How to Remove PrimeUpd Adware

Can’t Remove PrimeUpd ads? This page includes detailed ads by PrimeUpd Removal instructions!

PrimeUpd is a highly questionable PC program. Instead of allowing you to update software, it causes you damage. This pest has been classified as an adware-type parasite. Now, if you’ve had previous experience with adware, you know just how annoying it is. In fact, adware infections are considered to be the most irritating type of virus online. Luckily, they are also considered to be the least destructive kind of parasite. We would strongly recommend that you take action ASAP. Instead of keeping the virus on board, get rid of it for good. After all, this is a nasty creation of cyber crooks. PrimeUpd was developed to help them gain revenue online. Improving your online experience is hackers’ last concern. Immediately after PrimeUpd slithers itself onto your machine, it starts making changes. Unauthorized changes. The parasite adds a brand new extension or a plugin to your browsers. And this is just the beginning of a long, long list of malicious traits. Now that your PC is infected, your entire online experience is no longer up to you. Hackers take advantage of your own browsers to generate web traffic. Ultimately, they succeed in making money through the pay-per-click mechanism. This technique lets cyber criminals gain revenue online completely behind your back. The problem is, PrimeUpd takes control over all your favorite browsers. It never seeks your permission. Instead, the infection might modify your browser settings further. That means you may come across random toolbars, for example. As a result of these shenanigans, your browsers end up injected with ads. Keep in mind that regardless of how attractive these commercials appear to be, you have to avoid them. Nothing generated by a cyber parasite could be possibly considered reliable. As mentioned, hackers boost web traffic to some specific websites. Crooks cover your PC screen with their tailored pop-up ads and try to trick you into clicking. Restrain yourself from clicking these coupons, discounts and other devious commercials. You might save yourself a headache that way. PrimeUpd displays quite an impressive variety of pop-up ads. That includes pop-up ads, pop-under ads, banners, interstitials, video ads. To make the mess even bigger, PrimeUpd might generate some bogus program updates as well. Do not allow crooks to harass you; it’s your job to uninstall their tricky adware. The sooner, the better.

How did I get infected with?

The virus didn’t ask for permission, did it? More often than not, such parasites rely on your distraction online. Take freeware/shareware bundles, for instance. Every single time you download such bundled programs, be careful. You might accidentally agree to download a lot more than you originally wanted. Hackers could attach a whole bunch of parasites to a seemingly harmless bundle. If you skip installation steps, your machine gets infected. Yes, it’s that easy. Next time you download bundled software, opt for the Custom option in the Setup Wizard. Unless you watch out for parasites in advance, you could compromise your own safety. It goes without saying that the Web is filled with malicious parasites. Infections apply different distribution techniques. To protect your PC, you have to constantly watch out for potential intruders. Stay away from unverified websites and the unverified programs the offer. Also, check out the Terms and Conditions or EULA (End User License Agreement) of what you install. This could allow you to prevent malware installation. Bear in mind that some parasites also travel the Web via fake email-attachments. Instead of clicking open the random emails/messages you receive, delete them. Last but not least, keep an eye out for fake torrents and third-party pop-up ads.

Why is this dangerous?

PrimeUpd works with all three of the most popular browsers. Its plugin works with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. That means you’re in for some serious trouble. Due to the parasite’s presence on board, you get redirected. You also can’t get rid of obnoxious commercials and misleading ads. Clicking anything brought to you by the virus would be a mistake and you know it. Why believe hackers are trying to provide you the best deals? They are only trying to gain revenue at your expense. Hackers might also cause you privacy issues. You see, the parasite collects your sensitive browsing-related information. PrimeUpd steals browsing history, email addresses, IP addresses, usernames, passwords. There’s no doubt hackers could sell your data for marketing purposes. To prevent that, tackle the virus right away. You will find our detailed manual removal guide down below.

How to Remove PrimeUpd virus

The PrimeUpd infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the PrimeUpd infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the PrimeUpd infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down PrimeUpd in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate PrimeUpd startup location

STEP 3: Delete PrimeUpd traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down PrimeUpd in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate PrimeUpd startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean PrimeUpd virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean PrimeUpd traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the PrimeUpd by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by PrimeUpd

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for PrimeUpd, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove PrimeUpd argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove PrimeUpd Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.