How to remove Salus (Virus Removal Guide)

Salus is an advertisement-supported program that makes its way onto a computer without user knowledge, sometimes by use of deceptive marketing tactics. The primary operation of Salus is to observe browsing data and use the data to serve targeted advertisements; However, user browsing data such as all activities, bookmarks, and history may be shared with third-parties and used for other marketing purposes (such as email campaigns, telemarketing campaigns, etc.).

Salus is detected as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware by most reputable security products. It is well known adware that has been around for quite some time. Some malware analysts and victims of this adware have even coined this program the Salus virus, although this adware is not technically defined as a computer virus.

Salus is still a threat even though it is not defined as a computer virus and is primarily used to generate pop-up ads across Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

Advertisements displayed by this adware may arrive in a variety of forms, including in-text ads, banners, and videos. We have also found that this adware displays pop-up search results that say something similar to “Search results for” on them. This is different that most common forms of adware.

Furthermore, potential Salus malware downloads and installs alongside third-party malware, malicious files, and additional potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), including Browse Pax and System Notifier. This means that it might be necessary to uninstall multiple programs and remove multiple browser add-ons and extensions to stop all unwanted activities.

The Salus extension has permissions set allowing the browser attachment to perform tasks users may find undesirable. These permissions are listed below.

• Salus can read and change all your data on the websites you visit.
• Salus can read and change your browsing history.
• Salus can manage your apps, extensions, and themes.
• Salus can manage your downloads.

How does Salus get on a computer?

Salus adware is usually downloaded and installed without user knowledge alongside free downloadable content from a variety of locations on the web. Free downloadable content includes freeware, shareware, torrents, email attachments, and more.

Users who wish to install monetized freeware may be given a choice to accept or decline an offer to install Salus adware and similar products during the installation; However, the user request to decline the adware from installing can be ignored by the program or presented in a confusing manner.

In some cases, Salus and other unwanted programs are deceptively promoted through questionable advertisements. These advertisements may be dishonest, misleading, and cause the program to automatically download and install once clicked on.

How to remove Salus

• Step 1: Remove Salus add-ons and extensions
• Step 2: Uninstall Salus
• Step 3: Scan your computer for malware
• Step 4: Cleanup and repair settings
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Step 1: Remove Salus add-ons and extensions

Google Chrome

1. Click on the Customize icon on the menu and navigate to More tools > Extensions.

2. Search for the Salus extension and other suspicious extensions 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. On the Extensions and Plugin search for the Salus add-on and other suspicious add-ons and remove them if located.

Step 2: Uninstall Salus

1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.

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

3. In the list of installed programs, search for Salus and other unwanted programs. Once an unwanted program is located, double click the unwanted program or select it with your mouse and click the Uninstall button.

4. Restart your computer.

Step 3: Scan your computer for malware

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

2. Open the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

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

4. Once the malware scan is complete, click the Quarantine All button and reboot your computer.

Step 4: Cleanup and repair settings

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

2. Once installed, open 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.

4. To automatically uninstall unwanted programs using CCleaner, navigate to the Uninstall tab and search for the program in the list of installed programs. Uninstall the unwanted software as selected by clicking the Run Uninstaller button.