WinterWaldo

WinterWaldo is a browser extension that is currently compatible with Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers. Its official download page is winterwaldo.com, but the link does not work for Chrome users. It appears that the link should route the users to the Chrome web store, but this link is broken, and it is most likely that the extension has been taken down already. This is not surprising because the application does not have a good reputation. In fact, some users identify it as a browser hijacker because it is capable of modifying the homepage, search provider, and new tab settings. When you install the extension, your browsers are modified to introduce users to suspicious search tools. Our research team classifies the suspicious extension as an advertising-supported program because it serves as an advertising tool, and it looks like unknown third-party advertisers could exploit it. Needless to say, this could be dangerous, and this is why we advise removing WinterWaldo immediately. You can learn how to delete this adware from your PC by reading the report.

If you look at the official information, WinterWaldo is introduced to potential users as a tool that enables access to online games. According to our researchers, it is unlikely that this threat was created to just introduce you to games. If you install the extension, it will modify the New Tab feature to introduce you to home.winterwaldo.com. According to research, search.winterwaldo.com could be represented via homepage and the default search provider. The suspicious New Tab page resembles of a regular search engine as it displays a search dialog box in the middle of the screen. While you get easy-access links to online games via the bar at the top, the main focus goes to the search tool and the easy-access links represented below. The good news is that these links are legitimate. The bad news is that WinterWaldo redirects your search queries to the Google Search engine. Yes, you might be familiar with this search engine, but you must keep in mind that the suspicious adware could modify the results shown via it to include sponsored links, and that is an important reason to delete this adware.

Have you spent any time reviewing the information available at winterwaldo.com/privacy/? Many users skip Privacy Policies and other important statements that support the software they install, but that is the wrong move. For example, by analyzing the Privacy Policy of WinterWaldo, we have learned that this adware can introduce you to third-party content that includes offers, promotions, software, and other random links. This does not sound bad unless you start thinking about the third parties involved. The truth is that you are not familiar with these parties, and you know nothing about their intentions. Even the developer of WinterWaldo sheds all responsibility by indicating that third parties might gain access to sensitive information and that “the security of any personal information” is not warranted. Needless to say, if you value virtual security, you MUST remove this adware from your PC immediately. If you do not check the Privacy Policy, you must understand that this adware has modified your browser’s settings and that it can redirect you to a third-party search engine, which are the best reasons to get rid of it.

Based on our research, you should be able to delete WinterWaldo by eliminating the extension directly from the browser, and this process is introduced to you via the instructions below. If your browsers remain corrupted, you might have to change homepage and search provider settings as well, and if you need our help with that, please leave a comment below. You can also get rid of the hijacker using an anti-malware tool created to automatically discover and erase all active threats. This option is your best option in case other threats are active as well, and that is very possible considering that the ad-supported program has been seen spreading via suspicious software bundles. Remember this if you decide to proceed manually because other threats might be silent, and you might be unaware of them. We advise employing a legitimate malware scanner to inspect your operating system for any leftover threats.

WinterWaldo Removal

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open the browser.
2. Simultaneously tap Ctrl+Shift+A to launch Add-ons Manager.
3. In the menu on the left click Extensions.
4. Click the Remove button next to Winter Waldo NewTab.
5. Restart the browser.
6. Scan your PC to check for leftovers.

Google Chrome:

1. Launch the browser.
2. Simultaneously tap Alt+F to access the Chrome menu.
3. Select More tools and then Extensions.
4. Click the trash bin next to the unwanted extensions.
5. Select Remove.
6. Restart the browser.
7. Scan your PC to check for leftovers.