In this article, you will find out how to remove Weather Service redirect from affected browser and system. In case that you want to start the removal immediately, go straight to the instructions at the end of the article.
Weather Service is the name of a suspicious redirect that hijacks commonly used web browsers. With the help of different shady techniques of distribution, it could compromise essential browser settings without your knowledge. The purpose of this suspicious website is to replace browser’s homepage, new tab page and default search engine with its main page. After these modifications, you start to experience redirects to Weather Service during each browsing session. Тhe website could cause some serious privacy-related issues as it is known to obtain and record sensitive details of yours. To prevent such unwanted side effects, you should remove Weather Service entirely from affected browsers and system.
Threat Summary
| Name | Weather Service |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | A suspicious domain associated with Weather Service can be set as homepage and new tab in each affected browser. A rogue search engine is set as default one. |
| Symptoms | The homepage, new tab and search engine of affected browsers can display the main page of Weather Service redirect. Many advertisements can occur during browsing sessions. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Weather Service. |
Weather Service – Delivery Techniques
Various methods may be used for the distribution of Weather Service redirect. Often third-party installers deliver this PUP (potentially unwanted program) on your system. The undesired program that causes constant redirects to Weather Service may be incorporated into the installers of free apps available across the net. How you may miss the installation of such additional components is by following the regular steps provided in the installer. So when you click the Finish button you install the redirect along with the primary app. If you want to prevent such nasty programs from sneaking your system you need to choose the Advanced or Custom configuration options. They are likely to present more information about the additional components as well as option to reject their installation.
The redirect is believed to affect almost all frequently used browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari.
Weather Service – More Details
After Weather Service accesses your PC it initiates several system modifications that enable it to alter essential browser settings. As a result, a domain associated with the redirect starts to appear on the browser’s homepage, new tab page while a hoax search engine is set as a default one. So each time you open the affected browser you can see the main page of Weather Service redirect.
Even though, the simplistic design of Weather Service resembles a lot those of some trustworthy search engines it appears to be a dubious website that pushes hoax search engine in an attempt to record search queries and visited web pages. In fact, the hoax search engine redirects you to Yahoo search each time you enter a query in the field.
Another purpose of Weather Service is to deliver many intrusive advertisements in your browser as each click on them generates revenue to its owners. All the anners, pop-ups, pop-unders, sliders, and links to sponsored content you may see are likely to make your browser sluggish. Be careful and better avoid visiting these ads as they are often used for the distribution of severe malware infections.
Weather Service – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy of Weather Service redirect provided on its main page informs users about data collection and its usage. As stated in the policy the owner of Weather Service is Polarity Technologies company. The company is a well-known distributor of many other suspicious websites similar to Weather Service.
According to the policy if you are using the services provided by Weather Service you agree with the collection of the following details:
- Visited URLs and websites
- Browser’s home page
- Search queries
- Search queries on the visited web pages
- Type of used browser
- Operating system type
- Internet protocol (IP) address
- Geographic location
- The domain name of current Internet service provider (ISP)
- Diagnostic information which describes how their Services are operating on the system
The company may disclose data records with third-parties of unknown origin or use them for advertising purposes. These third-parties are likely to send yet another wave of intrusive ads to your browser or deliver other unwanted programs on the device. At worst your data may be disclosed to malicious intenders that may try to trick you into infecting your device with severe malware infections like ransomware.
How to Remove Weather Service Redirect
Below are listed all the steps that will help you to remove Weather Service redirect completely from an affected Chrome, Mozilla, Explorer, or Safari browser. The guide includes steps how to remove the nasty program from the Windows system as well. You have two removal options – a manual and an automatic. In case that you still experience redirects to Weather Service website after the manual removal, you need to scan the system for some leftovers. With the help of an advanced anti-malware tool, you can easily locate and eliminate all leftovers.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
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- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Weather Service from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Weather Service with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Weather Service 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 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Weather Service on Your PC.
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 Weather Service 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.
Video Removal Guide for Weather Service (Windows).
Get rid of Weather Service from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Weather Service and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Weather Service. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- 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 Weather Service 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 Weather Service files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Weather Service, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Weather Service (Mac)
Remove Weather Service 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.
Erase Weather Service 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.
Uninstall Weather Service 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.
Remove Weather Service 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 Weather Service will be removed.
Eliminate Weather Service 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.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Weather Service-FAQ
What Is Weather Service?
The Weather Service threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Weather Service?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Weather Service?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Weather Service Work?
Once installed, Weather Service can collect data about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. This data is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Weather Service can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Weather Service Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Weather Service Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Weather Service how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Weather Service?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Weather Service threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.