WebExplorer Browser - How to remove

WebExplorer is a potentially unwanted web browser. It tries to replace people’s default web browsers and get them to use the Yahoo search engine. Although WebExplorer is not dangerous, it wastes your time with its search redirects and pop-up ads. Not to mention, it fails to provide any feature that would make it useful. WebExplorer should be removed, your favorite web browser should be reinstated, and your device should be checked for malware and adware.

About WebExplorer:

Classification	Bundler, adware, potentially unwanted program.
Problems with WebExplorer	Lack of useful features, misleading presentation, developer with a poor reputation, search hijacking.
How it gets installed	Bundling, misleading advertisements.
How to remove WebExplorer	Manually remove the WebExplorer browser, scan your computer for malware (with Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for Windows), etc.

Is WebExplorer dangerous?

WebExplorer browser is a potentially unwanted application, a Chromium browser. If its name sounds familiar, it’s because it was copied from IBM WebExplorer, an old web browser that was developed by IBM and has been discontinued. The WebExplorer we’re talking about is unrelated. It’s developed by a company that calls itself Better Cloud Solutions, the same one that’s responsible for BrowserIO and SearchBar adware infections. That is not a reputable developer. Off to a bad start.

WebExplorer is described on Mywebexplorer.co, its home page, as a browser that was based on Chromium. Chromium is an open-source platform for building web browsers. It is the backbone of Chrome, Opera, and the new Microsoft Edge. Unfortunately, Chromium is also abused by malicious actors to create barebones web browsers that promote specific websites and spy on users. WebExplorer is one of such dubious Chromium applications, similar to Chedot. Its installer is detected by multiple antivirus programs, as can be seen on this VirusTotal page.

WebExplorer is detected by antivirus programs as a bundler. Bundlers install additional, potentially unwanted programs, such as the Vuze toolbar. Bundlers do this without properly warning the user. This results in various unwanted programs being installed without getting your consent.

As a web browser, WebExplorer itself is not worth your attention. It is actually worse than plain Chromium. On Mywebexplorer.co, it’s presented as simplifying your browsing experience. Its icon is just Chrome’s icon with a blue swirl added. WebExplorer gets set as the default browser and uses its own search engine as the default. This search engine just opens Search.yahoo.com (this WebExplorer browser does not appear to be related in any way to the Web-explore.com search engine) and you can change it in WebExplorer’s browser settings.

WebExplorer is so similar to Chrome and other Chromium browsers, that a careless user who accidentally installed it might not even realize that WebExplorer is a different program. However, the WebExplorer browser itself (not its installer) almost passed the VirusTotal scan unscathed (link to the page), which makes sense. It is annoying and unhelpful but hardly dangerous.

How adware gets installed

There are many ways for unwanted browsers like WebExplorer to get installed, even without your explicit permission:

• deceptive pop-up ads and fake update warnings,
• bundling with free programs,
• downloaded thanks to adware and trojans that were already present on the computer.

While trojans and adware infections can cause more infections, I don’t know that WebExplorer spreads like that. More likely is the first method mentioned: deceptive ads.

WebExplorer’s installation page is Mywebexplorer.co. It uses the same template as Insta Form Finder and many other browser hijackers: a big bright green button that says “Continue”, with the important information relayed in smaller and plainer text. These pages get advertised online on websites that tend to show aggressive ads. They open in the browser’s new tab. They are meant to look like serious warnings, to confuse people.

The text at the top of Mywebexplorer.co says to update your computer’s default browser, which is very misleading – WebExplorer is actually trying to replace, not update your browser:

Update your computer’s default browser
for a quick and convenient browsing experience.

All the important text about what WebExplorer is (such as “Search results are provided by Yahoo”) is presented in tiny print that is easy to ignore. Clearly, the people who are promoting WebExplorer aren’t interested in educating us on what this browser really is.

How to remove WebExplorer

It’s best to remove WebExplorer and use a safer web browser. You can uninstall WebExplorer manually by removing it from your Control Panel in Windows or the Applications folder in macOS.

However, knowing that WebExplorer is a bundler, it’s worth it to scan your computer with an antivirus program (like Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for Windows, others) and check the scan results. Or you could manually look for suspicious items(programs, apps, browser extensions) that were installed at the same time as WebExplorer, but it’s still worth it to double-check with an antivirus app.

Then, set your default browser to what you want it to be.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove WebExplorer Browser using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like WebExplorer Browser 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 WebExplorer Browser . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make WebExplorer Browser 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.