How to Remove Malware from Chrome: 11 Solutions

Is there a virus in your Google Chrome? If you don’t know, you have a way to tell. You will learn the method in this guide. If you want to find causes and causes of malware infection, you will also find them below. But it’s not!

This guide contains various solutions that you can use to resolve these issues. Solutions range from Windows users to Mac, iOS and Android users. Therefore, it is a complete guide.

After all, Google Chrome is a fairly popular web browser, but it is prone to malware infections. Read this article to learn how to easily remove malware from Chrome Browser. So, this is your ultimate guide to the best problem solving techniques. Let’s remove malware from Google Chrome!

How do I know if Google Chrome has malware?

This section will tell you how to find out if your Google Chrome has a virus. Remember that you must act quickly if any of these items match. There won’t be enough time before it infects your entire system.

Here is a checklist to help you determine if your browser has malware:

Usually the first tell is on the Chrome home page. If you have set a specific homepage but it has changed, it could be malware. But that’s not enough to tell. If this continues even after resetting the homepage, the chance increases. The same goes for the default search engine.
There is a problem with loading sites, even with cached files. This especially applies to websites that you visit or use on an almost regular basis. If so, it could be malware interference in Chrome.
Somehow Chrome is downloading some unknown and unwanted files or programs. In some cases, they are even installed from within Chrome. This also applies to extensions and applications for the device.
How often do you see pop-up ads in Google Chrome? This can happen even if you visit genuine websites. If so, then there is a good chance.
Check extensions and toolbar options. See if there are any you don’t recognize. If you delete them, will they reappear? If the extensions keep coming back, it means malware.
Are you redirected to an unknown website or gateway? You end up viewing content that is not from your region. Any of these could indicate problems with the virus.
If the performance of Google Chrome has slowed down, it could be malware. Google Chrome is already consuming a lot of PC resources. If it requires excessive costs, slow response, failures, you can look into it. In these cases, in most cases, it is a malware problem.

Things to take care of before removing malware from Chrome

Before we start diagnosing and looking for solutions, keep these points in mind. Think of it like a checklist. This can potentially help you reduce your exposure to or spread of malware. More importantly, you can solve a lot of problems if you follow this protocol:

1. Save your bookmarks and data

Before jumping into the solutions, be sure to back up your Chrome data. It can be risky, but you can backup your bookmarks. After all, you can restore everything else. Do the same for saved passwords and more.

The best way to backup is to write them down. This will prevent malware from exiting Chrome. You can use Notepad or other applications, even paper and pen.

2. Stop sync

You might want to check if you have data sync and other similar features enabled. This is the latest option that gives Chrome users the same experience on any device. So, you can reset it.

Why would you want to do that? Because it will prevent malware from syncing, just in case:

Go to your web browser settings.
Find the “People”section. If you can’t find it, it might be You and Google.
You will find an option: Sync and Google services. Click here.
Then proceed to sync data from Chrome.
Click Reset Sync. You can also manually check and disable any sync-related setting. This will keep your device safe.
Sometimes it may have a “Disable”option instead of a reset sync option. You can try too.

3. Check Chrome Resource Consumption

The best way to check is through the task manager. This can tell you about applications and programs that are consuming excessive resources. As mentioned earlier, if Chrome is faulty, it will consume the most resources.

So:

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC for Windows users. Then go to Task Manager Monitor and check it.
For Mac users, you will have an activity monitor: choose Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
Android and iOS users may not have that luxury. You will need to check the application information to see if Chrome is causing the issue. In most cases, you can have device care showing that the application is consuming the most resources. See if it’s Google Chrome.

You’ll also see if another app is the culprit. If you find a suspicious other app, take immediate action.

How to remove malware from Google Chrome

Update Google Chrome
Remove suspicious extensions
Clear cache and browsing data
Reset Google Chrome Settings
Use Safe Mode
Use device care
Use Play Protect
Use the cleanup option in Windows
Remove malware from Mac
Use a different browser
Use third party antivirus software

How to remove malware from Google Chrome?

1. Update Google Chrome

Google updates threat definitions and database. He frequently updates apps and browsers to release security patches. These fixes help protect your browser from various threats. Not just malware. This will protect you from hacking and the like.

Thus, you should always keep your Google Chrome browser up to date. This applies to any platform (Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, etc.) you use. The first thing you need to do is check for updates.

Windows and macOS users can go to the Google Chrome menu. In the “About Google Chrome”section, you’ll see an option to check for updates. You can use it there.
For Android and iOS users, go to the App Store. See if any new app updates are available and if Google Chrome is on the list. Be sure to update if possible.

As a general tip, it’s ideal to keep your devices up to date at all times. This applies to applications, OS and everything else. This will prevent many security breaches and keep your device safe.

2. Remove suspicious extensions

The next thing you can do is check out the add-ons and extensions that Chrome has. We all know that Google Chrome is a highly compatible browser. Every day different developers and companies release new extensions. But so are hackers. They may have released an extension for your Google Chrome that is causing the problem.

So the best thing you can do is:

Go to the list of extensions in Google Chrome. See if you have more than what you expected.
Remove any extensions that you haven’t used in a while. You won’t be using them anytime soon if you haven’t used them. This will save space, performance and more.
Check and see if any extension you don’t remember is installed. Remove it immediately. Do this for extensions that you don’t recognize.
Keep in mind that you may need to activate developer mode in order to change extensions.

After removing the extensions, restart Google Chrome. You can follow this method for any device and platform.

3. Clear cache and browsing data

One of the best ways to protect your Google Chrome is to delete all data. You will need to go into the history of your Google Chrome. Fortunately, this method is the same for all platforms, so follow this:

Go to History (CTRL+H for Windows and Mac users). Then look for the “Clear browsing data”option. Click here.
Then select “All the time”. Be sure to delete your browsing history, cookies, cached images and files. All.
Then go ahead, let Chrome do its job. Then restart Chrome.

Check for updates and see if Chrome is causing more problems like it used to.

4. Reset Google Chrome

This is one of the last resorts, but it often works as the best solution. Resetting Google Chrome will clean up the tablet. This means there won’t be any extensions, login account or anything else. This way you will also remove any malicious content from the browser.

Navigate to the Menu button in the top right corner.
Next, find the settings in the menu.
Once you open “Settings”, go to the “Advanced settings”option.
There you will find the reset option.
On some devices, it may just be the “Reset Settings”option. For others, it will be “Restore original default settings”. Click on it and follow the instructions.

A reset is like a soft reinstall. If it works, then great. Otherwise, you can uninstall Google Chrome from your device. After that, reinstall it and see if it solves the problem.

Remove malware from Google Chrome on Android

There are three ways to remove Google Chrome malware from Android. No, there is no built-in scanner either.

1. Safe mode

The first option for you would be to access Safe Mode. This will reboot your android device into basic settings. Thus, you can find any suspicious application and remove it. You can also use it to uninstall Google Chrome and reinstall. This is one of the best ways to deal with Android malware issues.

Press and hold the Power button for a couple of seconds. This will show you the power button options.
Hold down the “Power off”button for a while and see if the “Safe Mode”option appears. If not, then repeat the same action with the Restart button. One of them will be able to restart in safe mode.

2. Use device care

Android’s built-in device care and maintenance tool often comes with a threat scanner. It scans for malicious content such as viruses, malware, ransomware, etc. So you can run it.

Go to the settings of your Android device. You will find Device care in the options.
You will find the option to scan the entire phone or optimize it. Use it.

Each device can have its own option tray. Thus, you may have to find one that scans for the virus.

3. Use Play Protect

The Google App Store for Android has a Play Protect Scan feature. It works just like Chrome’s built-in scanner. You can use it to detect and remove any malicious content. To do this, follow these steps:

Open the Google Play Store.
Click on your account icon in the top right corner.
Select Play Protect from the list of options.
There you will find the option to scan.

Remember that Google Play Protect will scan your entire phone. If you don’t have a service like Device Care, this should be your option. It will protect your entire device from threats.

Cleanup tool for Windows Chrome users

For Google Chrome users on Windows, a malware scanner is available. This is automated and will prompt you to remove the threat, if any. But you can also run it manually:

Launch Google Chrome. Navigate to the menu button (three dots) in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu.
In the settings, find “Advanced”options. You will find the option to reset and clear. Select the Clean up computer option.
Be sure to uncheck “Submit data to Google”. Please check it. If any threat is found, Chrome will report it to Google. They will then work to provide solutions if there are none. This will also keep other users safe in the long run.
As soon as you start the scan, it will start scanning the PC. If any malicious content is found, you will be given the option to remove it. You can click on the Delete button.

After that, restart your computer. It is so simple. Google Chrome has a built-in quarantine for users. If you think some Chrome files were deleted by mistake, you can restore them. All you have to do is access the quarantine. To do this, follow these steps:

Go to your documents and the user profile you are using. Then navigate to this path: AppData\Local\Google\Chrome Cleanup Tool\Quarantine.
Once you have access to the quarantine folder, you can select any file you want to release. Then right-click it and select the “Extract”option.
You will then need to access Chrome Cleanup again. Enter the password and it will restore the file.

Remove Google Chrome malware from Mac

A Mac doesn’t give you the luxury of using a Chrome malware scanner. It is not available in the Mac version of Google Chrome browser. To begin with, it is quite difficult for any malware to infiltrate macOS.

Why is this? Because it is an Apple product and OS. The best way to stay safe on your Apple device is to keep it up to date. It never fails to provide you with all the security you need. But still, if this is not enough, you can try another solution.

If you suspect the presence of an application, extension, or tool, you can uninstall it:

Launch the Finder app. This is your Mac’s File Explorer.
On the left panel, you will find Applications in the options. Click here.
Now go ahead and check the list of programs you have. Is there anything that stands out? Something you don’t use or don’t remember installing.
If you find such a program, right-click it. Then select the “Move to Trash”option.
Be sure to check for any other program on the list. Do the same for him. This will also automatically remove the program from your system.
Then go to the Trash app. Right-click and select the “Empty Trash”button to uninstall the program.

So keep macOS, apps, and Chrome up to date. Use the above method to remove malware in other cases. If your Chrome is infected, uninstall it and reinstall it.

If nothing has worked so far

If none of the solutions have worked so far, the problem might be with your device. The source of the malware may be different. In this case, you will have to use diagnostics and solutions for each platform. You can also try these two options before making a conclusion:

1. Use a different browser

If even resetting and reinstalling Chrome didn’t help, try a different browser. Why should you do it? The problem may lie in some compatibility between the device and Chrome.

These problems are rare, but possible. In these cases, you may need to diagnose your device. This is a completely different matter. It may also mean that your device is infected and not Chrome.

To test this, you can use other genuine web browsers. Many options are available. Check and make sure they are working properly. Check if your device is free of malware. If not, you can stick with the solution and contact Google support.

2. Use third party antivirus software

If you really want to remove malware from Chrome or your system, use a third party security tool. They work to take care of your concerns and provide you with exceptional protection. But take care of these things:

Windows 10 and 11 come with built-in Windows Defender. You can use it to scan for malware.
Mac users may or may not have a similar tool.
Be sure to always use the premium tools for all platforms, Android, iOS and macOS. Even for Windows
Don’t fall for unknown and free third party antivirus and maintenance tools. They are most likely to blame.

Conclusion

This marks the end of the ultimate guide. Now you know how to find out if your Google Chrome has malware. You can also diagnose and fix the problem. But always keep your options open. As already mentioned, the problem may be in your device or in another application. So, stay informed and stay safe.

Remember that all platforms have undergone significant improvements. All of them offer reliable protection. To keep them in the game, all you have to do is upgrade them. So keep your devices and OS up to date to avoid malware and other issues.