses. Additionally, they’ll often barrage you with constant malicious ads and redirects.

If you can’t remove it on your own, then use a good antivirus like Norton to run a full scan of your system. It’s the only way to be 100% sure you’re safe.

Best Antiviruses for Removing The Browser Assistant Virus in 2024 — Final Score: