How to remove Bytefence Anti-Malware and Search.bytefence.com

What is ByteFence

Bytefence Anti-Malware – is a legal protective software, which claims to protect computer from various malicious programs. It is developed by Byte Technologies LLC (they have official website: www.bytefence.com). Bytefence is not so bad, but still it uses sneaky methods to get installed on users computer. If Bytefence is installed, it creates a special module (ByteFence Module), which infects web-browsers and changes them. It replaces homepage and default search engine by search.yahoo.com (previously search.bytefence.com). So this Bytefence Module may scan any browser activity and collect this information. Later information can be shared with third-parties, what is not good for privacy. That is why, many users classify Bytefence Anti-Malware as Potentially Unwanted Program and recommend to remove Bytefence program and components from PC.

There are two solutions of this problem. One is to use special Removal Tool. Removal Tools delete all instances of malware by few clicks and help user to save time. Or you can use Manual Removal Guide. Manual Removal Guides help user to remove malware manually. This method needs time and knowledge at IT sphere.

ByteFence Removal Guide

1. Download ByteFence Removal Tool.
2. Remove ByteFence from Windows (7, 8, 8.1, Vista, XP, 10) or Mac OS.
3. Remove ByteFence Search from browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari).
4. What should you do if ByteFence won’t uninstall.
5. How to reset web-browser settings to default.
6. How to protect PC from future infections.

ByteFence Automated Removal Tools:

Download Plumbytes Anti-Malware

Use removal tool to uninstall ByteFence. Plumbytes anti-malware application detects ByteFence hijacker and assists in its removal for FREE.

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Manual ByteFence Removal Guide

Below is step-by-step instructions to remove ByteFence from Windows and Mac computers. Follow this steps carefully and uninstall it from Control Panel, remove malicious browser extensions from browsers and remove files and folders belonging to ByteFence.

Uninstall ByteFence from Windows or Mac

Windows 7/Vista:

1. Click Start;
2. Click Control Panel;
3. Click Uninstall a program (if computer’s settings are sorted by Category);
   Click Programs and Features (if computer’s settings are sorted by Icons);
4. Find programs potentially related to ByteFence (don’t forget about ByteFence module);
5. Click Uninstall;
6. Follow the instructions on the screen or wait until program will be uninstalled.

Windows 8/8.1:

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Search (If you are using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, then click Search.);
2. Enter control panel in the search box, then tap or click Control Panel;
3. Under View by: select Large Icons, then tap or click Programs and features;
4. Find programs potentially related to ByteFence (don’t forget about ByteFence module);
5. Tap or click the program, then tap or click Uninstall;
6. Follow the instructions on the screen or wait until program will be uninstalled.

Windows 10:

1. Tap or click Start and choose Settings;
2. In opened menu choose System;
3. Under System menu tap or click Apps & features tab;
4. Find ByteFence and other suspicious programs that can be related to it (don’t forget about ByteFence module);
5. Tap or click on the program, then tap or click Uninstall;
6. Confirm action by clicking Uninstall.

Windows XP:

1. Click Start;
2. Click Control Panel;
3. Double-click Add or Remove Programs;
4. Find programs potentially related to ByteFence and click on them (don’t forget about ByteFence module);
5. Click to Remove;
6. Follow the instructions on the screen or wait until program will be uninstalled.

Mac OS:

1. On the Finder menu click Go;
2. On the right side choose Applications;
3. Locate ByteFence (don’t forget about ByteFence module);
4. Move it to trash bin;
5. Follow on-screen instructions;

Remove ByteFence add-on from browsers

ByteFence can install add-ons or extensions in major browsers. With help of this add-ons it will display ads and pop-ups and redirect you to malicious sites. To perform full removal it is necessary to delete ByteFence and related add-on from all browsers.

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome;
2. Click on Options Icon or press Alt+E or Alt+F, then click Settings;
3. Click Extensions;
4. Find ByteFence or another extension, which is related to ByteFence;
5. Click on bin icon to remove extension.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer;
2. Press Alt+T, or click on gear icon in the right-top corner;
3. Click Manage Add-ons;
4. Select Toolbars and Extensions;
5. Find ByteFence and click Disable;
6. Click More information button;
7. Click Remove.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox;
2. a)Press Alt+T or Click Tools on the top of the browse, then click Add-ons;
   b)Type “about:addons” in address bar or pressing Shift+Ctrl+A;
3. Click Extensions;
4. Find ByteFence;
5. Click Disable or Remove.

Safari:

1. Start Safari browser;
2. In the menu choose Safari > Preferences;
3. Click Extensions tab;
4. Find ByteFence;
5. Click Uninstall button.

ByteFence won’t uninstall:

Sometimes, some malicious process or service won’t allow user to uninstall ByteFence or remove is files. In such case, you can boot Windows in Safe Mode or Safe Mode with networking go to Control Panel and try to uninstall ByteFence. Safe Mode does not allow malicious processes or services to start with Windows.

Don’t forget to remove Bytefence folders, even if they are empty.

Learn how to boot in Safe Mode in different versions of Windows.

How to reset browser settings?

After removing malware, we recommend to reset browser settings to default.

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome;
2. a) Click on Options Icon or press Alt+E, Alt+F, then click Settings;
   b) Type “chrome://settings/” in address bar;
3. Click a link Show advanced settings;
4. Turn down and click Reset settings;
5. Click Reset.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer;
2. Press Alt, click Tools, or Click on Gear Icon;
3. Click Internet Options;
4. Click Advanced tab;
5. Click Reset;
6. Mark Delete Personal Settings, Click Reset.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox;
2. a) Press Alt+H, then click Troubleshooting Information;
   b) Type “about:support” in address bar;
3. At the Right-Top Corner click Reset Firefox;
4. Click Reset Firefox.

How to prevent malware infection?

As many potentially unwanted programs, ByteFence uses “bundling” to get installed on personal computers. Let me explain how it works. Malware is bound to freeware, so it can be installed with this freeware. To avoid malware installation, we recommend you not to download suspicious software from unknown sources and try to use only trusted websites.

Be attentive while installing those programs. Also try to use custom/advanced setup options to disable malware installation. But better to download only licensed software from official websites. If you still want to download such installers, make sure to uncheck or decline all unwanted offers.

Learn how to prevent malware infection in Windows effectively.