Proxycheck.exe is an unwanted application that ensures your device is connected to particular proxies. It belongs to the Anonymizer Gadget PUP family, and you’re highly likely to find it running in the task manager in multiples. What this means is that when you open Task Manager, you’ll see multiple cases of the process running in the background.
This unwanted program operates as adware on Windows computers, so the first thing that users notice is a rise in the number of ads that pop up while browsing. Another annoying activity that users may encounter includes redirection to questionable sites.
Is Proxycheck.exe a Virus? Should Proxycheck.exe Be Removed?
Yes and Yes. Proxycheck.exe is an unwanted program that uses up too much of CPU space and also causes intrusive ads to display on the computer.
Is proxycheck.exe a legitimate file? Not really, so you should use an anti-malware program to remove it. It is a security threat that performs several actions on the system, such as:
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- Sends information about your system to a cybercriminal remotely
- Redirects your browser to malicious and misleading sites
- Uses your device for click fraud and other potentially harmful actions
If you realize that your device has been infected, don’t panic because we have a solution for you below.
Proxycheck.exe and Commercial Campaigns
The main sign that users notice after their systems have been infiltrated by a malicious proxycheck.exe file is annoying commercial content on the affected web browser. Here are some of the different ads that may be displayed:
- Banners
- Pop-ups
- Hyperlinks
- In-text ads and other types of ads
This adware manages to do the above by altering the browser settings or shortcuts. It installs extensions, add-ons, plug-ins, and other helper items. After infection, it’s not uncommon for you to find unauthorized applications installed on your device.
A malicious proxycheck.exe file floods the user with numerous ads that affect user experience. These malware-triggered ads generate profits for their developers. Each click earns them a certain amount of money. Clearly, these people want to make as much money as possible, so they send out so many ads. As a result, the affected browser crashes due to too much commercial content.
As if that’s not enough, when the user mistakenly clicks on the ads, they’re redirected to a phishing website, which will cause more problems. Therefore, it’s essential to remove a malicious proxycheck.exe file before you land into further trouble.
How Does Proxycheck.exe Get onto Devices?
Some apps are free because their setup package contains malicious files like proxycheck.exe, which are designed to generate profit for the developers. Most of these unwanted programs are bundled with other unnecessary programs. You should, therefore, be keen whenever you’re installing anything from the internet. Always select “Custom or Advanced” installation options. This way, you can tell if a third-party program will also be installed.
If you are wondering how proxycheck.exe got into your computer, then it was most likely installed through an adware bundle.
How to Remove Proxycheck.exe?
A lot of the unwanted programs can be uninstalled by simply removing them from the “Uninstall a Program” section of Control Panel. But when users try to remove proxycheck.exe by simply stopping and deleting the file, it reappears soon after restarting the computer. The correct way to get rid of it requires uninstalling the adware from the root.
First and foremost, this suspicious process shouldn’t be running on your computer. You have to eliminate the program as soon as you see it on your computer because it collects online data such as:
- IP address
- Browser used
- Device model
- Search terms used
- Websites visited
- Clicks on links and ads
There are two main methods that you can use to remove the proxycheck.exe virus from your system. Regardless of what method you choose, take note that the removal process not only requires you to stop the process in the Task Manager, but it also requires you to uninstall programs, files, and extensions associated with the adware.
As you can see, this is a lot of work, especially if you decide to do it manually. Find a robust anti-malware program to carry out a scan and thoroughly clean your computer. It should be able to get rid of viruses, PUPs, adware, Trojans, toolbars, and other different types of malware.
Also, we recommend that you get a reliable tool to repair the files that might have been altered by the PUP. These optimization tools do a great job of repairing the damage caused by any intruders.
Conclusion
After removing the problematic proxycheck.exe from your computer, it should now be free from the malicious software. If you try to rerun a scan using your security tool, it will no longer detect any security threats.
We hope that this article helped you get rid of the proxycheck.exe virus without needing to take your computer to a professional. If you experience any difficulty while trying to remove it, feel free to ask for our help.