How to remove URL:MAL pop-up virus

You can find URL:MAL mentioned in AVG reports, adware pop-ups, or even when trying to access a potentially suspicious website. It’s not an uncommon sight since URL:MAL (which stands for URL:Malicious) is a legitimate warning issued by Avast and AVG, indicating potential malicious sites.

But the problem is when you don’t actually own these antiviruses or the warning is popping up frequently. This suggests an infection that could lead to damaging consequences like phishing scams, identity theft, additional malware infections, and device lockout.

In any case, it’d be wise to not take the virus lightly. We’ll guide you through how to remove URL:MAL pop-up virus from your device in this article. Let’s dive in.

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What is URL:MAL?

URL:MAL (short for URL:Malicious) serves as a general threat name used by Avast and AVG antiviruses to warn users that they’re trying to access a malicious website. It’s a sign that your antivirus is working properly.

But, what if you don’t actually have either Avast or AVG? Or, perhaps, you encounter these warnings too frequently? Well, then, there’s a very good chance that your device has been infected with malware.

The malware may be trying to lure you into clicking a link or disclosing personal details. It could also try to trick you into calling a fake support hotline in order to scam you. Or, it could simply lead to more malware on your device.

Here’s a quick overview of the URL:MAL virus and what you’re up against:

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How did URL:MAL get into my computer?

There are plenty of ways through which the URL:MAL infection can infiltrate your computer. Here are some of the most common entry points:

• Downloading malicious applications. If you’ve downloaded software from compromised or unofficial sources, such as torrenting sites, there’s a huge risk that the app is secretly bundled with an additional one that contains the URL:MAL virus.
• Installing malicious extensions on your browser. Malicious browser extensions often collect your personal data, track your online activities, and inject intrusive ads (that lead to URL:MAL) under the pretense of extending features or enhancing the browsing experience.
• Visiting malicious sites. Many websites were created specifically to spread malware. By visiting these sites, your computer could very easily fall victim to the URL:MAL infection.
• Clicking on malicious links or ads. It could be extremely difficult to recognize malicious links and one wrong click will redirect you to a malicious website with URL:MAL that can infect your system.
• Downloading malicious files by accident. Malware-infected files are often disguised as legitimate files. So, an accidental click of a seemingly harmless link or button is all it takes to download the file and introduce the URL:MAL virus to your computer.

How to get rid of URL:MAL virus

URL:MAL removal is nothing too complicated. However, you need to get it done right so that cybercriminals can no longer exploit the malware. So, first, you need to remove the URL:MAL virus from your computer using either a top-quality antivirus or manually. Next, you need to reset your browser settings.

To remove URL:MAL, you can follow the step-by-step guides here:

Run a scan with an antivirus

Getting rid of the URL:MAL virus using an anti-malware tool is simple, All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Pick a reputable and effective antivirus. TotalAV is perfect for URL:MAL removal
2. Sign up for a subscription
3. Download and install the antivirus on your computer
4. Run a full system scan
5. Follow the onscreen prompts and instructions provided by the antivirus program

Remove URL:MAL from your device

Remove the URL:MAL virus from Windows PC manually

If you’re wondering about how to get rid of URL Malware from your Windows PC manually, here’s how you should go about it:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and head to Settings
2. Click on Apps and then select Installed Apps
3. Go through the list and keep an eye out for suspicious apps. This includes the ones that you didn’t download or don’t remember downloading. If you aren’t confident that you can weed out all the suspicious programs and apps, you can always use a trusted antivirus like TotalAV to scan your device
4. Once found, click on the three dots and hit Uninstall
5. Click Yes when prompted and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the uninstallation process

Remove the URL:MAL virus from Mac manually

For those with a Mac device, the process is equally as easy. Here’s how you remove URL:MAL from your Mac:

1. Head to Finder and click on Go in the toolbar
2. Click on Applications
3. Look out for suspicious apps that aren’t familiar to you
4. Select the app and drag it to the bin or right-click and select Move to Trash
5. To complete the task at hand, you still need to delete the relevant files in Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders. So, click on Go again
6. Hit Go to Folder and then plug in /Library/Application Support and press Enter
7. In the folder, select the suspicious entries and delete them
8. Repeat Steps 5-7 for the LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folders

Remove URL:MAL by resetting your browser settings

Operating systems aside, URL:MAL can also impact web browsers. So, you’ll need to remove URL:MAL from your browser, too, by resetting your browser settings. The entire process is straightforward but might vary slightly depending on the specific browser that you’re using.

Resetting your browser settings on Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings
2. Navigate to Advanced. Click on it
3. Scroll down and click on Reset Settings. Then, hit the Restore settings to their original defaults button
4. Wrap up the resetting process by clicking on the Reset Settings button
5. Restart Chrome

Resetting your browser settings on Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner
2. Scroll down and hit Help
3. Click on More Troubleshooting Information
4. On your right, you’ll see Give Firefox a tune up
5. Click on Refresh Firefox
6. Press Refresh Firefox again to confirm

Resetting your browser settings on Safari

1. Launch Safari and click on Safari in the toolbar
2. Scroll to Preferences and hit up Advanced
3. Make sure that the Show Develop menu in the menu bar option at the bottom of the window is checked
4. In the toolbar, select Develop and then press Empty Caches
5. Then, head to History and select Clear History
6. Return to Preferences and search for Privacy
7. Select Manage Website Data and press Remove All to delete cookies
8. Click on Remove Now to confirm
9. Restart Safari

Resetting your browser settings on Microsoft Edge

1. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner
2. Scroll down and navigate to Settings. Click on it
3. Search for Reset SettingsHit Restore settings to their default values
4. Hit Restore settings to their default values
5. Confirm by clicking on Reset

How can I protect my PC against viruses?

Whether you’re dealing with a URL:MAL infection or another type of malware, it’s important to recognize the severity of such attacks and the destruction that they bring with them. Identity theft, financial losses, and device lockouts are just some of them.

So, it’s critical to protect your device and personal information. Here are some tips and recommendations on how to protect yourself against viruses and other cyberthreats in the future:

• Protect with an antivirus. The best way to protect against URL:MAL and cyber attacks is to install a reputable antivirus solution like TotalAV. The solution helps to scan and monitor your system for potential threats as well as prevent malware attacks with its real-time protection.
• Update your software, operating systems, and drivers. Even the smallest vulnerability opens up the door to an attack. But, with each update, the developers will include security patches to tackle the vulnerabilities, making it that much harder for malware and hackers to exploit them.
• Refrain from clicking on suspicious links and email attachments. Malicious email campaigns are a worrying but common malware distribution method. Therefore, it’s important to be extra vigilant with email attachments and links. Exercise caution by skipping files sent from suspicious or unfamiliar email addresses. Plus, you should also hover over links to confirm their destinations before clicking.
• Don’t download suspicious files. Never download files from unofficial or unknown sources. This is particularly true for executable files as they can carry malware.
• Avoid suspicious ads. Malicious ads are a common cause of malware infections. So, exercise extreme caution with online ads, especially if they appear dubious, unreliable, or just too good to be true. You should avoid clicking on pop-up ads, ads from untrusted sources, or those that redirect you to unfamiliar websites.

Conclusion

The URL:MAL virus is a huge source of annoyance but it also poses a serious threat to your online safety. Some of its most damaging consequences include financial losses, identity theft, and compromised privacy.

Hence, it’s vital to address the URL:MAL infection promptly and properly. And, the best way to do so is with a reliable and trusted antivirus solution like TotalAV. The software detects and swiftly removes the URL:MAL virus on your behalf. Alternatively, manual URL:MAL removal is also possible, but it’s often less convenient and more technical.

Once you’ve successfully removed URL:MAL, it’s essential to adopt all the necessary preventive measures to avoid future malware infections.

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