Malware is a term that refers to any software that may harm your device or steal your personal information. Malware can infect your browser and cause unwanted ads, pop-ups, redirects, or changes to your homepage or search engine. If you suspect that your Google Chrome browser has been infected by malware, you need to take some steps to remove it and restore your browser settings.
Step 1: Remove malicious programs on your computer
Before you reset your browser settings, you need to check your computer for any malicious programs that may have installed themselves without your permission. Depending on your operating system, you can use different tools to scan and remove malware from your computer.
Windows computers
If you use Windows 10, you can use the built-in Windows Security app to scan and remove malware from your computer. To do this:
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click on Update & Security and then on Windows Security.
- Click on Virus & threat protection and then on Scan options.
- Select Full scan and then click on Scan now.
- Wait for the scan to complete and follow the instructions to remove any threats found.
If you use an older version of Windows, you can use a third-party antivirus software to scan and remove malware from your computer. Some examples of free antivirus software are Malwarebytes, Avast, AVG, or Bitdefender. I personally Recommend Malwarebytes as an adjunct to Windows Security!
Mac computers
If you use a Mac computer, you can use the built-in Malware Removal Tool (MRT) to scan and remove malware from your computer. To do this:
- Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
- Click on Software Update and check if there are any updates available for your Mac. If there are, install them and restart your computer.
- Open the Finder and go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type sudo /usr/libexec/MalwareRemovalTool -a -r -v and press Enter.
- Enter your administrator password and press Enter again.
- Wait for the scan to complete and follow the instructions to remove any threats found.
If the MRT does not find any malware on your Mac, you can use a third-party antivirus software to scan and remove malware from your computer. Some examples of free antivirus software are Malwarebytes, Avast, AVG, or Bitdefender.
Chromebooks
If you use a Chromebook, you can use the built-in Chrome Cleanup Tool to scan and remove malware from your device. To do this:
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Click on Settings and then on Advanced.
- Click on Reset settings and then on Clean up computer.
- Click on Find and wait for the scan to complete.
- If any harmful software is found, click on Remove. If not, click on No thanks.
Step 2: Remove untrusted browser extensions
Browser extensions are small programs that add functionality to your browser. However, some extensions may be malicious or unsafe and may cause problems with your browser. You should uninstall any extensions that you don’t need, trust, or recognize. To do this:
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Click on More tools and then on Extensions.
- Look for any extensions that are unnecessary, untrusted, or from sources outside the Chrome Web Store.
- Click on the Remove button next to each extension that you want to delete.
Step 3: Reset your browser settings
Resetting your browser settings will restore them to their original defaults and remove any changes made by malware. This will also disable any extensions that you have installed. To do this:
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Click on Settings and then on Advanced.
- Click on Reset settings and then on Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click on Reset settings again to confirm.
Step 4: Update your operating system
Keeping your operating system updated is important for security reasons. Updates may fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware or hackers. To update your operating system, go to your manufacturer’s help center and follow the instructions. For example:
- To update Windows, go to Microsoft support.
- To update MacOS, go to Apple support.
Step 5: Do a Security Checkup
After removing malware from your browser and computer, you should do a Security Checkup to review your account settings and secure your account. This will help you protect your personal information and prevent unauthorized access to your account. To do this:
- Open Chrome and go to myaccount.google.com/security-checkup.
- Follow the on-screen steps to fix any security issues in your account.
Conclusion
Malware can cause serious problems with your browser and computer. If you notice any signs of malware infection, such as unwanted ads, pop-ups, redirects, or changes to your homepage or search engine, you should take action immediately. By following the steps above, you can remove malware from Chrome and restore your browser settings. You can also prevent malware infection in the future by only downloading files or visiting sites that you trust, using antivirus software regularly, updating your operating system frequently, and doing a Security Checkup periodically.