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WebDiscover is a Potentially Unwanted Program, or PUP, that is a custom built browser based on the open source Google Chromium browser. This program docks a search bar at the top of your desktop, which is is always shown even if you have other applications running. When you use the search bar to search the web, it will send the query to safestsearches.com first, which will then redirect you to Bing. According to WebDiscover's End User License Agreement, they also state that they may show you advertisements related to the web pages or searches you are performing.
WebDiscover Removal Guide
WebDiscover is a Potentially Unwanted Program, or PUP, that is a custom built browser based on the open source Google Chromium browser. This program docks a search bar at the top of your desktop, which is is always shown even if you have other applications running. When you use the search bar to search the web, it will send the query to safestsearches.com first, which will then redirect you to Bing. According to WebDiscover's End User License Agreement, they also state that they may show you advertisements related to the web pages or searches you are performing.
WebDiscover is not malicious or harmful to your computer, but does provide a bad user experience because users may not understand they are using a browser other than Google Chrome. Since WebDiscover is created using the source code of Google Chromium, the program will look almost identical to Chrome other than the name and icon being different. The main differences between Chrome and WebDiscover are that WebDiscover will push their searches through safestsearches.com and then ultimately to Bing. Furthermore, you may not benefit from the security updates that regular chrome users receive directly from Google.
It is important to note that WebDiscover is is installed by free programs that you download from the Internet, which did not adequately disclose that other software would be installed along with it. Therefore, it is important that you pay close attention to license agreements and installation screens when installing anything off of the Internet. If an installation screen offers you Custom or Advanced installation options, it is a good idea to select these as they will typically disclose what other 3rd party software will also be installed. Furthermore, If the license agreement or installation screens state that they are going to install a toolbar or other unwanted adware, it is advised that you immediately cancel the install and not use the free software.
As you can see, WebDiscover was created to generate revenue for the developers by customizing the open source Google Chromium. As this is essentially the same browser as Google Chrome, you are better off using Chrome so that you benefit from the latest security updates from Google. To remove this PUP and any related software, please use the removal guide below.
Array
View Associated WebDiscover Files %AppData%\Chromium\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Safe Browsing Cookies %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Safe Browsing Cookies-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Current Session %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Current Tabs %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Favicons %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Favicons-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Google Profile.ico %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\History %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\History-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Login Data %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Login Data-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Network Persistent State %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Preferences %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\README %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Secure Preferences %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Shortcuts %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Shortcuts-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Top Sites %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Caps\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\EVWhitelist\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\pnacl\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\First Run\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Local State\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\lockfile\ %Desktop%\WebDiscover Browser.lnk %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\config.json %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\DelayedStart.lnk %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\isa.dll %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\Start.lnk %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\unins000.dat %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\unins000.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\wdsvc2.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\chrome.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\wow_helper.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\48.0.2564.10.manifest %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\chrome.dll %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\default_apps\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\Extensions\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\Locales\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\VisualElements\ c:\WINDOWS\Tasks\WebDiscover Browser Launch Task.job c:\WINDOWS\Tasks\WebDiscover Browser Update Task.job
View Associated WebDiscover Registry Information HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium\BLBeacon HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium\BLFinchList HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium\StabilityMetrics HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WebDiscoverBrowser HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium\_NumAccounts HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium\_NumSignedIn HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium\FirstNotDefault HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{fd13f4a2-b0d8-4cad-9ccf-d4128eaf25ff}_is1 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WebDiscoverBrowser HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wdsvc HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "WebDiscoverBrowser" = "%ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\chrome.exe --docked" HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WebDiscoverBrowser "settings" = "{"search_url":"http://www.safestsearches.com/Results.aspx?n=2000&gd=SY1000235&searchsource=67&UM=8&D=123169&q={searchTerms}","suggest_url":"http://api.bing.com/osjson.aspx?query={searchTerms}"}"
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WebDiscover Removal Guide
- Mon, 29 Feb 2016 17:50:37 EST
- Read 212 times
WebDiscover is a Potentially Unwanted Program, or PUP, that is a custom built browser based on the open source Google Chromium browser. This program docks a search bar at the top of your desktop, which is is always shown even if you have other applications running. When you use the search bar to search the web, it will send the query to safestsearches.com first, which will then redirect you to Bing. According to WebDiscover's End User License Agreement, they also state that they may show you advertisements related to the web pages or searches you are performing.
WebDiscover is not malicious or harmful to your computer, but does provide a bad user experience because users may not understand they are using a browser other than Google Chrome. Since WebDiscover is created using the source code of Google Chromium, the program will look almost identical to Chrome other than the name and icon being different. The main differences between Chrome and WebDiscover are that WebDiscover will push their searches through safestsearches.com and then ultimately to Bing. Furthermore, you may not benefit from the security updates that regular chrome users receive directly from Google.
It is important to note that WebDiscover is is installed by free programs that you download from the Internet, which did not adequately disclose that other software would be installed along with it. Therefore, it is important that you pay close attention to license agreements and installation screens when installing anything off of the Internet. If an installation screen offers you Custom or Advanced installation options, it is a good idea to select these as they will typically disclose what other 3rd party software will also be installed. Furthermore, If the license agreement or installation screens state that they are going to install a toolbar or other unwanted adware, it is advised that you immediately cancel the install and not use the free software.
As you can see, WebDiscover was created to generate revenue for the developers by customizing the open source Google Chromium. As this is essentially the same browser as Google Chrome, you are better off using Chrome so that you benefit from the latest security updates from Google. To remove this PUP and any related software, please use the removal guide below.
Array
View Associated WebDiscover Files %AppData%\Chromium\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Safe Browsing Cookies %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Safe Browsing Cookies-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Current Session %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Current Tabs %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Favicons %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Favicons-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Google Profile.ico %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\History %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\History-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Login Data %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Login Data-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Network Persistent State %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Preferences %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\README %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Secure Preferences %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Shortcuts %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Shortcuts-journal %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Default\Top Sites %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Caps\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\EVWhitelist\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\pnacl\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\First Run\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\Local State\ %AppData%\Chromium\User Data\lockfile\ %Desktop%\WebDiscover Browser.lnk %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\config.json %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\DelayedStart.lnk %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\isa.dll %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\Start.lnk %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\unins000.dat %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\unins000.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\wdsvc2.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\chrome.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\wow_helper.exe %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\48.0.2564.10.manifest %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\chrome.dll %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\default_apps\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\Extensions\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\Locales\ %ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\48.0.2564.10\VisualElements\ c:\WINDOWS\Tasks\WebDiscover Browser Launch Task.job c:\WINDOWS\Tasks\WebDiscover Browser Update Task.job
View Associated WebDiscover Registry Information HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium\BLBeacon HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium\BLFinchList HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Chromium\StabilityMetrics HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WebDiscoverBrowser HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium\_NumAccounts HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium\_NumSignedIn HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Chromium\FirstNotDefault HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{fd13f4a2-b0d8-4cad-9ccf-d4128eaf25ff}_is1 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WebDiscoverBrowser HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wdsvc HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "WebDiscoverBrowser" = "%ProgramFilesX86%\WebDiscoverBrowser\2.78.2\chrome.exe --docked" HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WebDiscoverBrowser "settings" = "{"search_url":"http://www.safestsearches.com/Results.aspx?n=2000&gd=SY1000235&searchsource=67&UM=8&D=123169&q={searchTerms}","suggest_url":"http://api.bing.com/osjson.aspx?query={searchTerms}"}"
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