How to remove “Software release pack” pop-ups on Windows
If you notice a blue pop-up message on your Windows computer that says “Software release pack” your computer is infected with a malicious program. The “Software release pack” pop-up message appears on infected Windows computers. The message is displayed on a blue bar that takes up the entire display window and conceals open windows and the desktop behind it. The fake Windows Software release pack alert tries to trick users to click links on the blue bar. If a link is clicked various malicious programs, potentially unwanted programs, and other threats will continuously download.
The blue Software release pack message is not from Microsoft and you do not want to click ANY links or buttons on the blue bar. This message is from a malicious software bundler. The message will not leave unless you remove the malicious file native to the fake notification. If you are able to suspend the message it will come back unless the threat is completely removed. Clicking links on the message is not an option to remove this infection. In order to close the pop-up message you might need to disconnect your computer from the internet and restart your computer.
This is an example of a message that could be displayed:
Software release pack 4.08 is available New softwares are available, Skip to try later By clicking OK I acknowledge I have read and agree to the License Agreement and the Policy of all proposed updates
Files that cooperate and cause this message to appear are often introduced to a computer after a program has been downloaded. Downloading objects online including freeware and torrent files can result in potentially unwanted programs infecting the user’s system. Even if a program is well known and trustworthy, if you download it from a malicious site it can lead to a computer infection.
If the computer user has previously downloaded a malicious program, Software release pack adware might have automatically downloaded in the background without disclosure. The user might also be tricked into accepting the download under the guise of a program update or something else. Malicious publishers sometimes hide the download behind a terms and conditions page, effectively tricking users into downloading adware. In some instances Software release pack may be advertised as an extension to improve the user’s browsing experience in order to encourage a direct download. Regardless of how the system was infected, removal remains relatively unchanged.
How to remove “Software release pack” pop-ups on Windows
- Scan your computer for malware with Malwarebytes
- Scan your computer malware with HitmanPro
- Uninstall unwanted programs
- Remove unwanted add-ons and extensions
- Cleanup and repair settings with CCleaner
1. Scan your computer for malware with Malwarebytes
1. Download and Install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
2. Open Malwarebytes and click the Scan Now button – or go to the Scan tab and click the Start Scan button.
3. Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete click the Remove Selected button.
4. To finish the Malwarebytes scan and remove detected threats click the Finish button and restart your computer if promoted to do so.
2. Scan your computer for malware with HitmanPro
1. Download and Install HitmanPro by Surfright.
2. Open HitmanPro and click Next to start scanning your computer. *If you are using the free version you may chose to create a copy or perform a one-time scan.
3. Once the HitmanPro scan is complete click the Next button.
4. To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
5. Click the Reboot button.
3. Uninstall unwanted programs
1. Open Windows Start Menu and go to the Control Panel.
2. In the Programs section click Uninstall a program. In earlier versions of Windows this is listed as “Add and remove programs.”
3. Search for unwanted programs in the list of installed programs and double click one to initiate the manual uninstall process.
4. Once you have uninstalled the first unwanted program, search for other unwanted programs that may be installed on your computer and uninstall them as well.
4. Remove unwanted add-ons and extensions
Google Chrome
1. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon and go to More tools > Extensions.
2. Search for the unwanted extension in the list and click the trashcan icon.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Open the Menu and click Add-ons.
2. Search for the unwanted add-on and click Remove.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Go to Tools (Alt+X) and click Manage add-ons.
2. Search for the unwanted add-on in the list, select it with your mouse, and click Remove.
Apple Safari
1. Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
2. Search for the unwanted extension in the list and click the Uninstall button.
5. Cleanup and repair settings with CCleaner
1. Download and Install CCleaner by Piriform.
2. Open CCleaner and go to the main Cleaner screen. Click the Analyze button. When the process is complete, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Go to Tools > Startup and search for suspicious entries in each tab starting from Windows all the way to Content Menu. If you find anything suspicious click it and click the Delete button to remove it.
4. Go to the Registry window and click the Scan for Issues button. When the scan is complete click the Fix selected issues… button and click Fix All Selected Issues.
