This article aims to help you with the removal of GamingWonderland extension from affected browser and system. Follow the detailed guide at the end to get rid of this annoying website in full.
GamingWonderland browser extension is considered to be a potentially unwanted program due to the fact that it appears in your browser without asking for your permission. The nasty program is able to hijack some basic browser settings and replace the homepage, new tab page and default search engine with MyWay Search browser hijacker. In addition a browser toolbar appears below the address bar. Keep reading to understand more about the PUP and its impacts.
Threat Summary
| Name | GamingWonderland |
| Type | Browser Extension, Toolbar, PUP |
| Short Description | GamingWonderland is a suspicious browser extension that hijacks browser settings in order to add a toolbar and replace the default search engine with MyWay search. After modifications it injects ads in the browser and collects details from the browser. |
| Symptoms | The homepage, new tab page and default search engine of affected browsers redirect to MyWay Search browser hijacker. Many advertisements flood the browser and make it sluggish. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss GamingWonderland. |
GamingWonderland – Spread Techniques
GamingWonderland is dubious browser extension that sneaks into your system without your knowledge. It usually happens during the installation process of any desired third-party app. We all like to download free apps form across the net and test their features. Unfortunately, many developers take advantage of this well-known fact and trick users into installing some extras along with their app. This method of PUPs’ distribution is called software bundling. What developers do is to incorporate the installation code of potentially undesired programs into the installers of their apps and set the extras to install by default. On top of that they often conceal the presence of these extra apps so that you can miss install them unnoticeably. One way to prevent such side effects is to always look for and select the Advanced or Custom configuration options. Most of the times they present information about existing additional apps and you can opt out their installation or at least have a second chance to decide whether you want the primary app or not.
There are two other channels where GamingWonderland extension could be downloaded. The first one is Chrome web store:
And the second is its official website www.gamingwonderland.com. However, as they require you to download manually the nasty browser extension, they are less likely to be the reason why you see it in your browser.
Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari could be affected by GamingWonderland extension.
GamingWonderland – More About Its Impact
Once GamingWonderland accesses to the browser it automatically receives the following permissions:
- Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
- Replace the page you see when opening a new tab
- Manage your downloads
- Manage your apps, extensions, and themes
With all these permissions, GamingWonferland is able to replace the homepage, new tab page and default search engine with the infamous MyWay.com browser hijacker. And here is how your browser could look like after GamingWonferland affects it:
The main purpose of GamingWonderland is to obtain certain details from the browser and send them to its servers. All data could be used for aggressive advertising based on your interests. This could be explained by the fact that the owners of this nasty program gain revenue for each realized ad click. So their service is likely to flood your browser with lots of annoying ads. That, in turn, leads to slower browser performance and risk of malware infections. You need to be very careful which of the displayed ads you visit as some of them may land you on compromised web pages that install severe malware infections directly on your PC.
GamingWonderland – Privacy Policy
As found on the official website of the undesired GamingWonderland browser extension and on its privacy policy, it owned by MindSpark. In fact, the company is known for the distribution of numerous nasty apps that harass online users. Just to name a few reported by our team – OnlineMapFinder, Mywebsearch.com, VideoConvert.
The data presented on the Privacy Policy page of GamingWonderland reveal that the service gathers the following details from your affected browser:
- Your name
- Your address
- Email address
- Number of your page views
- What links you clicked
- Telephone number
- Username and password
- Browser type
- Preferred language
- Other browser-related data
- Keyword query, search query text and search results you clicked on
- Adverts clicked and cookie data
- Your login times
The following quote from the Privacy Policy is not unusual for Mindspark:
We may receive information from third-parties, including our authorized service providers, IAC affiliates, advertising companies, and ad networks. These third parties may display ads via the MS Services.These companies may use tracking technologies, such as cookies, to collect information about users who view or interact with these advertisements.
All acquired information could be shared with third-party companies which can use it for their advertising and other business purposes. In case you do not want your private space to be invaded by this nasty app, you should remove it completely from the affected system as soon as possible.
How to Remove GamingWonderland in Full
In order to remove GamingWonderland from your PC make sure to complete all the steps listed in the removal that follows. It presents both manual and automatic removal instructions that combined will help you to remove this nasty program in full. The automatic approach guarantees maximum efficiency as after a scan with an advanced anti-malware tool you can see the exact location of all malicious files and objects created by GamingWonderland and remove them from the infected PC. In case that you have further questions or need additional help, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us via email.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove GamingWonderland from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of GamingWonderland from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove GamingWonderland from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase GamingWonderland from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall GamingWonderland from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove GamingWonderland from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate GamingWonderland from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove GamingWonderland from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove GamingWonderland
Step 2: Uninstall GamingWonderland and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by GamingWonderland on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by GamingWonderland there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of GamingWonderland from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall GamingWonderland and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove GamingWonderland via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove GamingWonderland from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase GamingWonderland from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall GamingWonderland from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove GamingWonderland from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the GamingWonderland will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate GamingWonderland from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
