What is Pokki?

Pokki is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that installs onto a Microsoft Windows Operating System with or without user consent. It has additionally partnered with computer manufacturers that pre-load the program onto a factory computer system. A concern with the program is that it can download and install as a browser add-on, browser helper object (BHO), and browser add-on named Pokki or Pokki Download Helper that will attach to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Once Pokki is installed it will run every time Windows is started. In some cases, the program causes Windows task bar to lock and makes it difficult to navigate to other locations on the computer system. The Pokki icon placed on Windows task bar is often locked and does not respond to being clicked. This can make it very difficult to uninstall Pokki and other programs as directions to Windows uninstaller or access to Windows uninstaller is compromised or changed. If this is the case it may be necessary to right click the task bar and remove Pokki Toolbar to access a Windows Operating System properly.

Pokki is also reported to violate user privacy rights. In some cases users have reported unwanted and excessive email spam, junk mail, and even telephone calls from telemarketers concerning their recent internet browsing activity. This concludes that Pokki malware and related items will collect and distribute personal information including your name, home address, telephone number, browser activity, browser history, and more. Pokki and related items may also collect information users manually submit online while Pokki is installed including usernames, passwords, credit card information, bank account details, and more. If you ever wondered why you receive so much junk mail, etc. Pokki may be the culprit.

Pokki may also corrupt internet browser settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer, changing the browser’s homepage and internet search engines, causing unwanted browser redirects to websites such as search.conduit.com. Pokki malware may also allow third-party browser hijackers and apps to install without consent, change browser settings, and collect personal information (permissions).

Though Pokki may appear as a legitimate and trustworthy item used to add or replace the Windows start menu, add apps to your computer, and more, the potentially unwanted program has more issues than value and is not recommended by security experts and passed users.

Pokki is promoted by questionable tech websites including TechCrunch. The primary objective of these websites (blogs) including the TechCrunch website is to generate money using exotic techniques such as producing press releases for unwanted programs; therefor their analysis on such products is entirely irrelevant, misleading, and harmful.

Pokki and relating items may displays and prompt unwanted advertisements including pop-up, pop-under, in-text, and others. Pokki advertisements and promotions may also appear on the Pokki start menu and appear when users are offline. It should be noted that independent apps provided by Pokki have separate permissions which may cause further complications.

How did Pokki get on my computer?

Pokki can get onto a computer alongside third-party downloadable content including freeware and shareware as many distributors and developers, including PC manufacturers such as Lenovo bundle the item in order to generate revenue despite the unethical techniques and tasks operated by the unwanted program.

Pokki and the Pokki Download Helper can also be manually and voluntarily downloaded and installed from a variety of websites including download.com and pokki.com.

Pokki removal steps

• Step 1: Uninstall Pokki from Windows
• Step 2: Remove Pokki browser add-on and extensions
• Step 3: Remove malware with Malwarebytes
• Step 4: Clean up and repair settings with CCleaner

Step 1: Uninstall Pokki from Windows

1. Go to the Control Panel on Windows Start Menu.

2. Click Uninstall a program (or Add and remove a program) in the Programs section.

3. The Programs and Features window will open. This window contains a list of programs installed on your computer. Search for suspicious and unwanted programs in the list of installed programs. Once a program you want to remove is located, double click it to begin the uninstall process (or select the program and click Uninstall). To sort programs that were recently installed on your computer click the “Installed On” tab. This makes it easier to identify problematic programs that may have been contracted around the same time you started to notice symptoms of this infection.

Step 2: Remove Pokki browser add-ons and extensions

Google Chrome

1. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon and go to More tools > Extensions.

2. Search for suspicious extensions in the list and click the trashcan icon next to each one.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Menu and click Add-ons.

2. Search for suspicious add-ons and click Remove next to each one.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Go to Tools (Alt+X) and click Manage add-ons.

2. Search for suspicious add-ons, select one individually with your mouse, and click Remove.

Apple Safari

1. Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions.

2.  Search for suspicious extensions in the list and click the Uninstall button next to each one.

 

Step 3: Remove malware with Malwarebytes

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1. Open your browser window and download Malwarebytes 3.0 Premium or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free.
2. Open the executable file (mb3-setup.exe) to begin installing Malwarebytes.
3. Select your language, click Next, then select “I accept the agreement,” click the Next button several times, and then click the Install button to install Malwarebytes. Click Finish once the install process is complete.
4. Open Malwarebytes and click the Scan Now button on the Dashboard to begin scanning your computer.
5. Click the Quarantine Selected button once the scan is finished.
6. If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.

Step 4: Clean up and repair settings with CCleaner

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1. Open your browser window and download CCleaner Professional or CCleaner Free.
2. Open the executable file (ccsetup.exe or other) to begin installing CCleaner.
3. Click the Install button to begin stalling the program.
4. Click Run CCleaner to open the program when installation is complete.
5. Select the Cleaner tab and click the Analyze button.
6. When the Analyze process is complete click the Run Cleaner button to clean all files.
7. Next, select the Registry tab and click the Scan for Issues button to scan for issues in your registry.
8. When the scan is complete click the Fix selected Issues button and Fix All Selected Issues button to fix the issues.
9. Next, select the Tools tab and click Startup. Examine each area, search for suspicious entries, and delete any suspicious startup entries by selecting the entry and clicking the Delete button.
10. Next, click Browser Plugins and search each internet browser for unwanted browser add-ons and extensions. Click the extension you want to delete and click the Delete button to remove it.