How to Remove FreeCodecPack Adware

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You may have stumbled upon FreeCodecPack. It is advertised as a very important component for your computer that allows viewing various file formats free of charge. The reality is different – this malicious software is actually adware in disguise! It generates intrusive pop-up advertisement across your web browsers. This adware uses your personal information and web habits to make sure it generates ads you are most likely to click on. This way, annoying pop-ups and in-text advertisement will be present on every webpage visited by the victim.

How did I get infected with?

In most cases, users do not install this adware willingly. It would usually come in a bundle of free software. It is possible for this adware to be contained along with dubious torrent files, shareware or freeware programs. The thing is, people search for software that can allow their system to run certain video files. What often happens is, they come across unreliable and deceiving software that can potentially cause real damage to the victim’s computer. While the FreeCodecPack may not be technically defined as a virus, it is still dangerous and may compromise your privacy.

Why is this dangerous?

Make no mistake, the threat is real. After the adware has infiltrated your web browsers, it attaches itself as an add-on and also creates a folder where the primary files are being executed. This is helpful for the successful modification of the Windows registry so it can deliver sponsored content through ads, banners, coupons, deals, etc. The thing is, there is no way of telling where the ads will take you if you happen to click on them. The FreeCodecPack redirects may lead to both reliable and suspicious third party websites. The best way not to get misguided by those ads is by not clicking on them at all. It could potentially save your computer from getting infected with malware and also prevent your personal information from getting stolen.

How to Remove FreeCodecPack virus

The FreeCodecPack infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the FreeCodecPack infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down FreeCodecPack in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate FreeCodecPack startup location

STEP 3: Delete FreeCodecPack traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down FreeCodecPack in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate FreeCodecPack startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean FreeCodecPack virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean FreeCodecPack traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the FreeCodecPack by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by FreeCodecPack

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for FreeCodecPack, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove FreeCodecPack argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove FreeCodecPack Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.