Introduction: WSA Newbie
You can just call me Mark. My previous internet security software came out with a free upgrade to their 2015 version. The interface was horrible and just turned me right off and it was blocking my access to my favourite on-line shopping site... amazon.com. I had enough and uninstalled it and installed Webroot Security Anywhere. WSA looks nice and seems to perform better. Starting last week I noted that fake security warnings and java/flash software downloads were occurring as popups and redirected tabs in all my web browsers... I already messaged WSA Official Support about it. Anyway, Since I am inexperienced with WSA, there could be a feature that I am overlooking? Also, I figure I might possibly get some help here in the WSA community when needed. Dell XPS8300 Desktop OS = Windows 7 (64Bit) Webroot Security Anywhere Firefox 33.1.1 Chrome 39.0.2117.71m Internet Explorer 11 (rarely use it) In addition to WSA, I have tried the below programs: Ad Aware Malwarebyes Hitman Pro (64Bit) RKill Rouge Killer Hijackthis Combo Fix
+3Hello Mark@AKMARK5000, and Welcome to Webroot's Community Forum,
May I ask first how long ago did you contact Support, as they might not get back until after the weekend, but in the meantime, let us give you some guidance and info, and see if we can get rid of those issues ourselves.
In Advanced Settings>Scan Settings make sure you have "Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications" checked, and scan then.
Also, you can check in the individual browser's extensions/addons if you see any strange or unknown ones, and uninstall (or disable) any dodgy ones.
Check in Control Panel> Programs if there are any Programs unknown to you, and try to uninstall, or ask us any questions
.Information:
What you are seeing and describing sounds like it may be what we on the Community refer to as a PUA. (Potentially Unwanted Application) These are very annoying at best in that they cause pop-us, redirect your browser home page, and other behavior that may slow down the computer and direct ads your way, but they are not actually doing anything bad like damaging files or stealing information. Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools.. but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.
WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behavior that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.
For those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Trouble Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article.
For those that ARE detected by WSA, but cannot be removed automatically, you can submit a Trouble Ticket. Webroot Support will help you get these annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge, and the additional examples may help to better automatic removal of that particular PUA for all users in the future.
To make sure that your WSA is checking for PUA's with the best proficiently, it sometimes helps to reset the PUA detection within WSA's settings. For PUA's that had previously been scanned and determined to be OK, but have since been added to detection/removal, you may want to complete the following steps:
I hope this helps you both understand, and resolve the problem and if not please let us know!
NOTE: As noted above, PUA's that:
are often NOT detected and removed. This is partly for legal reasons: the source of the download can complain about it's extra software being blocked automatically by Webroot. There may be to allow WSA to recognize and block a LOT more PUA's than it currently can. Please see THIS IDEA for more information, and give a KUDO if you agree. User Idea requests are noted by the Webroot Team, and the more Kudo's on an Idea the more likely we may see dev time devoted to it.
Thanks!
May I ask first how long ago did you contact Support, as they might not get back until after the weekend, but in the meantime, let us give you some guidance and info, and see if we can get rid of those issues ourselves.
In Advanced Settings>Scan Settings make sure you have "Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications" checked, and scan then.
Also, you can check in the individual browser's extensions/addons if you see any strange or unknown ones, and uninstall (or disable) any dodgy ones.
Check in Control Panel> Programs if there are any Programs unknown to you, and try to uninstall, or ask us any questions
.Information:
What you are seeing and describing sounds like it may be what we on the Community refer to as a PUA. (Potentially Unwanted Application) These are very annoying at best in that they cause pop-us, redirect your browser home page, and other behavior that may slow down the computer and direct ads your way, but they are not actually doing anything bad like damaging files or stealing information. Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools.. but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.
WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behavior that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.
For those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Trouble Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article.
For those that ARE detected by WSA, but cannot be removed automatically, you can submit a Trouble Ticket. Webroot Support will help you get these annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge, and the additional examples may help to better automatic removal of that particular PUA for all users in the future.
To make sure that your WSA is checking for PUA's with the best proficiently, it sometimes helps to reset the PUA detection within WSA's settings. For PUA's that had previously been scanned and determined to be OK, but have since been added to detection/removal, you may want to complete the following steps:
- Open Webroot SecureAnywhere
- Click on ‘Advanced Settings’ from the top right
- Select ‘Scan Settings’ from the left side
- Unselect the option “Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications”
- Click on the Save button (you may have to enter in a CAPTCHA)
- Reselect the option to “Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications”
- Click on the Save button
- Run another scan with Webroot and remove any items that get detected.
I hope this helps you both understand, and resolve the problem and if not please let us know!
NOTE: As noted above, PUA's that:
- Come in with other downloads
- Have a clear opt out ability prior to install
are often NOT detected and removed. This is partly for legal reasons: the source of the download can complain about it's extra software being blocked automatically by Webroot. There may be to allow WSA to recognize and block a LOT more PUA's than it currently can. Please see THIS IDEA for more information, and give a KUDO if you agree. User Idea requests are noted by the Webroot Team, and the more Kudo's on an Idea the more likely we may see dev time devoted to it.
Thanks!
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