How to remove Local Crime Watcher (Virus Removal Guide)
Local Crime Watcher by MindSpark is adware that spyws on your browsing data, serves advertisements, and changes the homepage, default search engine, and new tab settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari, and other web browsers. The adware is not essentially considered malicious, but it may cause several issues and bundle with other unwanted programs and malware. Local Crime Watcher adware is ad-supported and/or supported by sponsored search results; it will generated unwanted advertisements in the browser and cause browser redirects to questionable webpages.
| Name | Local Crime Watcher, Local Crime Watcher virus |
| Category | Adware |
| Short Description | The adware is promoted as an online shopping assistant |
| Symptoms | The user may experience unwanted advertisements in the web browser. |
| Distribution Method | It’s official page, freeware, third-party download managers, dubious advertisements and torrents. |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By Local Crime Watcher |
What is Local Crime Watcher?
Local Crime Watcher is promoted on its official website and other locations distribution points around the web as a free browser toolbar that shows you the latest headlines relating to local crime in your area. It also allows you to search for a person, report a crime, and listen to the radio. Sounds cool doesn’t it? However, even if Local Crime Watcher does what it is supposed to do, the user can be affected because of its data collection policy and changes to existing internet browser settings.
Once the adware is contracted it will generate pop-up and in-text style ads on the internet and Windows desktop. Various user details may also be obtained. The data collection is described in the product’s Privacy Policy. Getting to know the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use and Download Agreement of freeware is crucial to keeping your online information safe and sound.
Here are two quotes from common a third-party adware policy regarding the type of information collected while using the add-on.
Collection of Non-personally Identifiable Information
→Non-personally identifiable information, which can be gathered by User’s use of this program (“Non-personal Information”). The actual identity of the User, from which the Non-personal Information is collected, is not known. Non-personal Information consists of technical information and aggregated usage information, and may contain, among other things, the User’s activity on this program, User’s operating system (…).
Collection of Personally Identifiable Information:
→Personally identifiable information is information that identifies an individual User, and may or may not be private or sensitive (“Personal Information”). Personal Information may consist of the User’s IP address or other persistent User identifier, which is unique to your device and assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and used primarily to improve the User’s experience and for geographic personalization and security purposes (…).
If personal details are collected by or shared with a third party, the user may be endangered in several ways:
- Banking and credit card information may be accessible to hackers.
- Third party tracking technology may be applied to his browser.
- Excessive email spam, telephone calls from telemarketers and scam artists, and junk mail at home.
Furthermore, ad-supported software is known to:
- Generate intrusive or suspicious ads that redirect to predefined or compromised websites.
- Promote unwanted programs, malware, and rogue products that affect the system’s performance by altering the Registry, Scheduler, and other existing settings.
Local Crime Watcher Removal Guide
Local Crime Watcher can be uninstalled manually from your computer and internet browser. We have provided several steps below the article to show you how remove Local Crime Watcher and other threats. However, if you have clicked on any random ads or have been redirected to suspicious websites, your system may have been exposed to malware and other threats. To make sure your PC is completely clean and your information is protected from cyber criminals, we recommend that you follow all the steps below.
Step 1: Uninstall Local Crime Watcher from Windows
Follow the instructions to uninstall Local Crime Watcher and other programs that it may bundle with from your Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 computer. If you do not find Local Crime Watcher installed on your computer but still notice unwanted symptoms such as pop-up ads while you browse the web it is recommended to use Malwarebytes and HitmanPro to eradicate troublesome files.
1. Open Windows Start or Task menu and go to the Control Panel (or directly to Programs and Features).
2. In the “Programs” section click Uninstall a program (or Add and remove programs).
3. Search for Local Crime Watcher, Chromium, and other programs in the list of installed programs and double click the program you want to remove to uninstall it. You can also select Local Crime Watcher with your mouse and click the Uninstall button once it appears. Once you have uninstalled Local Crime Watcher look for other unwanted programs in the list of installed programs and uninstall any if they are found. A general tip is to click “Installed On” to locate any programs that installed around the same time.
Step 2: Remove unwanted browser attachments
Follow the instructions to remove Local Crime Watcher add-ons and extensions, as well as other attachments that it may bundle with from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer & Edge, and Apple Safari. If you do not find a Local Crime Watcher attachments installed on your internet browser but still notice unwanted symptoms such as pop-up ads while you browse the web it is recommended to use Malwarebytes and HitmanPro to eradicate troublesome files. To remove Local Crime Watcher from Microsoft internet browsers you must uninstall the program.
Google Chrome
1. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon and go to More tools > Extensions.
2. Search for the Local Crime Watcher extension in the list and click the trashcan icon.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Open the Menu and click Add-ons.
2. Search for the Local Crime Watcher add-on and click Remove.
Apple Safari
1. Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
2. Search for the Local Crime Watcher extension in the list and click the Uninstall button.
Step 3: Remove Local Crime Watcher with Malwarebytes
Follow the instructions to remove Local Crime Watcher with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
1. Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
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2. Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software once it has finished installing.
3. Make sure that Malwarebytes has been updated. To ensure it is updated click Update Now on the Dashboard.
4. Click the large Scan Now button on the dashboard to perform a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
5. When the scan is complete click the Remove Selected button and then click the Finish button or restart your computer if Malwarebytes suggests that you do so.
Step 4: Remove Local Crime Watcher with HitmanPro
Follow the instructions to remove Local Crime Watcher with HitmanPro second-opinion software.
1. Download and install HitmanPro second opinion scanner and removal tool.
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3. Once Hitman Pro is installed, open the program 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.
4. When the scan is complete, click the Next button again to delete any threats or traces on your system.
5. If you are initially using the free version, to activate it, enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
6. Restart your computer by selecting Reboot.
Step 5: Clean and repair your computer with CCleaner
Follow the instructions to clean your computer and repair your computer’s settings.
1. Download and install CCleaner by Piriform.
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2. Once installed, open the program and go to the main Cleaner screen 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. If you find any thing suspicious click it and click the Delete button to remove it.
4. Finally, 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.
