How to get rid of Softonic pop ups

BarbandCharlie · 19 Jul 2020

I have Win 10 and have spent much time searching how to get rid of Softonic popups. I don't think there's any way to do it. Best I can tell, Softonics comes from Microsoft and is loaded into Microsoft Edge. And from there it invades all browsers. Even though I don't use Edge, I use Firefox, it still pops up in Firefox. I've followed directions online to get rid of the pop ups in Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome. My ISP even sent directions to help. Nothing works. Online directions for Edge take you way into the system and I don't know enough to go that far. Can't delete Edge from your computer, that's what they say, that there are components in Edge that make Windows work. That's probably not true but I don't want to find out. I've tried Malwarebytes and it doesn't recognize Softonics. AVG doesn't either. After spending many exhausting hours for the past couple of days, I turned my computer off, then back on later and immediately got a pop up window saying that Softonics was downloading something about photos. I couldn't stop it and can't find any new downloads or software anywhere to delete it. These invasions are well hidden in the system. Please don't tell me to block pop ups or delete extensions or Control Panel or any more of that simple obvious stuff. It doesn't work. I would like to know if anyone really knows, or just guessing, how to delete Softonics from my computer. Thanks, Barb

OldNavyGuy · 19 Jul 2020

BarbandCharlie said:

Best I can tell, Softonics comes from Microsoft and is loaded into Microsoft Edge. And from there it invades all browsers. Even though I don't use Edge, I use Firefox, it still pops up in Firefox.

It doesn't come with Windows.

Download and run the free tool AdwCleaner.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

Failing that, download and run the free tool Emsisoft Emergency Kit.

Emsisoft | Emergency Kit: Free Portable Malware Scan and Removal

dalchina · 19 Jul 2020

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...7-87a9c29ef5da

- e.g. reply by ErikaVabel

The information on the Browser "Push Notifications" was very helpful as was using Emsisoft. Using both suggestions, I was able to eliminate the notifications!

BarbandCharlie · 19 Jul 2020

to Old Navy Guy - thanks for your note. I already tried malwarebytes and it doesn't work. I Will try the other software you recommended. I've had this computer for a year now. It was a week ago I downloaded Flash and Mozilla Thunderbird but I can't understand how a malware could attach itself to those programs. Is nothing safe to download anymore? But those are the only things I downloaded and it started after that. The softonic pop ups are advertising, they sell products. It also downloaded something into my computer about photos on its own. It is a bad malware. If I could figure out where it came from and how it got into my computer, maybe that would give me some clue how to get rid of it. If you look at the window that pops up, it says in small letters at the bottom microsoft.com and Edge. So microsoft has something to do with it. My forum question seems to have disappeared from their site today and I got a note saying I wouldn't get any more replies until I logged in again, so I'm trying to figure that out now. thanks, BarbandCharlie

Jacee · 19 Jul 2020

@BarbandCharlie ........ Download and run adwcleaner from here: Download AdwCleaner

OldNavyGuy · 19 Jul 2020

BarbandCharlie said:

to Old Navy Guy - thanks for your note. I already tried malwarebytes and it doesn't work. I Will try the other software you recommended.

AdwCleaner is owned by Malwarebytes, but it is not the Malwarebytes program.

Totally different.

You likely clicked on something that installed the Softonic stuff, and didn't realize it.

When you finally get it removed, I would suggest looking in to using the browser extension uBlock Origin for both Firefox and Microsoft Edge.

BarbandCharlie · 19 Jul 2020

Thanks to all, Jacee and Dalchina who have replied to my question. I thought my question had been taken down because I can't find it on the forum site, but its obviously still there since I'm still getting replies, but I can't find it. Originally put in General but I guess its been moved. I guess. If it weren't for the emails the site is sending, I wouldn't be able to see your replies.

I'm looking into these malware sites as you have suggested. I find some cost money, not that I'm adverse to spending money if it works, but I don't know if it will work. Other sites have scared me away saying it might disconnect my computer from the internet - well I had tech support help get connected so if it disconnects, I have no idea how to reconnect. Other site I couldn't get the software to download, other site says to custom install, or too complicated, do this and don't do that. So I'm still working on it.

Still wondering if anyone has actually had the softonics problem and what exactly they did to get rid of it.

barbandcharlie

idgat · 19 Jul 2020

BarbandCharlie said:

I already tried malwarebytes and it doesn't work.

What do you mean "doesn't work" ...as in it wouldn't run, or it didn't find the Softonic adware ? Did it find anything at all (I'm yet to see a session of MWB on any computer that doesn't find something that shouldn't/needn't be there, irrespective of how dangerous or innocuous it might be) ?

Malwarebytes plus Adwcleaner together are usually perfect for adware removal.

Try Geek Uninstaller to see if there is any Softonic software listed.

Also check your browser add-ons/extension to see if there are any Softonic entries that can be removed.

The only way this could have happened is if you clicked on something unnecessary to install/add the Softonic adware to your device and/or browser. What software have you allow and/or install recently?

Jacee · 19 Jul 2020

BarbandCharlie
Browsers and E-Mail

Your topic was moved to this part of the forum: How to get rid of Softonic pop ups

BarbandCharlie · 19 Jul 2020

What I mean by malwarebytes doesnt work is after the program runs, it didn't find the softonic adware, it says Pups 0 Pums 0 Threats found 0, Items quarantined 0, everything is 0, doesn't find anything. It's scheduled to run everyday, I have run it several times, it doesn't find anything. Same with my AVG software. I have checked ad ons, uninstall programs, extensions, clear browsing data, I even looked on the popups window to see if there was an unsubscribe, silly but of course there wasn't. I followed all directions online for all browsers and can't find softonics anywhere in this computer. I have been places I didn't know were there. I have done searches in windows to see if I can find a softonics file. I can't remember everything I've done. I have not yet tried the malwarebytes adware cleaner, Is that different from malwarebytes? I think the cleaner is the one where it said in the directions it might disconnect computer from the internet and don't do this and don't do that and if this happens do this and if that happens do that. I am not that smart with the computer and the directions scared me away. One of the programs I couldn't get it to download from the .exe file from the download folder, it wouldn't open. Have you heard of anyone who had softonics malware who was able to get rid of it? I don't think you can get rid of it?

thanks,
barbandcharlie