PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip — HaoZip Adware Removal Guide

If you spectate the alert of PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip detection, it looks like that your system has a problem. All malicious programs are dangerous, without any exceptions. HaoZip floods your personal computer with numerous ads, opens your web browser without your intent and makes the system unprotected to additional malware infiltration.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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Any malware exists with the only target – generate profits on you¹. And the programmers of these things are not thinking of morality – they utilize all available tactics. Grabbing your private data, receiving the comission for the ads you watch for them, exploiting your system to mine cryptocurrencies – that is not the full list of what they do. Do you like to be a riding steed? That is a rhetorical question.

What does the notification with PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip detection mean?

The PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip detection you can see in the lower right corner is demonstrated to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware software is pretty good at scanning, but prone to be mainly unstable. It is defenseless to malware attacks, it has a glitchy interface and problematic malware clearing features. Thus, the pop-up which states concerning the HaoZip is just an alert that Defender has actually recognized it. To remove it, you will likely need to use a separate anti-malware program.

Microsoft Defender: “PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip”

The exact PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip virus is a really nasty thing. This malware demonstrates you an extraordinary amount of promotions. Have you ever saw the doorway pages? They are filled up just with banners – blinking, poorly created and with strange contents. Adware does the equivalent thing to all pages you visit. That virus brings money to its creators in a really sly way. You see the banners – they receive money. Moreover, these banners frequently contain deceptive and sometimes shocking content. Penis enlargement, porn websites ads, Microsoft virus alerts – all these things are usual for adware.

Adware Summary:

Is PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip dangerous?

Adware such as this one is not something contrasty, compared to other advertising malware. But as it was pointed out, the banners it shows to you are quite often full of fraudulent information. Even if you can distinguish fraud from adware – do you actually like looking at advertisements for free? Specifically ones that cover your web browser window and also disturb you from your working process? It seems that we actually understand the reply.

How did I get this virus?

It is difficult to line the sources of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed up, and spreading methods used by adware 5 years ago can be used by spyware nowadays. However, if we abstract from the exact spreading tactic and will think about why it has success, the answer will be really simple – low level of cybersecurity awareness. People click on advertisements on strange websites, open the pop-ups they get in their browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” assuming that the strange banner that states about malware is true. It is essential to understand what is legit – to stay away from misunderstandings when trying to determine a virus.

Microsoft Tech Support Scam

Nowadays, there are two of the most widespread tactics of malware spreading – lure emails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to stay away from – you need to know a lot to understand a fake – the 2nd one is simple to address: just do not utilize cracked applications. Torrent-trackers and other sources of “free” applications (which are, in fact, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are just a giveaway place of malware. And PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip is simply among them.

How to remove the PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip from my PC?

Adware like HaoZip is fairly easy to clear away manually. However, it is not so easy to revert the system alterations it did in the process of the activity. Since a lot of different system elements are touched, it is very easy to forget about something. That’s why I ‘d recommend you to use anti-malware software. My option for adware clearing is GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

Why GridinSoft Anti-Malware? It is really light-weight and has its detection databases updated nearly every hour. Furthermore, it does not have such problems and exposures as Microsoft Defender does. The combination of these details makes GridinSoft Anti-Malware perfect for taking out malware of any form.

Remove the viruses with GridinSoft Anti-Malware

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware. After the installation, you will be offered to perform the Standard Scan. Approve this action.

• Standard scan checks the logical disk where the system files are stored, together with the files of programs you have already installed. The scan lasts up to 6 minutes.

• When the scan is over, you may choose the action for each detected virus. For all files of HaoZip the default option is “Delete”. Press “Apply” to finish the malware removal.

Reset Browser settings after the adware attack

Adware makes a lot to keep annoying you even after being removed from your computer. It distorts the browser configurations, so it will not work correctly. Until you reset it, of course. Each browser has its own way to restore the default settings. Here are the guides for the most popular ones:

To reset Edge, do the following steps :

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :

2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :

2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

If you use Google Chrome

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :

2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :

3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :

Opera can be reset in the next way

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :


2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

When the browsers are reset, you need to make sure that your browser will be connected the proper DNS while connecting to the web page you need. Make a text file named “hosts” on your desktop, after that open it and fill it with the following content²:


# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handle within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost


Find the hosts.txt file in C:/Windows/System32/drivers/etc directory. Rename this file to “hosts.old.txt” (to distinguish it from the new one), and then move the file you created on the desktop to this folder. Remove the hosts.old from this folder. Now you have your hosts file as good as new.

Reset Browser settings with GridinSoft Anti-Malware

GridinSoft Anti-Malware offers its own way to reset the browsers. With the help of this program, you can reset all your browsers in just several clicks. It also resets the HOSTS file automatically, so you don’t need to make any excessive actions. To reset your browser with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, open the Tools tab, and click the “Reset browser settings” button.

You can see the list of the options for each browser. By default, they are set up in the manner which fits the majority of users. Press the “Reset” button (lower right corner). In a minute your browser will be as good as new.

How to Remove PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip Malware

Name: PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip

Description: If you have seen a message showing the “PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip found”, it seems that your system is in trouble. The HaoZip virus was detected, but to remove it, you need to use a security tool. Windows Defender, which has shown you this message, has detected the malware. However, Defender is not a reliable thing - it is prone to malfunction when it comes to malware removal. Getting the PUAAdvertising:Win32/HaoZip malware on your PC is an unpleasant thing, and removing it as soon as possible must be your primary task.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Adware

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1. Read about malware types on GridinSoft Threat encyclopedia.
2. Official Microsoft guide for hosts file reset.