Updated on: September 22, 2024
Short on time? Here’s how to remove the WebHelper virus:
- 1. Scan Device — Install a reliable antivirus program and run a full system virus scan (Norton has a very effective virus scanner).
- 2. Remove Virus — If the antivirus detects the WebHelper virus, let it remove the virus and all files related to it.
- 3. Stay Protected — Protect your PC from other cybersecurity threats by using a high-quality internet security suite (Norton also offers a great range of internet security protections).
But luckily, even if your device does get infected, removing the WebHelper virus is easy if you follow the right steps. That said, never try to uninstall the virus manually or move it to your recycling bin — you risk doing irreparable damage to your system.
The best way to remove the WebHelper virus is to download and install a comprehensive antivirus program like Norton 360. Norton will not only isolate and remove the WebHelper virus, but it will also destroy any other viruses that may have infected your system too. It will then keep you safe from further malware infections with its excellent real-time protection.
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Preliminary Step: Check for the WebHelper Infection
This step is for advanced users who want help in understanding malware diagnostics. If you simply want to remove the WebHelper infection, skip ahead to learn how.
WebHelper is not affiliated with Windows or Mac in any way — so if it’s on your computer, you should take steps to remove it. If you’re not sure if WebHelper is on your system, you can just download antivirus software and run a disk scan — or follow these steps to check if WebHelper is on your system.
First, it’s important to know that the WebHelper virus can also appear as “utorrentie.exe”.
Hit CTRL + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to bring up Windows Task Manager. If you see either “webhelper.exe” or “uTorrentie.exe” running as a background process, your system is infected, and you should follow these removal steps.
What’s scary about this virus is that if you simply delete or uninstall “uTorrontie.exe” or “webhelper.exe”, WebHelper.dll — hidden in your system files — will reinstall the virus when you restart your PC.
So, even though you’ll think you’re safe when you restart your system, you’ll find the virus can still display ads or play sounds on your computer, record your keystrokes, and take control of other programs.
Because WebHelper records keystrokes, it’s recommended that you change your passwords after the virus has been removed from your PC. I highly recommend using a good password manager to help you generate and store really safe passwords for all of your accounts. A password manager can also auto-fill your passwords, meaning you don’t have to type them, and they’ll remain hidden from keyloggers.
No matter how you identify the virus on your system, you should follow these removal steps to protect yourself from both WebHelper and future threats.
Step 1. Identify the WebHelper Virus With Your Antivirus (And Don’t Make the Problem Worse!)
REMEMBER: To avoid infecting your other devices and external drives, make sure not to connect them to your infected computer.
To identify and quarantine the WebHelper virus, you’ll need to run a full disk scan with your antivirus program. As well as dealing with the WebHelper virus, this scan will ensure your device isn’t infected with any other malware, like spyware, rootkits, or worms.
It’s really important that you let the scan finish. Even if you think you know where the infection started or where the suspicious .exe file is located, you should scan your full system, as the virus might have copied itself into other parts of your device. And never cancel the scan just because you see the virus appear on the infected file list — there may well be other copies that need finding and removing too.
In rare cases, the first full disk scan can take up to 4 hours. The antivirus is going through and analyzing every single file and process on your computer, so you need to sit tight. But in my experience, full scans generally take less time than that — especially on newer computers.
Once the antivirus tells you the scan is complete, you can be confident that the WebHelper virus and any other piece of malware on your system have been identified and quarantined.
Step 2. Remove the WebHelper Virus Infection and Delete Any Other Infected Files
Once the full disk scan is complete, your antivirus will give you the option to delete the infected files it’s identified. If you’re an advanced user, you might want to look through the quarantined files one by one to check there are no false positives before you get rid of everything. That said, non-technical users don’t need to worry about this — if a quality antivirus like Norton has flagged a file as malware, it’s probably not something you want on your computer.
When you’ve deleted all the infected files, you should restart your computer and run a second disk scan. This extra step will ensure that you’ve got rid of every trace of the WebHelper virus. In most cases, the second scan will be a much quicker process, because top antiviruses like Norton can remember which files they’ve already scanned.
It’s important that you let the second scan run to completion as well, so you can be confident every corner of your disk has been analyzed. If anything comes up in quarantine from this second scan, make sure to review and delete it. And that’s it! Your device is now free of malware.
But that’s not the end of the story — there are thousands of other viruses out there, and I recommend taking some further measures to stay safe and avoid any other infections.
Step 3. Keep Your Device From Getting Re-Infected
Since the WebHelper virus has already infected your device once before, you now know how easy it is to fall victim to malware. Unfortunately, there are new malware threats every day, and identity theft and hacking of unsecured Wi-Fi networks also pose a real threat. The good news is that there are a few simple measures you can take to keep yourself safe online.
- Keep Your Software, OS, and Drivers Up-to-Date: Keeping your software up-to-date is absolutely essential to keep your device safe from the newest threats. This is because software developers are constantly working to patch vulnerabilities in their programs that could be exploited by hackers. Basically, the older the software you’re running, the greater the chance that your device could get hacked. Some antiviruses can help with this.
- Don’t Download Suspicious Files: Most malware disguises itself in seemingly legitimate emails or as free software, so be on the lookout for this, and if you have the slightest doubt, don’t click it. Remember that even an email from a friend or co-worker can contain malware, as their account may have been hacked — so check with the sender if you ever receive a file you’re not sure about.
- Secure Your Wireless Network: Unsecured Wi-Fi networks are very vulnerable to hacking, so it’s vital that you make sure your home Wi-Fi is protected with a strong password. If your Wi-Fi network doesn’t have a password, then anyone can connect to it, and that includes hackers. Use a good password manager to help you generate and store secure passwords that can easily be shared with family members — I recommend 1Password.
- Download a Secure Antivirus Program: While there are many antivirus products on the market, and they all claim to keep you safe online, only a few of them genuinely offer comprehensive protection. I recommend using Norton thanks to its perfect malware detection rates and powerful real-time protection.
Best Antivirus Programs for Removing the WebHelper Virus
Quick summary of the best antiviruses for removing the WebHelper Virus:
- 🥇1. Norton — Best antivirus to remove the WebHelper virus & other malware threats.
- 🥈2. Bitdefender — Lightweight cloud-based scanner that removes 100% of malware.
- 🥉3. TotalAV — Reliable, simple antivirus suite with a great free version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WebHelper do?
WebHelper infects PCs through deceptive downloads, often in the form of scam emails or fake uTorrent clients.
Once WebHelper is embedded in your system files, it can:
- Monitor keystroke and mouse clicks.
- Take control of other programs.
- Display ads or play sounds on your computer.
- Steal bank details.
- Steal passwords.
If your PC is infected with WebHelper, follow the above removal steps and change your passwords when finished.
How do I uninstall WebHelper?
If you close WebHelper or try to remove it manually, it will boot back up again when you restart your PC. This is even the case if you stop the process in the Windows task manager. If you don’t nip the malware in the bud properly, it’ll just keep restarting itself.
That said, there’s hope! The most effective way to remove WebHelper is to use reliable antivirus software. An app like Norton 360 will help you identify the malware and delete it safely without affecting your system.
Why is the WebHelper virus dangerous?
The WebHelper virus is dangerous because it can open a backdoor into your PC. This can allow hackers to steal, copy, or modify your data through the use of keylogging.
Trojans often lurk under seemingly harmless names like WebHelper, making it challenging to identify an infection. To defend against sneaky threats like this, it’s wise to have a dependable antivirus active on your device.
