Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Last updated: June 15, 2018 

Is Google Chrome not acting like its usual self? Symptoms like crashes, unwanted toolbars, pop-ups, extensions and start pages, or unusual advertisements and alerts may mean the presence of malware. Chrome already includes safety features like Safe Browsing to warn users of potential threats on an ongoing basis. In the event unwanted software slips through, use Chrome to find and remove computer malware on Windows that could cause these types of issues.

Google used to offer a separate Chrome Cleanup Tool application for Windows computers. Now Chrome has a built-in Chrome Cleanup process. Chrome Cleanup automatically detects software that does not comply with Google’s unwanted software policy. If Chrome Cleanup detects harmful software, users can quickly remove it and restore Chrome to its default settings. If it still exhibits unusual behavior, here’s how to use Chrome to find and remove computer malware, then restore your settings.

Check your computer for malware

To begin the process, launch Chrome on your Windows computer. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome button (the one with three vertical dots), and click Settings.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

In the Settings window, scroll down and click Advanced to display the advanced settings. Scroll down again to Reset and clean up. Click Clean up computer.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

In the Clean up computer section, click the FIND link to find and remove harmful software on your computer. By default, the Report details to Google toggle is on.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Chrome checks for harmful software, and displays a throbber while doing so. The process may take a few minutes so be patient.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Once the process completes, the result displays.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

If Chrome asks to remove unwanted software, click Remove. To see what files Chrome wants to remove, click Details, then Show files to be removed. Once reviewed, click Remove. Keep in mind that Chrome will not only remove the unwanted software, it will return some settings to default, and turn off extensions too.

Reset Chrome settings

The next troubleshooting step is resetting Chrome. To reset Chrome, click the Customize and control Google Chrome button > Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up. Click Reset settings to restore settings to their original defaults.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Click the RESET button. Be sure to read the notation in the dialog about which features reset. If you do not want to proceed, click CANCEL instead.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Re-enable Extensions

Close all the Chrome windows, then relaunch Chrome. When you reset Chrome, it disabled all extensions. To re-enable the extensions you would like to use, click the Customize and control Google Chrome button, and click More tools > Extensions.

Use Chrome to find and remove computer malware

Check the Enable box for each extension you trust and would like to re-enable.

Thank you for visiting Tech Help Knowledgebase to learn how to use Chrome to find and remove malware from your computer.