How To Remove The MyPoints Virus – Mypoints.com Redirect Malware Removal Instructions
What is the MyPoints virus (mypoints.com)?
The MyPoints virus is a term for potential combo malware categorized as adware and browser hijacker (MyPoints Toolbar by Infospace) discovered by botcrawl.com that changes internet browser settings without direct permission of the computer user and has been reported to install to a computer and attach to internet browsers without consent. The MyPoints virus changes the home page, default and managed search engine (internal search), browser shortcuts, and other settings and options of internet browsers that it allegedly infects, causing internet browsers to redirect to http://www.mypoints.com, http://www.mypoints.com/mysearch.vm, other web pages on the www.mypoints.com domain, and third-party websites, as well as target and ultimately start up on mypoints.com. The MyPoints virus also displays unwanted advertisements, including in-text, pop-up, and pop-under advertisements.
MyPoints claims to be a legitimate browser attachment and Toolbar (MyPoints Toolbar) used to search the web for games, rewards, and deals. MyPoints claims you can gain points by searching and shopping online or submitting to third-party and sponsored offers. Though this system does allow users to gain points, it should be noted that MyPoints may entrap internet users to terms they would not likely agree with if presented in a proper manner.
MyPoints search results are sponsored and may display suspicious, malicious, and spam websites, including websites that promote badware when prompted to search for “botcrawl.”
If you are infected with MyPoints malware, redirecting to mypoints.com and unwanted websites, or experiencing unwanted MyPoints advertisements, use our free MyPoints removal instructions further below to remove MyPoints and stop your browser from redirecting to and starting up on MyPoints.com. and other webpages and domains including mypoints.com/websearch, and search.certified-toolbar.com.
Is Mypoints.com safe, legitimate (Mypoints.com review)?
Mypoints.com is a very popular website according to Alexa concerning web traffic, but it is unclear if visitors of mypoints.com visit the website on their own will. Futhermore, there are many websites like mypoints.com that offer deals and offers for users, but do not properly detail their terms or user agreements therefore entrap victims to their terms. It can be said that mypoints.com knowingly targets and entraps unsuspectnig internet users to terms they would never agree with if presented in a proper manner. These terms include details that may invade the privacy of MyPoints users and introduce users to unethical third-parties, including adware, spyware, and additional browser hijackers.
For reasons concerning potential cyber criminal activity, the invasion of privacy, and entrapment, mypoints.com is not safe and the MyPoints Toolbar is not a legitimate browser addon and extension (BHO).
What is MyPoints Toolbar by Infospace
The MyPoints Toolbar by Infospace is a potential malicious browser helper object that is referred to as the MyPoints browser hijacker or MyPoints Toolbar hijacker that is closely associated with adware and spyware. MyPoints Toolbar runs automatically every time you start your computer and internet browser. The MyPoints BHO is not stopped by personal firewalls, because MyPoints.dll is identified by firewalls as part of an internet browser. The unique ID of the MyPoints Toolbar BHO is A057A204-BACC-4D26-CEC4-75A487FD6484. Mypoints.dll is able to monitor internet browser activity and record inputs. The MyPoints Toolbar file is not a Windows system file and MyPoints Toolbar malware has no file description, which is a big safety concern.
MyPoints Toolbar can be removed from using Control Panel access, but has been reported to be very difficult to remove. Many reports indicate that the MyPoints Toolbar engages in unethical marketing practices in order to target and entrap unsuspecting victims to terms they would likely not agree to if presented with in a proper manner.
MyPoints Toolbar .dll file description: mypoints.dll is located in a subfolder of “C:Program Files”. The file size on Windows 7/XP is 1,909,248 bytes.
How to remove MyPoints malware (Hijacker)
- Uninstall MyPoints malware – Use the correct MyPoints malware uninstall procedures (2 options)
- Scan computer for malware – Scan for and remove additional malware from your computer
- Automatically repair browser settings – Automatically remove MyPoints browser settings and uninstall MyPoints software
- Manually remove Mypoints.com homepage
- Manually remove Mypoints.com search engine
1. Uninstall MyPoints malware 2 options)
MyPoints may be difficult to uninstall using Windows Uninstaller and other general procedures. MyPoints manual and automated uninstall instructions are included below.
Option 1: Windows Uninstall
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program (depending on your version of Windows).
3. In the list of installed programs, search for MyPoints, MyPoints Toolbar and other suspicious third party programs. Uninstall MyPoints and unwanted software by double clicking the program’s icon, or highlight the program in the list and click the Uninstall button/tab.
Option 2: CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can be used to automatically uninstall MyPoints software.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, navigate to Tools > Uninstall tab and locate MyPoints software in the list. To automatically uninstall stubborn MyPoints software click Run Uninstaller.
2. Scan computer for malware (automatic removal)
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove additional and/or third-party malware from your computer system, including malware that may be responsible for symptoms of the MyPoints virus.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.
3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting your computer system.
4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).
3. Automatically repair browser settings (automated repair)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser and computer settings, as well as stop your browser from redirecting to http://www.MyPoints.com and other unwanted websites.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, run the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “MyPoints” in the title or filename.
4. Manually remove Mypoints.com homepage
- In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove Mypoints.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove Mypoints.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
- In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove Mypoints.com and replace it with your preferred URL.
5. Manually remove Mypoints.com search engine
- In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the Mypoints.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the Mypoints.com search engine from the list.
- In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to Mypoints.com to remove it as your search engine.
Please note, If www.Mypoints.com is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove Mypoints.com by clicking the X next to it.
