How to remove Windows Management (Virus Removal Guide)

by Sean Doyle · Published October 3, 2016 · Updated September 11, 2022

Windows Management is Online Ad Scanner adware and a potentially unwanted program, or PUP, that is installed by free software you download online, and advertised by deceptive advertisements across various websites. The program may be advertised by a malicious advertising network as something it is not in order to trick you into installing it and other unwanted programs and malware that it bundles with.

Windows Management

Once the adware is installed, it will create a new task that allows it to automatically start when you login to Windows. It will run in the background and without your knowledge and consent will continuously connect to multiple websites on the internet. It can also randomly open your internet browser. You may also notice your browser has various process running even though your browser window is not opened. The constant downloading of the web pages it connects to will violate your computer’s network bandwidth and CPU processing power. This can cause your computer to become slow and sluggish, or even crash and restart.

Associated processes

WinLoop.exe
WinLoop.exe_
setuserspace.exe
setuserspace.exe_.exe

The adware will also observe all of your browsing activities, including the things you search for online, your browser history, the add-ons and extensions you use, your download history, and other data in order to generate advertisements it assumes you are susceptible to click on. This type of advertising is referred to as an aggressive and malicious interpretation of “targeted advertising.”

In sense, targeted advertising is a a common marketing tactic employed by many legitimate advertising networks and websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Walmart, Amazon, Google AdSense, and pretty much any website you visit online; However, if you are being targeted by adware authors and distributors of such programs it could put your personal information and your computer’s functionality at risk. If an improper party has access to your personal information it can result in receiving unwanted and excessive amounts of email spam, junk mail at home, telephone calls from potential scam artists, robocallers, and telemarketers, and even identity theft.

What is Windows Management?

Windows Management is Online Ad Scanner adware similar to Window mManagement and Window pManagement. Windows Management is promoted as a program that is designed to “automatically search for and collect traffic statistics for various advertising sites in your area.” The program claims that it will help you discover new advertising trends, collect and analyze useful information about traffic to advertising sites. However, once installed the adware will generate pop-up ads, pop-under ads that take up a new browser window, in-text ads that turn text into hyperlinks, and generic banner-type ads that can additionally cover-up legitimate advertisements on the webpages you visit.

If this adware is installed on your machine you might notice some or all of these symptoms:

Pop-up advertisements, pop-under advertisements, in-text advertisements, and banner advertisements
Commerical search results or advertisements that appear in search results pages
Modified homepage, new tab page, and search engine
Slow and sluggish computer
Internet browser connectivity issues or crash
Bundles with malware, PUPs, adware, spyware, and other threats

A big concern with Windows Management adware is that it bundles along with other potentially unwanted programs, malware, and potentially malicious trace files that can remain hidden on your computer system. If you did not install Windows Management but find it installed on your computer it is likely that the threat was part of a package alongside other malicious objects that should be removed as soon as possible.

Removing this program and other threats that come along with it immediately from your computer or device is heavily recommended. This program has a bad online reputation and may be the sign of a more serious computer infection. To completely remove Windows Management and other threats from your computer use the removal guide below.

How did Windows Management virus get onto my computer?

This adware is usually distributed like most common adware is. The adware can be contracted via free downloadable content, including freeware and torrent files. It may also be advertised as something it is not in order to trick victims into installing it and other potentially unwanted programs and malware.

The adware is often bolstered by third-party download managers for freeware programs. The download managers may offer this adware as a custom install and give the user a chance to accept or decline the offer to install this program and others. If the user does not opt out the program will install in the background. The way that the custom installation is presented may also be inadequate and designed to trick the user into installing programs they did not mean to install. It’s advised to be alert when installing free programs from the internet and keep an eye out for custom installation presentations to avoid any confusion and security risks.

How to remove Windows Management (Removal Guide)

STEP 1: Scan your computer for malware
STEP 2: Manually repair your browser settings
STEP 3: Manually uninstall programs
TIPS: How to stay protected against future infections

STEP 1: Scan your computer for malware

The best way to remove Windows Management and other threats from your computer is to scan your computer for malware using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro softawre. Malwarebytes and HitmanPro will locate and eradicate this threat and other malicious files installed on your machine automatically.

1. Download and Install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software to run a scan and remove malicious files from your computer.

2. Once installed, open Malwarebytes and click the Scan Now button – or go to the Scan tab and click the Start Scan button.

3. When the Malwarebytes scan is complete click the Remove Selected button.

4. To finish the Malwarebytes scan and remove detected malware click the Finish button and reboot your computer if promoted to do so.

5. Download and Install HitmanPro by Surfright to perform a second-opinion scan and remove any remaining malicious trace files.

6. Once installed, 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.

7. When the HitmanPro scan is complete click the Next button.

8. To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.

9. Click the Reboot button.

Your computer should now be free of Windows Management and other threats completely; However, you can still use the manual repair and uninstall instructions below if your browser settings have not been repaired or if you think an unwanted program is still installed on your machine.

STEP 2: Manually repair your browser settings

If your browser settings have been changed use these instructions to manually repair your settings.

How to remove extensions from Safari

STEP 3: Manually uninstall programs

If you are infected with adware and other unwanted programs you might be able to manually uninstall programs from your computer. Use these instructions to uninstall unwanted programs that may have installed on your machine. If you do not find a program installed on your machine make sure to scan your computer for malware using the instructions above.

TIPS: How to stay protected against future infections

The key to staying protected against future infections is to follow common online guidelines and take advantage of reputable Antivirus and Anti-Malware security software with real-time protection.

Real-time security software

Security software like Malwarebytes and Norton Security have real-time features that can block malicious files before they spread across your computer. These programs bundled together can establish a wall between your computer and cyber criminals.

Common Online Guidelines

Backup your computer and personal files to an external drive or online backup service
Create a restore point on your computer in case you need to restore your computer to a date before infection
Avoid downloading and installing apps, browser extensions, and programs you are not familiar with
Avoid downloading and installing apps, browser extensions, and programs from websites you are not familiar with – some websites use their own download manager to bundle additional programs with the initial download
Avoid visiting fake “spyware removal” blogs and websites that promote “spyware removal software.” These are usually malicious websites designed to phish your personal information, infect your computer with a rogue program and trick you into paying for rogue “spyware removal software.”
If you plan to download and install freeware, open source software, or shareware make sure to be alert when you install the object and read all the instructions presented by the download manager
Avoid torrents and P2P clients
Do not open email messages from senders you do not know