I wrote this article to help you remove Webdown-loader.com. This Webdown-loader.com removal guide works for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Webdown-loader.com is an alternative search provider. The website has basic functions. It does not include extended options or filters. The only additional feature is a links bar. Webdown-loader.com gives quick access to a selection of popular platforms: Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, Ebay, Aliexpress, Amazon, Gearbest and Banggood. It should be noted that the website has had two design schemes made. Each of them is used for specified browsing clients. This is uncommon. It can be taken as an indication that the platform works differently on separate web browsers. The differences are minor. What you need to be worried about is the program behind Webdown-loader.com. The domain is a gateway for a hijacker. The sinister program is a threat for your system and your personal security.

To set the record straight, we need to point out that the Webdown-loader.com website is not used to spread the clandestine program. The hijacker is distributed via dark patterns. The first propagation vector we will address is bundling. Freeware, shareware and pirated copies of paid applications are often used for hosting malware because they are easy to exploit. They lack license protection which makes it possible for renegade developers to tamper with their setup file. The Webdown-loader.com hijacker will be offered for install with the host program. It will be listed as a bonus in its terms and conditions. You can prevent this from happening by finding the option and deselecting it. We advise you to read the end user license agreement (EULA) of the utilities you add to your computer.

The other distribution technique used to spread the Webdown-loader.com hijacker is sending spam emails. The payload of the rogue program gets packed with an attached file. The person behind the message will list it as an important document on an urgent matter. The idea is to get the recipient to access the attachment before having the time to realize there is something wrong with it. Spammers have become masterful at devising messages. They often write on behalf of reputable organizations, like the national post, the legal authorities, government branches, institutions, banks, courier firms, social networks and online shops. To make the notification appear convincing, the official logo and contacts of the corresponding entity can be pasted into the letter. You can find out if a given email is reliable by checking the account it was sent from. Official messages are sent from internal accounts.

Once inside your computer, the hijacker will render your DNS settings. The nefarious program will change your homepage and default search engine to Webdown-loader.com. The website contains a malicious code which enables the hijacker to interfere with the user’s browsing sessions. It will add sponsored websites amid your regular search results. This is part of an elaborate scheme for making money in an easy way. The hijacker has been created for this purpose. It generates proceeds through online advertising. The owners of the furtive program get paid to support third party websites. They receive commissions. The amount of the payment is calculated using the pay-per-click system. The more websites the Webdown-loader.com hijacker redirects users to, the higher the proceeds will be.

The most effective method of running a promotional campaign is by displaying advertisements. The Webdown-loader.com hijacker churns out different types of ads, including freebies, banners, in-text links, coupon boxes, transitional, inline, contextual, floating, interstitial, comparison and full-screen windows. The ads suggest bargain deals for various items. You will receive offers for technological devices, clothes, accessories, furniture, decorative elements, gardening equipment, sports gear, toys, games and other commodities. The propositions may be enticing, but you need to keep in mind that their sources are questionable. The ads may not lead you to online shops where the listed goods are available. Instead, they could take you to compromised domains. It is best to avoid unsolicited ads.

The other threat around the Webdown-loader.com hijacker is connected to privacy. The malevolent program tracks users’ online sessions and gathers information from their web browser. Your surfing history, cookies, beacons, IP address, geographic location, postal code, physical registration, email account, telephone number, user names, passwords and other sensitive details can be extorted. The hijacker will compile your data into catalogs and send it to its owners. They can trade it on darknet markets without asking for your permission or stating their intentions. Your personally identifiable information (PII) can fall into the hands of cyber criminals.

Webdown-loader.com Uninstall

Before starting the real removal process, you must reboot in Safe Mode. If you are familiar with this task, skip the instructions below and proceed to Step 2. If you do not know how to do it, here is how to reboot in Safe mode:

For Windows 98, XP, Millenium and 7:
Reboot your computer. When the first screen of information appears, start repeatedly pressing F8 key. Then choose Safe Mode With Networking from the options.

For Windows 8/8.1
Click the Start button, next click Control Panel —> System and Security —> Administrative Tools —> System Configuration.‌

Check the Safe Boot option and click OK. Click Restart when asked.
For Windows 10
Open the Start menu and click or tap on the Power button.

While keeping the Shift key pressed, click or tap on Restart.

Here are the steps you must follow to permanently remove from the browser:

Remove From Mozilla Firefox:

Open Firefox, click on top-right corner , click Add-ons, hit Extensions next.

Look for suspicious or unknown extensions, remove them all.

Remove From Chrome:

Open Chrome, click chrome menu icon at the top-right corner —>More Tools —> Extensions. There, identify the malware and select chrome-trash-icon(Remove).

Remove From Internet Explorer:
Open IE, then click IE gear icon on the top-right corner —> Manage Add-ons.

Find the malicious add-on. Remove it by pressing Disable.

Right click on the browser’s shortcut, then click Properties. Remove everything after the .exe” in the Target box.

Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.

Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.

Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.

Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.

Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.

Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.

Still can not remove Webdown-loader.com from your browser? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.