Wave Browser has been in the headlines recently, but not for the reasons its developers may have hoped for. This chromium-based web browser has been grabbing attention for all the wrong reasons, with many users claiming it appeared on their computers out of nowhere. This has understandably led to worries about the security implications of using this browser.
In a world where cyber threats are becoming more prevalent, it's crucial that computer users remain vigilant when it comes to downloading new software or applications. Wave Browser seems to be a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and could contain malware.
This article discusses whether Wave Browser is safe to use, provides instructions on uninstalling it, and looks at its features, performance, and privacy policies.
Table of Contents
- What is Wave Browser?
- Is Wave Browser Safe?
- How to Uninstall Wave Browser
- Step 1. Install Malwarebytes Premium
- Step 2. Uninstall WaveBrowser From Control Panel
- Step 3. Kill Associated Processes
- Step 4. Run a PowerShell Script
- Step 5. Disable the Startup Entry in Task Manager
- Step 6. Delete the “WaveSor” Folder
- Step 7. Reset PDF and HTML Default Programs
- Step 8. Install Sysmon
- Step 9. (Optional) Reformat Your Computer
What is Wave Browser?
On the surface, Wave Browser is a chromium-based web browser that claims to offer users custom-branded browsing. This means the company behind Wave Browser creates customized browser versions for individual customers. The browser is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Unfortunately, the browser appears to be a front for a "search hijacker" PUP, as many users have reported that the browser appeared on their computer without any warning or prompt. This is one of several red flags associated with Wave Browser and could indicate malware lurking underneath.
Is Wave Browser Safe?
While it seems harmless on the surface, users pointed out that Wave Browser was installed on their devices without consent. This practice bundles other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) with your installed program. Even if the file you're downloading is legitimate and safe, the host can attach these PUPs to advertise apps or spread malware.
Further investigation into Wave Browser's ownership and affiliations has revealed concerning information. If you visit the Wave Browser terms and conditions page, you will see that the company listed as Wavesor Software is a tradename for "Polarity Technologies Ltd." This company is associated with Genimous Technology Co Ltd, a Chinese shell company that reportedly makes millions in the search hijacking industry.
Genimous Technology is also behind other potentially malicious software such as WebNavigatorBrowser malware and Search Encrypt. These signs point to Wave Browser directly replacing those malicious apps. In simple terms, Wave Browser is a malicious browser that can be used to distribute other malicious software.
Wave Browser is a huge concern because it doesn't require admin rights to operate and can deposit scheduled tasks that allow it to repopulate even after simple removal. The program may not be completely removed from a computer even after it has been uninstalled the traditional way.
In conclusion, Wave Browser is a malicious program; you should remove it immediately.
How to Uninstall Wave Browser
Unfortunately, most antivirus software fails to detect Wave Browser as malicious. You should take additional precautions to ensure your computer and personal data's safety and manually uninstall Wave Browser.
Removing Wave Browser takes some special steps that involve deleting the browser and all its associated files. Because of the scheduled tasks and other components, the malware can reinstall itself, so you must be able to locate and delete all the associated files.
Step 1. Install Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes is a reputable anti-malware software designed to detect and remove various types of malware, including potentially unwanted programs like Wave Browser. The Premium version of the software provides advanced real-time protection features, including anti-ransomware, anti-exploit, and web protection.
These features are necessary to thoroughly and safely remove Wave Browser from your computer. To install Malwarebytes Premium, follow these steps:
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Go to the official website and download Malwarebytes by clicking on the “Free Download” button.
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Launch the installer file and click “Install.” Follow the on-screen prompts to customize your experience. You can opt-out if you’re prompted to install additional Malwarebytes components.
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Once Malwarebytes is installed, launch it from your Start menu. When prompted, activate the Premium trial. If you have already used this trial function, purchase a Malwarebytes Premium license key and click “Activate license.”
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Click the “Scan” button to start a system scan. Make sure that all of the Real-Time Protection options are enabled. These functions will attempt to stop Wave Browser from reinstalling itself.
- Wait for Malwarebytes Premium to finish scanning your computer. Allow it to quarantine any malicious files it finds, and then remove those quarantined files using the app.
Step 2. Uninstall WaveBrowser From Control Panel
While uninstalling Wave Browser on its own won't do the trick, combining this with later steps in the guide will help ensure successful removal. Follow these steps:
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Press your keyboard's Windows + R keys to bring up the “Run” applet. Type in “appwiz.cpl” without the quotes and press OK.
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Look for “Wave Browser” in the list of your installed applications. It might also appear as just “Wave” or “WaveBrowser.” Select it and click the “Uninstall” button to start the removal process.
- Follow the steps in the uninstaller to remove Wave Browser from your computer.
Once again, please note that these steps won’t be enough to uninstall the app completely. Please continue with the solutions below, and don’t forget to install Malwarebytes Premium using Step 1.
Step 3. Kill Associated Processes
The next step in removing Wave Browser and all its malware components is killing some associated processes. This will enable the PowerShell script in the next step to successfully complete its task. To kill processes, you can use the Command Prompt.
You need to do this:
- Open the Start menu and type “cmd” in the search box. Right-click on Command Prompt, then select Run as administrator.
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Copy and paste these commands into the Command Prompt, and press the Enter key to execute them:
- taskkill /IM swupdatercrashhandler.exe /F
- taskkill /IM swupdatercrashhandler64.exe /F
You’ll end the SWUpdater.exe Windows process and its crash handler component by performing these steps. This process is harmless, but Wave Browser uses it to operate.
Step 4. Run a PowerShell Script
The most important part of removing Wave Browser is running this PowerShell script. This script was created by user grayfold3d on Reddit to address the issue of Wave Browser not being removed with traditional methods. This script will delete any files related to Wave Browser.
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First, copy the script from this website. Select the text, then either right-click and choose "Copy" or use the Ctrl + C shortcut.
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Next, bring up the Search feature from your taskbar or by pressing the Windows + S keyboard shortcut, and type in “PowerShell.” Launch the app from the search results as administrator.
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Right-click in the PowerShell window (or press Ctrl + V) to paste and run the script. Click “Paste anyway” if prompted.
- Wait for the script to run and perform the necessary changes. It’s going to exit your browser and remove most files known to be associated with Wave Browser and its malicious components.
Step 5. Disable the Startup Entry in Task Manager
Wave Browser tends to place an automatic startup task in your system. This means that Wave Browser starts silently in the background every time Windows boots. Luckily, you can easily remove this. You can do this by opening the Task Manager and disabling the startup entry from there.
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Open the Task Manager by pressing the Windows + X keyboard shortcut and then selecting it from the context menu.
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Switch to the “Startup” tab using the menu on the left side, and then select “Wave.exe” or any other iteration of the Wave Browser. Click the “Disable” button to stop it from launching on startup.
Step 6. Delete the “WaveSor” Folder
MalwareBytes Premium or the PowerShell script may have already removed most traces of the Wave Browser. However, you can double-check by verifying the presence of the WaveSor folder in your user directory. If it’s still there, you can easily delete it by following these steps:
- Open File Explorer from your taskbar or by using the Windows + E keyboard shortcut.
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Navigate to This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Users > and double-click on your user folder.
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Look through your files. If you see a folder called “WaveSor,” right-click on it once and choose “Delete” from the context menu.
- Make sure to empty your Recycle Bin on the desktop to remove the Wave Browser folder completely.
Step 7. Reset PDF and HTML Default Programs
Wave Browser tries to take over your default apps by setting itself as the default browser. As a result, when you click on a link or attempt to open a PDF, it will open in Wave Browser instead of your preferred app. You can easily undo this by changing your settings.
- Open the Start menu search bar by clicking or pressing Windows + S on your keyboard. Type "Settings" in the search bar, and select the best match to open the Settings app. Alternatively, you can press Windows + I to access the Settings app directly.
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Once the Settings app is open, select "Apps" from the options available. From the list of apps, select "Default apps" to open the Default apps settings.
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Search for the “.html” file type. If the default app is set to Wave Browser, click on it once to be redirected to its page.
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Select your desired web browser from the available options, and then click the “Set default” button.
- Repeat the following steps for the “.pdf” file type to change your default PDF reader. You can also repeat the steps for other file types, such as “.htm”, or reset all your default apps.
Step 8. Install Sysmon
After performing the steps above, there’s a great chance that Wave Browser will be removed from your computer. However, you can only be sure if you monitor your device for the next following days. To do this, we recommend installing Sysmon, a legitimate Microsoft app that logs activities on your computer.
This will enable you to track any suspicious processes that may be associated with Wave Browser and take immediate action to remove them.
Step 9. (Optional) Reformat Your Computer
If you find it too difficult to remove Wave Browser from your computer, you can always resort to reformatting the entire system. This will wipe out all the data on your computer and reinstall Windows from scratch. However, ensure you have a backup of all important files before doing this, as everything will be lost in the process.
We recommend reinstalling Windows via bootable media to ensure that all traces of the Wave Browser and any other potentially unwanted programs are removed completely from your system. This is because reinstalling Windows using bootable media wipes your hard drive and installs a fresh copy of the operating system. This eliminates any chance of residual files or settings remaining on your computer.
Conclusion
Wave Browser is, without a doubt, a malicious program. It has been reported to be associated with search hijacking, browser hijacking, and other forms of malicious activity. It's important to take the necessary steps to completely remove it from your computer before it can cause further damage.
With this article, you can better understand what Wave Browser is, its potential risks and the steps you need to take to uninstall it from your computer. Always use reliable anti-malware software, keep up-to-date with the latest security updates and be alert when browsing the web. Remember: Prevention is always better than cure.
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