Imagine turning on your Mac only to discover that your browser has become irritatingly sluggish and throwing up unsolicited ads here and there. Or that the processing speed has slowed noticeably. This could be Adaware Web Companion at work.
What is Adaware Web Companion?
Adaware Web Companion, a tool belonging to the company Lavasoft, has tried to market and position itself as your fearless defender against malware. But, in an ironic twist, its reputation quickly changed from Bruce Wayne to the Penguin in the blink of an eye.
Lavasoft’s underhanded business tactics bundled Adaware with other software. This is not unethical in itself, but it did make Adaware extremely difficult to remove, as well as slowing down any system it cared to live in.
To add insult to injury, Web Companion is often installed without the user explicitly granting consent. A piece of malware posing as anti-malware — you really can’t make this stuff up.
So, how do you get rid of Adaware Web Companion and restore your Mac to normalcy without smashing it to pieces? It’s not easy, but it can be done. Many people have resorted to the nuclear option of completely wiping and reformatting their computers to completely destroy Web Companion. Fortunately, you have some alternative options.
Is Adaware Web Companion malware?
No, Adaware Web Companion is not malware. It’s an app marketed as an internet security tool that shields your computer from malware and dangerous websites. However, if you’re not careful, this app can trick you into clicking malicious ads in your browser. In this way, the app is not safe for your Mac.
Apart from having a history of creating security and performance issues for users, Adaware has a suspicious installation pattern and was labeled as “bundled software” in 2013 by security consultant Dancho Danchev. As bundled software, Adaware Web Companion is mainly distributed as part of a bundled installation package with other apps, making its way into your computer, even without your approval.
In addition to these concerns, reports have shown that Adaware can drag some malicious files into your Mac, interrupting the processing speed and making unauthorized changes to your browser.
As a result, Adaware Web Companion is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP).
How do you get rid of Adaware Web Companion, and should you?
If your Mac already has Adaware Web Companion running, you should get rid of it. However, it’s important to mention that getting rid of it can be tricky. This is because, sometimes, the app may be installed on your computer without retaining its original package name, “Adaware Web Companion.”
If you’re not careful, you might not even notice this app hidden within a folder of installation files. Check for “Web Companion” instead, and you may see the tool if it’s there.
Now, you may be wondering, “How did I end up having Adaware Web Companion on my computer when I didn’t install it?” Well, there are different ways the Adaware tool can get into your Mac. For instance, it could have come from an ad pop-up you clicked without paying attention to the details. It could have been installed along with other programs you Okayed to download on your computer without customizing what should and should not install.
Regardless of how Web Companion got into your Mac, here are the two ways you can get rid of it.
How to uninstall Adaware Web Companion manually
If this program somehow snuck into your Mac, you can follow the steps below to uninstall it manually:
- Open Finder
- Click Applications
- Look for Adaware Web Companion in the list of installed apps and right-click on the app
- Click Move to Trash
When you complete the steps above, go to your Trash and click on Empty Trash to remove the app from your trash folder.
Although this technically deletes the application from your Mac, it doesn’t necessarily remove all the program files it came with. Those remaining files can still cause you trouble.
How to remove Adaware Web Companion with CleanMyMac X
One of the easiest ways to uninstall Adaware Web Companion from your Mac is to use CleanMyMac X, which has an Uninstaller tool.
All you need to do is download and install CleanMyMac X and follow the steps below to uninstall the PUP:
- Open CleanMyMac X
- Head to Uninstaller in the sidebar
- Click View All X Applications.
- Locate the Adaware Web Companion and select the check box next to it.
- Click the Uninstall button
One huge advantage of this method is that it also ensures that all the extra program files that come with the Adaware are removed during the uninstallation process.
Adaware Web Companion may masquerade as an antivirus tool, but it’s not the only sketchy program presenting itself as a cybersecurity tool (Search Encrypt is another example). Experience has shown that PUPs like Adaware are largely unsafe due to how they can affect the performance of your computer. And worse still is the fact that this tool can sneak in without your knowledge. Uninstalling potentially unwanted programs with all of their leftover files will keep your Mac running smoothly.
How did Adaware Web Companion get on my computer?
If something forces its way onto your computer without your consent, then it is natural to wonder how it managed to do so. And if you don’t figure it out, what’s to stop it from happening again?
The answer: Bundling with other software
We’ve all done it, especially when it comes to terms and conditions. We’ve rushed our way through the app installation process, going click, click, click without actually reading each window.
Your time is valuable, and you just want the app installed. But in your rush, you’ve failed to notice that you have just agreed to certain other pieces of software being installed, too — including Adaware Web Companion.
Is bundling illegal? No. Is it unethical? That depends on your point of view. If the software installation clearly says, “Do you want to install Adaware Web Companion?” then they are merely offering a choice. The problem comes when people don’t notice what they are agreeing to, and it gets added to the computer without their consent.
Plus, by offering Adaware Web Companion as an additional add-on, the software you are installing is endorsing it. Consequently, there are credibility issues involved with a company you previously assumed you could trust.
What are the risks of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)?
Lavasoft’s actions have won Adaware Web Companion an unenviable title: PUP (potentially unwanted program). That’s definitely not something you want highlighted in user reviews, as it carries many undesirable outcomes for both the user and the PUP owner.
Here are some of the negative traits associated with PUPs:
- They mess up your system: PUPs have a bad habit of slowing your computer system down to a slow crawl. They do this by displaying intrusive advertising and messing about with other installed apps. Think of it as the drunk, annoying relative who likes to get into other people’s business.
- They scramble your browser settings: Ever wondered how your search engine got changed to Bing? Or how you decided to go to one site and ended up being redirected to some other site that looks sketchy? That’s a PUP at work — and not the cute, cuddly kind on 4 legs.
- They steal your personal data: PUPs may look upon all of your personal data as fair game. The PUP owner can then clean up financially by selling your personal details to other more ethically challenged people.
How to prevent the installation of unwanted applications
Since we have hopefully just convinced you that PUPs are not what you want on your system, you’ll need to know how to avoid them.
Don’t just download stuff for the sake of it
Many people see a cool-sounding piece of software on a website and immediately start downloading it without a second thought. But how do you know what you are actually downloading? How do you know that the code behind that app is on the level? The simple answer is, you don’t.
Unless an app comes from the macOS App Store or the iOS App Store — where there are stringent security processes in place — don’t download it.
Don’t rush through installation processes
As we said, we all rush through installation processes, clicking through each window like our lives depended on getting through them as quickly as possible. But in your rush, you are not likely going to notice that the software you are installing is also installing something else that isn’t advertised on the box.
The solution here is simple. Go through the installation process slowly. Read each window, and don’t agree to anything that you don’t understand. And never agree to install any bundled software that you didn’t ask for.
Free software is not often good software
Everyone loves a freebie, but ask yourself this: If they aren’t selling this app, how are they making their money?
Developers have to eat like everyone else, so if you’re not paying for the software, you’re paying elsewhere. You just don’t know it. Companies like this are susceptible to approaches by unethical developers who offer them easy money to put a PUP on their installation programs.
Remember the saying, “If you’re not a customer, you’re the product.”
Automatic Updates can be your worst enemy
Apple likes to tout its Automatic Updates feature. No longer do you have to remember to update software! Now, your machine will do it for you! Well, no thanks.
What’s the problem here? For starters, that software being automatically updated in the background could come with some nasty gremlins attached. Then your computer slows to the speed of a 56k modem, and you are now faced with wiping everything on the drive and starting from scratch.
Is it really so hard to manually check for updates and do it yourself? If you’re not using a piece of software enough to remember to check for updates, then maybe you should just uninstall it. You obviously don’t need it.
You can disable automatic updates by going to an app’s settings and disabling it (if they offer the feature).
The world would be a much better place if everyone was honest. But, unfortunately, the world doesn’t spin that way. There are always going to be unethical and dishonest developers out there, determined to make a buck any way they can, without thinking or caring who it adversely affects.
Fortunately, with an abundance of caution and some crack computer ninja skills, you can avoid PUPs like Adaware Web Companion. Remember, forewarned is forearmed. Don’t be a victim.
