Found this program on my computer - koala personal search - and it won't uninstall....running Windows 7 OS How do I rwmove it?
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Hello lonniepackard, and Welcome.
This is an Adware which has probably arrived unknown (or unnoticed) , most likely bundled with another software.
Firstly, try looking in Control Panel>Programs for it, perhaps as another name, installed recently, and uninstall.
Then try resetting the browsers. Is it affecting all browsers?
1.Open Internet Explorer, click on the “gear icon” http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/icongear.jpg in the upper right part of your browser, then click again on Internet Options.
2.In the “Internet Options” dialog box, click on the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
3.In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
4.When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. You will now need to close your browser, and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
FIREFOX:
1.In the upper-right corner of the Firefox window, click the Firefox menu button (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Firefox-menu-button.png), the click on the “Help” (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Firefox-Help.png) button.
2.From the Help menu, choose Troubleshooting Information.
3.Click the “Reset Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
4.To continue, click on the “Reset Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
5.Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.
CHROME:
1.Click on the “Chrome menu button” (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Chrome-button.png) on the browser toolbar, select “Tools“, and then click on “Extensions“.
2.In the “Extensions” tab, remove the Koala Personal Search any other unknown extensions by clicking the trash can http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Trash-Can-Chrome.png icon.
Basically, if you have not installed an extensions then you should remove it from your web browser.
Also: Reset browser settings - Chrome Help
Also see here: PUA Removal
What you are seeing and describing is 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.
The best thing to do is to submit a Trouble Ticket and ask Webroot Support to take a look and remove these for you. There is NO CHARGE for this for valid WSA license holder.
Also, we have had a lot of discussion regarding these recently, and I have posted an Idea for Webroot to consider asking them to increase PUA detection. The more users that need help removing a particular PUA the more likely and faster that PUA will be added to detection.
I hope this helps!
Let us know if you have any questions.
This is an Adware which has probably arrived unknown (or unnoticed) , most likely bundled with another software.
Firstly, try looking in Control Panel>Programs for it, perhaps as another name, installed recently, and uninstall.
Then try resetting the browsers. Is it affecting all browsers?
1.Open Internet Explorer, click on the “gear icon” http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/icongear.jpg in the upper right part of your browser, then click again on Internet Options.
2.In the “Internet Options” dialog box, click on the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
3.In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
4.When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. You will now need to close your browser, and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
FIREFOX:
1.In the upper-right corner of the Firefox window, click the Firefox menu button (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Firefox-menu-button.png), the click on the “Help” (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Firefox-Help.png) button.
2.From the Help menu, choose Troubleshooting Information.
3.Click the “Reset Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
4.To continue, click on the “Reset Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
5.Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.
CHROME:
1.Click on the “Chrome menu button” (http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Chrome-button.png) on the browser toolbar, select “Tools“, and then click on “Extensions“.
2.In the “Extensions” tab, remove the Koala Personal Search any other unknown extensions by clicking the trash can http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Trash-Can-Chrome.png icon.
Basically, if you have not installed an extensions then you should remove it from your web browser.
Also: Reset browser settings - Chrome Help
Also see here: PUA Removal
What you are seeing and describing is 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.
The best thing to do is to submit a Trouble Ticket and ask Webroot Support to take a look and remove these for you. There is NO CHARGE for this for valid WSA license holder.
Also, we have had a lot of discussion regarding these recently, and I have posted an Idea for Webroot to consider asking them to increase PUA detection. The more users that need help removing a particular PUA the more likely and faster that PUA will be added to detection.
I hope this helps!
Let us know if you have any questions.
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