Uninstall WinSnare virus (Uninstall Guide) - Jan 2021 updated
WinSnare and its relationship with Amulec
WinSnare, or “Win Snare” is a program that runs in the background of all system processes. Its main purpose is focused towards collecting technical information about the device it is installed on. The gathered data is saved on data logs which are regularly transmitted to the remote servers. Without much difficulty, such security gaps can be used for system breach.
The tricky thing about this program is that it’s icon does not show up on the infected computer’s desktop, so the users may not even suspect they are at risk. Besides, software developers have also learned to bypass the Task Manager and obfuscate its executable files by renaming them as legitimate-looking winsnare.dll or C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k processes.
The closer studies of WinSnare virus have revealed that this program is closely tied to a potentially unwanted peer-to-peer sharing service amuleC. Others may recognise it as eMule, but in reality, these programs are not related. amuleC is a software merely based on the principle of eMule, but their similar name can get the two easily mixed up.
So, if you have noticed amuleC or the previously mentioned WinSnare processes running on your computer — terminate them immediately. If you fail to do so in time, you may have your data exposed to various leaks or similar problems. All in all, you should not tolerate any unauthorised activity on your computer and remove WinSnare from the infected computer when you have the chance.
Though infected computer users may consider manual WinSnare removal, experts do not recommend doing it. This especially applies to the users who are not accustomed to malware elimination. Win Snare is a tricky virus which hides under the name of legitimate system processes, so you might just accidentally delete good files from your computer. Instead of playing the guessing game, let professional antivirus software, ReimageIntego or SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner to indicate and remove the potentially malicious virus components for you.
Means of ransomware distribution
WinSnare typically infects computers during software installation processes. The users rarely find time to go through detailed installation processes, so it is not surprising that malware distribution via software bundles is thriving. Please keep in mind that by choosing Recommended or Standard installation settings you automatically agree to install whatever may be included in the software package.
Thus, it is recommended to go for Advanced or Custom modes instead. Nevertheless, this does not mean you should not remain observant during the installation. On the opposite, you should follow every step of the installation carefully and opt out software package contents you find suspicious or unnecessary.
Remove WinSnare properly with the help of automatic tools
If you are planing a quick WinSnare removal, you should definitely go for the automatic approach. Please remember that some antivirus software may not detect this PUP due to its clever obfuscation techniques, so it is better to use anti-spyware utilities to remove the virus properly.
Before you run the system scan, don’t forget to update the software to the latest version. In case you are still experiencing problems, follow the manual guide below to remove WinSnare virus manually.
You may remove virus damage with a help of ReimageIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove WinSnare virus, follow these steps:
Uninstall WinSnare in Windows systems
You may uninstall Winsnare following the manual instructions given below. Neverhteless, when you have the opportunity, make sure you scan your computer with some reputable malware-detection too just to make certain no suspicious components are left on the system.
-
Go to Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, open Add/Remove Programs).
-
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.
-
Remove WinSnare and programs related to it
Now, take a look at the list of programs and find WinSnare or other programs that you do not remember installing. -
Right-click on these programs and select "Uninstall." Then click OK to save changes.
Delete WinSnare from Internet Explorer (IE)
-
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.
-
Manage Add-ons window will appear on your screen. Now, search for WinSnare and other questionable browser add-ons. Right-click them on each of them and select Disable.
-
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
-
Reset all Internet Explorer settings
Click on Gear icon and then opt for Internet options. Then go to Advanced section. - Click Reset.
-
A new window appears, and then you have to tick Delete personal settings and click Reset to finalise WinSnare removal.
Eliminate WinSnare virus from Microsoft Edge browser
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.
-
When the Settings panel appears, find Clear browsing data section and hit Choose what to clear button.
-
Then mark all components that you wish to delete and after that hit Clear.
-
Right-click the Start button (that has Windows logo on it) and choose Task Manager.
- Go to Processes tab and look for Microsoft Edge.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 WinSnare-free.
Delete WinSnare from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
-
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.
-
Now, locate WinSnare and other suspicious extensions. Click Remove to eliminate them.
-
Reset all Mozilla Firefox settings
Click on the Firefox at the top left corner and then click the question mark. Then, select Troubleshooting Information.
-
Reset Firefox to its default state message should appear then. You will see Reset Firefox button. Click this button a few times and finalise WinSnare removal.
Delete WinSnare from Google Chrome
-
Remove malicious extensions
Launch Google Chrome, and then open menu (click a button at the top right corner). Then, go to Tools → Extensions.
-
Now, look for WinSnare and other suspicious extensions and then click the trash icon to remove them.
-
Open Chrome menu and go to Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Click Reset to approve this action and finish WinSnare removal.
Delete WinSnare from Safari
-
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.
-
Here, select Extensions and look for WinSnare or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
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....
-
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 WinSnare removal process.
Even if you have completed all the steps above, we still strongly recommend you to scan your computer system with a powerful anti-malware software. It is advisable to do that because an automatic malware removal tool can detect and delete all remains of WinSnare, for instance, its registry keys. The anti-malware program can help you to easily detect and eliminate possibly dangerous software and malicious viruses in an easy way. You can use any of our top-rated malware removal programs: ReimageIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
Prevent the government from spying on you
As there is a growing debate in government about collecting users' data and spying on citizens, you should take a closer look at this issue and find out what shady ways of gathering information can be used to collect information about you. You need to browse anonymously if you want to avoid any government-initiated spying and tracking of information.
You can enjoy secure internet browsing and minimize the risk of intrusion into your system if you use Private Internet Access VPN program. This VPN application creates a virtual private network and provides access to the required data without any content restrictions.
Control government and other third party access to your data and ensure safe web browsing. Even if you do not engage in illegal activities and trust your ISP, we recommend being careful about your security. You should take extra precautions and start using a VPN program.
Recover files damaged by a dangerous malware attack
Despite the fact that there are various circumstances that can cause data to be lost on a system, including accidental deletion, the most common reason people lose photos, documents, videos, and other important data is the infection of malware.
Some malicious programs can delete files and prevent the software from running smoothly. However, there is a greater threat from the dangerous viruses that can encrypt documents, system files, and images. Ransomware-type viruses focus on encrypting data and restricting users’ access to files, so you can permanently lose personal data when you download such a virus to your computer.
The ability to unlock encrypted files is very limited, but some programs have a data recovery feature. In some cases, the Data Recovery Pro program can help recover at least some of the data that has been locked by a virus or other cyber infection.
If you found this free removal tutorial helpful, please consider making a donation to support us. Even the smallest amount will be appreciated and will help to keep this service alive.
