RunBooster Adware - How to remove

RunBooster ads that appear in your web browser, like in search results, are not normal; they’re a symptom that the RunBooster adware has infected your device. It works on Windows PCs and comes bundled with other programs. It injects advertisements into webpages, opens new tabs, and exposes you to dangerous sites. RunBooster itself is not extremely dangerous, only very frustrating. But the malicious sites that it opens can cause real harm.

In short about RunBooster:

Classification	Adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program).
RunBooster infection symptoms	Pop-ups, new tabs, redirects, text links in the browser, freezing and crashing browser, slow internet.
How the adware spreads	Comes bundled with free programs.
Remove RunBooster	Scan your computer with Spyhunter, Malwarebytes, or another good-quality antivirus program, uninstall unwanted programs, delete the bundler, avoid unsafe freeware installers.

Symptoms of RunBooster infection

RunBooster injects ads into the search results of popular search engines, like Google.com. The ads may be labeled as “Ads by RunBooster”, but not necessarily. Sites other than search engines, like online stores, may also get ads injected in them. These ads can mess up the layout of some websites and cover up content, making them difficult to use. Other times, RunBooster may turn some keywords into links.

Another symptom is random sites opening in your default web browser. Periodically, RunBooster might open a new tab with a website. The sites advertised by RunBooster include:

• various online gambling sites,
• scams and fake giveaways, such as the “Today’s lucky visitor” scam,
• browser hijackers and other adware,
• fake virus warnings that advertise dubious antivirus software products,
• adult sites that don’t ask you to confirm that you’re an adult.

In general, ads by RunBooster lead to some predatory sites. Some of them trick people into providing their credit card details and then abuse their access to them. Others, like certain gambling and adult sites, don’t even try to check your age, making RunBooster dangerous to children and possibly putting you in some awkward situations. Not to mention, RunBooster’s ads can put your security and privacy in danger by opening dangerous sites.

Like most adware infections, such as Hot Deals, DealPly, UniDeals, etc., RunBooster makes the browser unstable and slow, causing it to crash and freeze frequently.

How adware infects computers

People don’t install RunBooster themselves, instead, it comes bundled with various free programs and gets installed in the background. Freeware needs to make money, after all, and many of these programs are monetized by bundling them with software that pays to be distributed with. Many free commercial programs include optional offers. Some free non-commercial programs are bundled with unwanted programs by certain download sites.

You could be extremely careful during each installation: scan the installer, check every setup screen for hidden terms and conditions, etc. But sometimes the included software still slips by and RunBooster gets installed. Thanks to its generic name – RunBooster by SkyNET – you may not pay attention to it when you see it on your computer initially just because it doesn’t stand out.

But most antivirus programs should be able to detect RunBooster. Here is one relevant VirusTotal page. If you scan every download, especially program installers, you should be able to avoid most bundle malware.

How to get rid of RunBooster

Uninstall unwanted programs from the Control Panel -> Programs screen. Scan your computer with an antivirus program, such as SpyHunter or Malwarebytes, to find and remove adware and malware infections. And delete the installer that originally introduced RunBooster to your computer.

If RunBooster opened a site in your browser that started spamming you with unwanted notifications, here’s an article on how to stop them.

Additionally, keep note of which program and which freeware download site you got RunBooster from. You may want to find a more reliable download site.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove RunBooster Adware using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like RunBooster Adware install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to RunBooster Adware . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make RunBooster Adware easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.