Open-source devices have their pros and cons. While they allow you to customize your experience, viruses can also piggyback on their code and infiltrate your device. This is what happened with the Chromium virus.
What Is Chromium?
Chromium is an open-sourced web browser project made by Google. A majority of the code mimics the classic Google Chrome browser, but the difference is that some of the code is contributed by others. While Chromium is a legitimate browser, its open-source code has made it unstable, full of bugs and a target for spreading viruses.
What Is the Chromium Virus?
The Chromium virus is a malicious web browser that is created using the Chromium code. It is able to overwrite the Chrome browser and replace the original shortcuts with fake ones. It can change the search engine default on your browser so that you’re directed to fake sponsored search results, and it can also control your apps, themes and extensions.
There are a few ways the Chromium virus can enter your system. Some of these include a download after visiting a malicious website; a fake alert prompting you to update your software or web browser; a download of freeware or shareware programs that have it secretly bundled; or a malicious email attachment. In some of these cases, you may know you’ve downloaded it, while other times the signs of the download will show up later on.
Signs the Chromium Virus Is on Your Computer
There are some indications that will alert you of the Chromium virus on your computer:
- Your web browser’s default home page is different.
- The search portal page is changed when the “new tab” is selected.
- Your web browsing experience is filled with irrelevant search results.
- There is an increase in advertisements.
- PC becomes slow and there is a high CPU usage.
- You are restricted from using installed applications and programs.
If you notice any or all of these, you’ll need to remove the Chromium virus from your computer. You can do this easily with an antivirus program like the Panda Security Cloud Cleaner or you can adjust your settings manually.
How to Remove the Chromium Virus From Your PC
If the virus was downloaded on your PC, you’ll need to find it on your device and uninstall it. Find your device and follow the instructions.
Remove Chromium from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10
Step 1: Click “Start” (logo in the lower left corner of the desktop).
Step 2: Choose “Control Panel.” If you do not see the “Control Panel” option, search for it in the search bar.
Step 3: Find “Programs and Features.”
Step 4: Choose to “Uninstall a program” and select Chromium or any other recently installed suspicious applications (sort by date).
Remove Chromium from Windows XP
Step 1: Click “Start” in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2: Choose “Settings.”
Step 3: Click “Control Panel.”
Step 4: Choose “Add or Remove Programs” and remove Chromium.
Remove Chromium from Mac OSX
Step 1: Click “Finder” in bottom left of your screen.
Step 2: Select “Applications” on the left menu.
Step 3: Find the Chromium app using the search function.
Step 4: Drag the app to the trash bin in the lower right side of your screen.
Step 5: Right click the trash and select “Empty Trash.”
Remove Malware From Your Internet Browser
Even if the Chromium virus is removed from your device, there may be other malware or adware that was bundled with the download. To remove any of these browser add-ons or malware, we have a step-by-step guide for removing adware from every Internet browser.
Remove malware from Internet Explorer
Step 1: Click the gear icon in the top right corner of the Internet Explorer screen.
Step 2: Select “Manage Add-ons.”
Step 3: Find any recently added extensions that look suspicious.
Step 4: Select the suspicious entry and click “Remove.”
Remove malware from Google Chrome
Step 1: Click the menu icon on Chrome (top right-hand corner).
Step 2: Select “More Tools.”
Step 3: Click on “Extensions.”
Step 4: Locate any browser add-ons that look suspicious and select “Remove.”
Remove malware from Mozilla Firefox
Step 1: Click the Firefox menu in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 2: Choose “Add-ons.”
Step 3: Select “Extensions.”
Step 4: Remove any recently installed suspicious plug-ins.
Remove malware from Safari
Step 1: Open your Safari browser and then choose the Safari menu, labeled “Safari” on the top left of your screen.
Step 2: Choose “Preferences.”
Step 3: Select “Extensions.”
Step 4: Find recent suspicious extensions and click “Uninstall.”
Although the Chromium virus does not damage your computer’s system, it can influence your browsing and put you at risk for more extreme viruses. To help ensure your computer is protected against these threats, try Panda Security’s Free Antivirus.
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