In some cases, your computer may continue to experience issues even after a successful FixMeStick scan. While FixMeStick is extremely effective at removing viruses, trojans, and malware, there are some unwanted or potentially malicious items that aren't detected by our engines because they aren't classified as viruses, like browser pop-ups or applications that are bundled in with legitimate software you have intentionally installed.
Fortunately, you can easily remove these items and keep your computer clean by following the steps in this guide.
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Index:
Cleaning + Protecting Your Web Browser
Cleaning + Protecting Your Web Browser
Removing Browser Add-ons
Unwanted browser add-ons like search engines and extensions can cause pop-ups, display advertisements, or even prevent you from accessing websites
Firefox
1. Open Firefox and click the icon that looks like three stacked lines at the top right of the browser window.
2. Select Add-ons from the drop-down menu.
3. Select Extensions from the menu on the left side of the window.
4. Select any extension that you did not purposefully install and then click Remove.
5. Click the icon with three stacked lines again, and then select Options.
6. Select Search from the menu on the left side of the window.
7. Select a default search engine that you trust, and remove any search engine options that you do not recognize.
Google Chrome
1. Open Google Chrome and click the icon with 3 vertical dots at the top right of the browser window.
2. Place your cursor over More tools, and then select Extensions from the expanded menu.
3. Select any extension that you did not intentionally install and then click Remove.
4. Click on the icon with 3 vertical dots again, and then select Settings.
5. Scroll down to the Search engine section, and then click Manage search engines.
6. Select a default search engine that you trust, and remove any search engine options that you do not recognize.
Safari
1. Open Safari and then click on Safari in the toolbar at the top of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences...
2. Click on Extensions from the options at the top of the window. From the list, select any extension that you did not purposefully install and then click Uninstall.
3. Now click on Search from the options at the top of the window. Select a default search engine that you trust, and remove any search engine options that you do not recognize.
Resetting Your Browser
If your browser is still not functioning properly after removing unwanted add-ons, you can reset it to default settings in order to clear browsing data like cached information, cookies, and browsing history. In addition to enhancing performance, this also ensures that websites or other parties can't track your browsing activity or access personal information like saved passwords and payment data.
Firefox
1. Open a Firefox page and click the icon that looks like three stacked lines at the top right of the browser window.
2. Select the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. Select Troubleshooting information in the slide-out menu.
4. Select the Refresh Firefox... button at the top right of the new Web page.
5. Select Refresh Firefox again in the confirmation pop-up window. It will automatically restart your browser and let you know that it was refreshed successfully.
Google Chrome
1. Click the icon that looks like three vertical dots at the top right of the browser window.
2. Select Settings.
3. Scroll down as far as you can, and click on Advanced settings at the bottom of the Web page.
4. Scroll down as far as you can once more, and select Reset browser settings at the bottom of the page.
5. Select Reset in the confirmation pop-up window.
Safari
1. Open Safari and then click on Safari in the toolbar at the top of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences...
2. Click on Privacy from the options at the top of the window, and then select Remove All Website Data.
3. Select Remove Now from the confirmation pop-up window.
Removing Unwanted Programs
There are some programs that our product might not remove because they can be classified as "grayware" - it falls in between malware and legitimate software. Some software programs come bundled with optional programs that are automatically installed when you agree to the terms of service. These optional programs are often not classified as viruses, but can perform unwanted actions such as tracking your browsing and displaying pop-ups.
Uninstalling applications on a Mac is incredibly easy. Just open your Finder and click on Applications in the left sidebar, and then locate the program you’d like to uninstall. Right-click on its icon, and then select Move to Trash. That’s it!
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact support@fixmestick.com and we will be happy to help.