What is Chromium?
Chromium is a name of web browser based on Google Chrome source code. According to developers, Chromium is much safer and faster than all already existing browsers. Actually, Chromium is not the malicious program, however, its infiltration method may raise suspicion. The program is installed without anybody noticing and agreement. Also, this browser can replace Google Chrome and user may not even notice this as their shortcuts and interface are very similar. This behavior can be classified as a potentially unwanted program. Moreover, using Chromium as your default browser can cause problems. The program constantly generates a different kind of ad on each page you visit, some of them are displayed in form of “virtual layer” that conceals underlying content. Such advertisement usually promotes useless and malicious software, other one redirects you to dubious websites containing diverse infections like viruses, Trojans, and e.t.c. In this case, just one click is enough to get infected with the virus. Being an open-source browser, cybercriminals often exploit it for their own ends. Certainly, all above-listed actions can not only corrupt your browser’s work but also can compromise your system security.
Another unpleasant feature of Chromium is personal information tracking. It can monitor your searching queries, frequently visited page, browsing story, geolocation, all the keyboard and mouse inputs you make in this web browser. All the stolen information may be shared and misused by third-parties to generate revenue. Annoying and intrusive ads, redirecting links, randomly opening page and even spying on your Internet activity – all of these are the result of the Chromium impact. Removing this kind of malware and restoring your default settings is quite a difficult task for ordinary users who have not dealt with these kinds of things before. This guide is specially written to cope with the task in the fight against this malware. Just follow the instructions to fully remove Chromium.
How Chromium infects your PC?
As mentioned above, Chromium usually gets on the computer through the “bundling” – popular marketing method. In this way, the program is bundled with other free application that you can download online. Unfortunately, the majority of charge-free software doesn’t properly notify that other software will also be installed. To prevent your computer from infection we advise you to be careful and never rush when you install the software. Always opt for the “Custom/Advanced” settings and never agree to install additional unnecessary programs. Hackers also exploit security holes in the computer to distribute their products. Remember, the key to computer safety is caution. The powerful anti-malware program also wouldn’t go amiss.
How to remove Chromium from your computer?
The best and easiest way to remove Chromium from your computer is to use special anti-malware program that has this threat in its database. The program is fully automated, all you need to do is to download and install it. Once you’ve installed anti-malware application, it will scan your system and remove all the threats.
It scans your computer and detects various threats like Chromium, then removes it with all of the related malicious files, folders and registry keys. After deep scanning of your system, it will easily find and delete Chromium. Use this removal tool to get rid of Chromium for FREE.
Norton 360 Antimalware – this program will help you to get rid of Chromium. It can find malicious program that is corrupting your system and clean up junk files after removal.
CleanMyMac – fully removes all instances of Chrome from Mac and Safari. After deep scanning of your system, it will easily find and delete Search.hemailloginnow.com. Use this removal tool to get rid of Search.hemailloginnow.com for FREE.
Combo Cleaner – can find malicious program that is corrupting your system and clean up junk files after removal.
How to remove Chromium manually
Step 1: Remove Chromium from Control Panel
In order to get rid of Chromium, first thing you need to do is to uninstall malicious program from your computer. When removing Chromium, try to find suspicious recently installed programs and delete them too, as it’s pretty common that any malware comes with some other unwanted programs.
Windows XP:
- Select Start.
- Control Panel.
- Then choose Add or Remove Programs.
- Search for Chromium.
- Click Uninstall.
Windows 7/Windows Vista:
- Select Start.
- Then Control Panel.
- Choose Uninstall a Program.
- Find Chromium and choose Uninstall.
Windows 8/Windows 8.1:
- Open the Menu.
- Select Search.
- After that choose Apps.
- Next Control Panel.
- Then as in Windows 7, click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
- Find Chromium, select it and choose Uninstall.
Windows 10:
- Click on the Start button (or press the Windows key) to open the Start menu, then select Settings at the top.
- Choose App & features on the left menu.
- On the right side, find Chromium and select it, then click on the Uninstall button.
- Click on Uninstall to confirm.
Mac OSX:
- Launch Finder
- Select Applications in the Finder sidebar.
- If you see Uninstall Chromium or Chromium Uninstaller, double-click it and follow instructions
- Drag unwanted application from the Applications folder to the Trash (located on the right side of the Dock)
Note: If you can’t find required program, sort programs by date in Control panel and search for suspicious recently installed programs. If you still can’t locate any suspicious program or not sure what some application is for, we advise you to run full system scan using anti-malware program in order to track down what malicious program is infecting your system.
Step 2: Removing malicious link from your browser shortcuts
Sometimes even removing of malicious program from your computer and web browser can’t help. If you are still facing unknown webpage when you open your web browser, then you might have your browser shortcut changed. It’s pretty common trick that performs most of browser hijackers. They change your browser shortcut so that every time you open it you’ll see not your homepage, but some advertisement webpage. But this issue is quite simple to fix. The instruction stated below matches most of the browsers.
- Right-click on your browser shortcut, choose Properties.
- If you see a link to some website after .exe in the Target field, read on.
- Usually you are not able to delete a link from Target field, that’s why you need to click on the Open File Location button in this window.
- Once you’ve opened file location, select chrome.exe/firefox.exe/iexplore.exe.
- Right-click on this file and choose Sent to option, then Desktop (create shortcut).
- New shortcut will have no additional redirection links.
- Delete old infected shortcut. If you got one in your taskbar, delete it from there too.
- Now you have new and clear shortcut without redirection to unknown websites.
Step 3: Resetting your browser search and homepage settings
To be sure that there is nothing left behind, we recommend you to reset your browser. It will restore your browser settings to default.
Reset browser settings in Google Chrome:
- Click the Chrome menu (3 bar button) in the top right corner.
- Choose Settings.
- Click Show advanced settings.
- Go to Reset browser settings section.
- Click Reset browser settings.
- In the dialog that appears, click Reset.
Reset browser settings in Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox.
- Go to Help.
- Go to Troubleshooting information.
- Click Reset Firefox… button.
Reset browser settings in Internet Explorer:
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Click on the cogwheel in the right upper corner.
- Click Internet options.
- Got to Advanced tab.
- Click Reset button.
- Put a tick near Delete personal settings checkbox.
- Click Reset button.
Step 5: Remove following files and folders of Chromium:
Remove following registry entries:
Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Value: GoogleChromeAutoLaunch_29547C284DF612A3A7B0DAC3918C9547
Data: C:\users\{username}\AppData\Local\Chromium\Application\chrome.exe
Remove following files:
Chromium.dll
chrome.exe
chromium.exe
Remove following folders
C:\users\{username}\AppData\Local\Chromium\
C:\Program Files\Chromium\