How to remove Chromium virus
Even though Chromium in itself is a legitimate browser created by Google, it can cause issues when downloaded from unofficial sources. The fake Chromium browser is a great way to distribute malware which then causes you to see random advertisements and doesn’t let you access your apps.
In this article, you’ll learn all about the Chromium browser. Most importantly, you’ll find out how to identify and remove the Chromium malware. You’ll also get recommendations on how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
What is Chromium browser?
It’s probably hard to find an internet user who hasn’t heard what Google Chrome is. Yet, not many have heard of Google’s web browser called Chromium. While it looks very much like Google Chrome, the Chromium browser is not an impostor – it’s actually an open-source project. It means that trusted developers can contribute to the project with a source code.
Chromium browser is as safe as Chrome when it’s downloaded from a trusted source. However, since it involves an open-source code, hackers use it to share malware. So, a fake version of Chromium can infect your device with viruses. If you want to find out if there’s a malicious Chromium browser on your computer, read further to find out what are the symptoms of a Chromium virus.
How do I know Chromium malware is on my computer?
Spotting Chromium malware is not that hard because it makes visible changes to your computer. So, here’s what gives away that Chromium malware has infected your device:
- The web browser’s default homepage has changed.
- You keep getting suspicious or non-relevant search results and random advertisements.
- When you open a new tab, the search page is different than usual.
- The CPU usage becomes very high and your device becomes much slower.
- You can’t access applications that are installed on your device.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should check if the Chromium application is installed on your computer. If there is, you should remove it together with any suspicious browser extensions that it might have left behind.
How to remove Chromium virus from your computer
What you need to do first is remove the core of the problem, which is the Chromium file on your computer. This step-by-step guide will help you do it both for Windows and Mac:
Remove Chromium from Windows 8, 10 or 11
1. Click the Windows logo “Start” button on the left corner of your desktop.
2. Type in “Control Panel” and open it.
3. Depending on the version of Windows that you have, you should either see a “Programs” or “Programs and Features” section. Click on it.
4. If you’re not sure what programs can be at fault, click on the “Installed on” section to sort them by the installation date. Find and uninstall any recent applications that you don’t recognize.
Remove Chromium from Mac
1. Click on the “Finder” icon in the left corner of the Dock.
2. Press on “Applications” on the left side of the opened window. Navigate to the “Search” section in the top right corner of the opened window.
3. Type in “Chromium” to find the infected app. If it’s not there, search for other suspicious programs.
4. Drag the infected program to the “Trash” bin on your Dock.
5. Right-click on the “Trash” folder and click on “Empty trash”.
How to remove Chromium virus from your browser
After removing the virus from your computer files, it’s time to abolish malicious extensions from your web browser. So, here are all the steps on how to remove the Chromium virus from the most popular browsers:
Remove malware from Chrome
1. Click on the three vertical dots, which is the menu section, in the top right corner of the browser.
2. Navigate to the “More tools” section and click on “Extensions”.
3. If you find any suspicious extensions, click “Remove” under them.
Remove malware from Firefox
1. Click the three lines in the top right corner of Firefox.
2. Press on “Add-ons and themes”.
3. On the left side of the window, select “Extensions”.
4. Check your recently installed extensions and if you find any of them suspicious, remove them.
Remove malware from Safari
1. On the top left corner of your screen, press on “Safari”.
2. Open the “Preferences” section.
3. Choose “Extensions”. Click “Uninstall” on any suspicious add-ons.
Remove malware from Microsoft Edge
1. At the top right corner of your browser, click on the three dots, which is the menu option.
2. Press on “Extensions”.
3. Look for extensions that seem suspicious. Remove them.
How do I protect my computer from the Chromium virus?
After you’ve successfully removed the Chromium virus, you want to make sure that you don’t experience the same issue repeatedly. There are several ways you can protect your computer from future virus attacks.
- Update your operating system. While operating systems are being developed, hackers also don’t sleep on the opportunity to create new threats. New viruses are being established and systems have to catch up and install extra security patches on your device. That’s why updating your operating system is crucial.
- Avoid suspicious links or dangerous websites. Make sure you always know what you’re clicking on. Don’t press on links that don’t look legitimate and make sure that you download programs from official websites only.
- Avoid public networks. When wifi is public, it means you aren’t aware of who else connects to it. Not only can hackers find ways to distribute malware onto your device, but they can also see all of your internet activity.
- Use a safe web browser. Some browsers focus on security more than others. Research which web browsers include more security features and warn you about potential online threats. For example, the Tor browser offers strong anonymity.
- Get a quality antivirus. As careful as you are and as much as you wish to protect yourself from viruses, it’s not always possible to track what gets into your device. That’s why you should get a quality antivirus. We’d recommend TotalAV antivirus. It notifies you when your computer is infected or when you’re trying to access a harmful website.
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FAQ
Is it safe to uninstall Chromium?
Yes, it’s safe to uninstall Chromium. Chromium is a legitimate web browser when downloaded from a trusted source, much like Google Chrome. Since the browser is open-source, it can be replicated by hackers that want to distribute malware. So, if you accidentally got a fake version of Chromium, uninstalling Chromium would rather help your device than harm it.
Is Chromium browser a virus?
No, the Chromium browser is not itself a virus. Chromium browser is legitimate and was developed by Google. Yet, when downloaded from an unknown source, it can be fake. A hacker can use a fake Chromium browser to control your apps, extensions, and even steal your data.
How do I stop Chromium from opening on startup?
If you want to stop Chromium from opening on startup, you can uninstall it. If you’re using Windows, you can uninstall the web browser from the control panel. If you’re a Mac user, you can simply detect the Chromium app in the Finder, and drag it into the trash bin.
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