Updated on: April 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 but 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.
60-Days Risk-Free — Try Norton Now
Preliminary Step: Checking for a 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 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 an antivirus software and run a disc scan — or follow these steps to check if WebHelper is on your system.
First, it’s important to know 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.
- Take control of other programs.
- Steal banking details.
- Steal passwords.
Because WebHelper records keystrokes, it’s recommended you change your passwords after the virus has been removed from your PC.
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 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.
The first full disk scan can take up to 4 hours, because the antivirus is going through and analyzing every single file and process on your computer, so you need to sit tight.
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 has 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 disc 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 viruses out there, and to stay safe and avoid further infections, there are some further measures you need to take.
Step 3. Keep Your Device From Getting Re-Infected
Since the WebHelper virus has infected you once already, 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 you 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 doesn’t have a password, then anyone can connect to it, and that includes hackers. And even if your Wi-Fi is password-protected, if the password is weak and easily guessed, you’re still vulnerable.
- 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.
Best Antivirus Programs for Removing the WebHelper Virus
Quick summary of the best antiviruses for removing the WebHelper Virus:
- 🥇1. Norton — Best overall antivirus for removing the WebHelper Virus in 2024 (100% detection rate).
- 🥈2. Bitdefender — Lightweight cloud-based scanner that removes 100% of malware (including PUPs).
- 🥉3. TotalAV — Reliable antivirus suite with a great free version that removes viruses.
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.
To safely remove WebHelper, you should use antivirus software like Norton 360. Here, I’ve written out some straightforward steps on how to download and run Norton.
Why is the WebHelper virus dangerous?
The WebHelper virus is dangerous because it can open a backdoor into your PC, allowing hackers to:
- Steal valuable data.
- Modify data.
- Copy 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.
