How to remove Commercial Extension Cable (Virus Removal Guide)

by Sean Doyle · Published May 23, 2015 · Updated September 11, 2022

The “Commercial Extension Cable virus” is a term many use to identify very destructive and intrusive adware and a potentially unwanted program. This unwanted program is usually spread by various other unwanted programs and deceptive freeware. Commercial Extension Cable is known to use stealth tactics in order to remain hidden and install in the background without user detection. Once Commercial Extension Cable is installed it will primarily generate pop-up advertisements across Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and other internet browsers that are installed on the infected machine.

Commercial Extension Cable virus

What is Commercial Extension Cable?

Commercial Extension Cable is never promoted as a standalone program and it has no former description. Programs alike this adware are usually promoted as a free web shopping helpers which provide online coupons and deals. This adware can be found as a Microsoft Windows program that can be uninstalled from Windows Control Panel or as a web browser add-on and extension.

One of the biggest concerns the cyber security community has with this adware is that it serves ‘targeted’ advertisements to users while they browse the web. This is a privacy concern because targeted advertisements can only be produced by the adware if it has access to user browsing data, such as all browsing activities, bookmarks, app data, and browser history. This information is observed and used to generate advertisements it feels users are most likely to click on.

Furthermore, potential Commercial Extension Cable malware primarily bundles with additional unwanted programs, malware, and other possible malicious threats. This means that it might be necessary to uninstall multiple programs from Windows and remove multiple browser add-ons and extensions from Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. Many of these programs can not easily be found on a computer system without third-party security software.

Commercial Extension Cable adware and the programs that it bundles with also schedule new tasks and change existing Windows start-up settings in order to run every time Windows starts and remain enabled. Programs and browser attachments that bundle with this deceptive piece of adware can also cause other issues for computer and internet users aside from pop-up advertisements including browser redirects and a loss in computer and internet functionality.

Commercial Extension Cable adware is usually contracted without consent or knowledge of the computer user alongside third-party programs and files, such as freeware, shareware, torrent files, and other free downloadable content. The potentially unwanted programs and files that deliver the adware can be introduced to a computer system and affected internet browsers with or without user authorization.

Computer and internet users who seek to download and install free programs and files online may be presented with an opportunity to accept or decline a ‘custom’ offer to install Commercial Extension Cable adware and other programs during the setup and installation process. However, the request to decline Commercial Extension Cable adware from installing is often presented in a very confusing manner. In some cases, the download manager may completely ignore the user request to decline Commercial Extension Cable from installing and the adware will install against user consent and knowledge.

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The Commercial Extension Cable extension can read and change all your data on the websites you visit and read and change your browsing history.
The Commercial Extension Cable extension can manage your apps, extensions, downloads, and themes.
Commercial Extension Cable bundles with other potentially unwanted programs and possible malware.
Commercial Extension Cable can arrive on a computer system packed inside installers and downloaders from websites such as download.com, Softonic, and others.
Commercial Extension Cable injects visited webpages with pop-up, pop-under, in-text, and in-image advertisements.
Commercial Extension Cable makes unwanted changes to existing Windows settings and schedules new tasks allowing it to run every time Windows starts and to check to see if the program has been disabled. If the program has previously been disabled it will enable itself to run.

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How to remove Commercial Extension Cable

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Step 1: Remove Commercial Extension Cable extensions
Step 2: Uninstall Commercial Extension Cable malware from Windows
Step 3: Remove Commercial Extension Cable virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Step 4: Cleanup and repair settings with CCleaner by Piriform
For Tech Support Call: 1-888-986-8411

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Step 1: Remove Commercial Extension Cable extensions

We recommend that you write down the toll free number below in case you run into any issues or problems while removing this infection. Our techs will kindly assist you with any problems.

Google Chrome

1. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon on the top menu and navigate to More tools > Extensions.

2. Search for the Commercial Extension Cable extension in the list. Remove unwanted browser extensions individually by clicking the trashcan icon next to each one.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Type Ctrl+Shift+A.

2. Search for the Commercial Extension Cable add-ons on the Extensions and Plugin tab. Highlight each one individually and click remove.

Apple Safari

1. Click Safari and go to Preferences > Extensions.

2. Find the Commercial Extension Cable extension in the list and click the Uninstall button.

Step 2: Uninstall Commercial Extension Cable malware from Windows

1. Open Windows Start Menu and go to the Control Panel.

2. On Windows Control Panel, click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program in the Programs section.

Commercial Extension Cable removal

3. Search for Commercial Extension Cable and other unwanted programs in the list of installed programs. Once an unwanted program is located, double click the item or select it with your mouse and click the Uninstall button. If you can not find this program in the list of installed program please see steps 3 and 4 below.

Step 3: Remove Commercial Extension Cable virus with Malwarebytes

1. Download and install the free or full edition of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The full edition of this program enables real-time protection to block malware and unwanted programs from infecting your computer, while the free version is only a free scan and removal tool.

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2. Open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

Malwarebytes

3. Click the Scan Now button or go to the “Scan” tab to manually run a scan.

Malwarebytes 2

4. When the malware scan is complete you will notice a list of files it has detected. Click the Remove Selected button, then click Finish, and reboot your computer.

If you are still having issues with malware it is recommended to download and install a second opinion scanner such as HitmanPro by Surfright to eradicate existing malicious files and automatically repair corrupted settings.

Step 4: Cleanup and repair settings with CCleaner

1. Download and install the free or full edition of CCleaner by Piriform.

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2. Open the program and go to Cleaner and click the Analyze button. After files and have been analyzed, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.

3. Go to Registry and click Scan for Issues. When the scan is complete click Fix selected issues… and then click the Fix All Selected Issues button.

CCleaner startup

4. Go to to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from Windows, Internet Explorer, all the way to Context Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Delete once anything suspicious is found to remove it.

If you are still experiencing issues removing potential Commercial Extension Cable malware after using this removal guide we recommend to perform a system restore/recovery or a reset/refresh for Windows 8.