TVHero

TVHero is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that might change your browser preferences and introduce you to an unreliable search engine called Mysearch.com. The application is compatible only with the Google Chrome browser and it is available through Chrome Web Store. Nevertheless, the PUP’s creators might be distributing it with pop-up ads as well. The application promises an “access to top entertainment sites”, but we can assure you that you can reach such websites without the program. If you have no intention to keep TVHero on the system, we can offer you deletion instructions that we placed at the end of the text. However, before you check the instructions, we advise you to read the article and get more knowledge about the PUP.

As it was mentioned above, the software’s creators could distribute TVHero not only through Chrome Web Store but also with pop-up ads. Users could encounter such ads in different ways. For example, the pop-up might be a result of browser hijacker or adware that could be installed on the user’s computer. If you regularly notice suspicious pop-ups and other forms of advertising in your search results or simply while browsing the Internet, you might have installed unreliable software that shows such content. If that is true, it is time to clean the system and remove all threats. In such cases, it is advisable to use an antimalware software since it has the right tools to locate and erase potentially harmful applications.

The PUP is a plugin for Google Chrome, so it only affects user’s browser. Firstly, it adds a small TVHero icon next to the Customize and Control menu. Also, it places some a bookmarks bar under the address bar. It contains icons called “Watch TV,” “Gossip,” and “Entertainment.” If you click the icons, they provide links to web pages where you can read gossip, find entertainment, or watch TV shows. For example, the links might redirect you to YouTube, Amazon, Netflix, and so on. Obviously, there is nothing exclusive about these links, since the web pages that asks to pay fees to watch their content will still demand you to pay. In other words, instead of installing the PUP, you could simply create your own bookmarks bar with the same links and the result would be the same too.

However, the program was not classified as potentially unwanted one because it might be useless. The real reason why our specialists do not trust it is its provided search engine. TVHero modifies your browser settings so that it would load Mysearch.com on new tab page. The problem with the search engine is that it could display modified results. It means that it could show you suspicious advertising content from the software’s third-party partners. Sadly, some of the ads could redirect users to malicious web pages. For instance, some of the sites could try to gather your sensitive data or offer you infected installers. The application’s creators probably do not review third-party links, so there are no guarantees that the provided content on such sites will be reliable and harmless. Given the fact that users could come across malicious web pages while using the PUP, we advise you to remove it from the system.

The deletion instructions below are for users who can erase the PUP manually. The process might be rather difficult for users who do not have much experience in such matters, so it is advisable to look at the instructions before you decide what the best solution is. TVHero creates a lot of folders on the system, and they all have to be removed to eliminate the application. If it seems too complicated for you, try to install a trustworthy antimalware tool that would locate and delete the threat automatically. As soon as you launch the tool click on the scan button, and it will check the system for malware and other threats. The PUP should appear on the report once the scanning is over. All that is left to do is click the deletion button, and the antimalware tool will take care of all threats.

Eliminate TVHero

1. Open the Explorer (Win+E).
2. Navigate to these directories separately:
   %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\%PROFILE ID%\Extensions
   %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\%PROFILE ID%\Extensions
3. Locate a folder called lcfhngdkgapmemkhlmmklekphffaplin in each of the directories listed above, right-click them separately and select Delete.
4. Go to: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
5. Find and erase files called chrome-extension_lcfhngdkgapmemkhlmmklekphffaplin_0.localstorage and chrome-extension_lcfhngdkgapmemkhlmmklekphffaplin_0.localstorage-journal.
6. Navigate to this path: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
7. Locate files called Preferences and Secure Preferences, right-click them both separately and select Delete.