WinSnare - How to remove

WinSnare virus is a illegitimate copy of Snare application. Official Snare tool is supposed to help users collect their logs and combine them for analysis. After these logs are gathered, they are sent to Snare servers. However, this article will discuss a rogue software that enters devices similarly to Windows Quick Manager.

But what is WinSnare PUP capable of? Security experts agree that it is not a beneficial addition to an operating system. Instead, the presence of WinSnare indicates that devices need some attention and help. Our group of researchers agree that this application belongs to a group of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) (Techopedia).

These statements should be enough to convince you that keeping WinSnare is not a reasonable resolution. WinSnare does not seem to possess any features that would be helpful to users. amuleC is a similar unwanted application that copies a legitimate software.

WinSnare unwanted software is supposed to gather information about infected devices and their owners. Research about this application showed that this collected information is sent to a remote website. We assume that this domain belongs to hackers that are able to obtain all of the delivered details.

Symptoms of WinSnare virus

WinSnare rogue tool might attempt to pose as a legitimate application from InterSect Alliance International Pty Ltd. However, this tool is generated by other developers and their product is considered as a PUP. In addition to that, the legitimate application is called Snare, and hackers decided to go with the name WinSnare. This is another feature that can help you separate the original and the suspicious program. Respectable security researchers have emphasized that this tool can be seen as a Adware.GenericKD.5497002 (Sophos).

Why is it so important to remove WinSnare virus? Well, it is capable of keeping records of your online activity, which means that hackers are going to be informed about your preferred websites and advertisements. Such details might be convenient when crooks attempt to commit ad-fraud.

Additionally, WinSNare adware can opt to steal your credentials: passwords, nicknames and other information you exploit online to log into a certain account. We are certain that you have no desire to compromise yourself nor to have your personal information taken without permission. Since researchers labeled this tool as an adware, it could initiate in activities, similar to the ones that GreatZip or Muvflix initiate.

You should also be aware that personally-identifiable information is a popular product to be sold on the dark web. If such details end up with scammers, these unreliable people might exploit them to commit identity theft (Justice). Besides that, you might suffer from financial losses if hackers would obtain your bank account details and passwords.

WinSnare malware infection will act secretively: it can run in the background and you won’t be able to notice its existence without running a thorough analysis. Lastly, since one potentially unwanted program was able to make a smooth landing on your system, it would not be surprising to see other applications do the same. Since your system might be facing multiple infections, please run a security scan to be informed of every threat.

Distribution of WinSnare PUP

All potentially unwanted programs have a specific strategy: they wish to enter devices completely secretively, without users’ knowledge. If you do not want to become infected with malware threats, you should start being more cautious during browsing. First of all, you are to avoid any suspicious content which might be uploaded in random websites. It is possible that by visiting such websites you are risking to face a drive-by download when malicious executables might be secretively placed into your device.

The same result might occur if you download programs from websites where anyone can submit software. It is possible that programs you find available might actually be Trojans, or carry additional applications. The latter ones are usually recommended during Setup Wizards. If you notice such a suggestion, it is crucial that you do not agree to install such content. To better review the program you selected, select advanced/custom modes for their installations and always be attentive while reading their provided EULA documents.

If you infected with WinSnare, a thorough security scan is a necessity that you cannot avoid for long. If a potentially unwanted program managed to creep up on you, then additional malware threats might be present as well. Spyhunter will help you determine the security situation in your device. Helpful guide to remove WinSnare manually can be found below.

Manual removal of WinSnare PUP

How to remove WinSnare using Windows Control Panel

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

How to remove WinSnare from macOS

Delete WinSnare from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the WinSnare app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to WinSnare and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to WinSnare, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving WinSnare from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to WinSnare. Click on the trash bin icon next to WinSnare or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to WinSnare, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving WinSnare from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything WinSnare related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to WinSnare, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove WinSnare from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to WinSnare. Click on the "Remove" icon next to WinSnare or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving WinSnare from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the WinSnare. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to WinSnare, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.