Wajam virus. How to delete? (Removal tutorial)
Wajam search clutters search results with targeted entries
Wajam is a dubious adware program that alters search results based on what user’s friends share on social networks. The adware tracks social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ and then generates search results based on your friends’ posts.
Sadly, these claims do not precisely describe the functionality of this potentially unwanted program (PUP), so let us describe what its main purpose is.
The main purpose of Wajam is to inject targeted entries into search results, and some of these can be sponsored by third-parties. Sponsored search results attract revenue to the developers of Wajam, especially when users click on them. Sadly, these clicks can trigger redirects to not-so-trustworthy websites.
When infected with this program, you might find search.wajam.com in your browser set as default start page. Besides, when infected with this ad-supported software, you might start receiving advertisements in all kinds of forms, including pop-ups, banners, in-text links or full-screen ads.
Wajam distorts search results brought by most popular search engines, including Google, Yahoo, TripAdvisor, eBay, Bing, Yelp, and others. The program is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, and there’s a Wajam mobile version available, too. Currently, it works on Apple phones only.
At the moment of writing, the official webpage of the software states that the program is no longer available, however, it might be distributed in other ways.
Some people might find Wajam useful; however, the majority claims that this system utility annoys them to death. Besides, many users struggle because they do not know how to remove Wajam from their computers. The easiest way to delete it is to scan the system with programs like Reimage or Malwarebytes Malwarebytes, although you can detect and eliminate the adware manually, too.
Ways to install potentially unwanted software
You can install Wajam and other potentially unwanted programs when installing free software that you download from the Internet. If you tend to go through software setups hastily, you can end up filling your computer with unnecessary and annoying browser toolbars, system tools and rogue PC optimizers that display ads, cause redirects and slow down your computer.
Please remember that you should always choose Custom/Advanced settings when installing software on your PC. These settings allow you to see additional software bundled with your download and avoid its installation. Usually, it only takes a few mouse clicks to remove ticks from checkboxes that say you agree to install “suggested/recommended” software.
If you have already installed the adware we discussed in this article, you should find Wajam.exe, wajam_6.exe and similar files on your system. However, it doesn’t mean that you should start deleting them one after another. Instead, employ a powerful anti-malware to perform a full Wajam removal for you.
Remove Wajam to improve your web search experience
If you came here looking for instructions on how to remove Wajam virus, you could find them below the article. However, we must point out that the discussed program lacks characteristics describing real computer viruses, so you shouldn’t call it like that. It definitely belongs to potentially unwanted programs’ category, but it doesn’t initiate malicious activities on the computer system.
However, if the fact that this program is legitimate doesn’t convince you to keep it on your system, initiate Wajam removal using instructions we provide. We have added them right below the article. If you have any questions about this program, share them in the comments section below or contact our support team.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes Malwarebytes, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareNorton Internet Security. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Wajam, follow these steps:
Uninstall Wajam in Windows systems
To delete Wajam from Windows, uninstall its components via Control Panel using instructions given below.
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Go to Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, open Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, click on Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen to open Quick Access Menu. Then click Control Panel and select Uninstall a Program.
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Remove Wajam and programs related to it
Now, take a look at the list of programs and find Wajam or other programs that you do not remember installing. -
Right-click on these programs and select "Uninstall." Then click OK to save changes.
Uninstall Wajam in Mac OS X system
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Users who use OS X should click on Go button, which can be found at the top left corner of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Wajam or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Wajam from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Delete suspicious browser add-ons
Launch Internet Explorer, and then open IE by clicking on the Gear icon, which is located at the top right corner of the Internet browser. Then, click Manage Add-ons.
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Manage Add-ons window will appear on your screen. Now, search for Wajam and other questionable browser add-ons. Right-click them on each of them and select Disable.
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If virus altered your homepage, change it:
Click the Gear icon at the top right corner of the Internet browser and then click Internet Options. Stay in General section. -
Now, delete malicious URL and enter
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Reset all Internet Explorer settings
Click on Gear icon and then opt for Internet options. Then go to Advanced section. - Click Reset.
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A new window appears, and then you have to tick Delete personal settings and click Reset to finalise Wajam removal.
Delete Wajam from Microsoft Edge
Reset settings in Microsoft Edge (Technique No.1):
- Open Microsoft Edge browser, then click on More button, which is situated at the top right edge of the screen
- Select Settings from the drop down menu.
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When the Settings panel appears, find Clear browsing data section and hit Choose what to clear button.
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Then mark all components that you wish to delete and after that hit Clear.
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Right-click the Start button (that has Windows logo on it) and choose Task Manager.
- Go to Processes tab and look for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and select Go to details. If there is no Go to details option, select More details and carry out previous instructions.
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Once Details tab appears, look for entries that contain Microsoft Edge name. Right-click on such individual entries and choose End Task option to terminate them.
Reset Microsoft Edge (Technique No.2):
In case the Technique No.1 did not help you to fix the problem, use advanced Edge reset option.
- Important: you must backup your files before you use these tips
- Locate this folder on your PC:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select all items in this folder and right-click with your mouse. Select Delete.
- Click on the Start button (that has Windows Logo on it) and in Search my stuff field, type in window power.
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With the right button of your mouse, click on every entry and select Run as administrator.
- Once you get Admin's rights, Windows PowerShell window should show up shortly. Paste this line:
after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and hit Enter.Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
After completing these steps, Microsoft Edge should be Wajam-free.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariDelete Wajam from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
You can quickly clean Firefox from Wajam's components by deleting associated add-on.
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Delete suspicious browser extensions
Launch Mozilla Firefox, and then open menu (click a button at the top right corner). Then, go to Add-ons → Extensions.
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Now, locate Wajam and other suspicious extensions. Click Remove to eliminate them.
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Reset all Mozilla Firefox settings
Click on the Firefox at the top left corner and then click the question mark. Then, select Troubleshooting Information.
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Reset Firefox to its default state message should appear then. You will see Reset Firefox button. Click this button a few times and finalise Wajam removal.
Delete Wajam from Google Chrome
To remove Wajam from Chrome, delete identically-named extension from the browser.
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Remove malicious extensions
Launch Google Chrome, and then open menu (click a button at the top right corner). Then, go to Tools → Extensions.
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Now, look for Wajam and other suspicious extensions and then click the trash icon to remove them.
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Open Chrome menu and go to Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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In Search Engines..., configure default search engine settings. Remove untrustworthy ones. We advise you to leave only Google or another reputable website of your choice.
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Reset all Google Chrome settings
Open menu by clicking the button at the top right corner of Google Chrome, and go to Settings. -
Scroll down to find Reset browser settings button. Click on it.
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Click Reset to approve this action and finish Wajam removal.
Delete Wajam from Safari
Get Wajam's extension out of Safari with a help of this guide.
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Delete suspicious browser extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences.
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Here, select Extensions and look for Wajam or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Reset all Safari settings
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari....
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Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Wajam removal process.
