What Is PUA:Win32/FlashHelper?
PUA:Win32/FlashHelper or PUAAdvertising:Win32/FlashHelper is a type of adware that displays a fake software update message. This message will mislead you to click unreliable links or download malicious programs on your PC. Therefore, once your computer is contaminated by it, you had better remove it as soon as you can.
How to Remove PUA:Win32/FlashHelper on Your Computer?
Way 1: Scan Your Computer with Windows Defender
Windows Defender is a powerful tool that can find and remove most malware on your Windows device. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
Step 2. Click on Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Step 3. Click on Scan options and then there are 4 options available for you: Quick scan, Full scan, Custom scan, and Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
Step 4. Select Microsoft Defender Offline scan and then hit Scan now to start the process.
Step 5. After scanning, delete or quarantine the identified threats and then reboot your computer to see if PUA:Win32/FlashHelper disappears.
Way 2: Scan Your Computer with Third-Party Antivirus Software
Some viruses or malware can access your device when it’s running. In this case, you can enter Safe Mode. By doing so, your device will load a limited set of drivers and files, which can help to stop these threats from starting.
Move 1: Enter Safe Mode
To enter Safe Mode, you need to boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Your computer will enter WinRE automatically after 3 failed boots. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Shut down your computer > reboot it > press the Power button when you see the Windows logo on the screen.
Step 2. Repeat this process 2 or more times until prompted by the Automatic Repair screen. Click on Advanced options to enter Windows Recovery Environment.
Step 3. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
Step 4. After restarting your computer, press F5 to enable Safe Mode with networking.
Move 2: Uninstall Suspicious Programs
Now, you are in Safe Mode and then you can try uninstalling any suspicious programs installed on your computer. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
Step 2. Type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter to launch Programs and Features.
Step 3. In the app list, right-click on the suspicious program and right-click on it to choose Uninstall.
Step 4. Click on Uninstall again to confirm this operation and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
Move 3: Reset Browsers to Default Settings
Since PUA:Win32/FlashHelper might change the settings on your browser, you need to reset your browser to the default settings so as to cancel its effects. Here’s how to reset your Google Chrome:
Step 1. Launch Google Chrome.
Step 2. Click on the three-dot icon and select Settings.
Step 3. Click on Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.
Move 4: Scan Your Computer with Third-Party Antivirus Software
To delete the core files of PUA:Win32/FlashHelper, it’s better to resort to some third-party antivirus software like Malwarebytes. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Download Malwarebytes on your PC.
Step 2. After installing, launch this program and hit Get started.
Step 3. Click on Scan to start a deep scan of your PC. After scanning, hit Quarantine to remove the identified threats.
Step 4. Restart your computer.
Suggestion: Back Up Your Data with MiniTool ShadowMaker
To keep your data safe, it is not adequate to simply use security software to scan your computer. How to add an extra protection layer to your data? A piece of PC backup software called MiniTool ShadowMaker might be a good choice for you.
This tool is dedicated to providing data protection and disaster recovery solutions for Windows users. It supports file backup, system backup, disk backup, and partition backup. What’s more, file sync and disk clone are also permitted. Now, let’s see how to back up important files with this tool:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial.
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Step 2. In the Backup page, you can choose the backup source and destination.
Backup source – hit SOURCE > Folders and Files and then check the files you want to protect.
Backup destination – go to DESTINATION to select an external hard drive or a USB flash drive as the storage path.
Step 3. Click on Back Up Now to start the task immediately.
Final Words
In summary, this guide illustrates the definition of PUA:Win32/FlashHelper and how to remove it from your PC in 2 ways. If you are a victim of FlashHelper adware, you can have a try. Also, we introduce a convenient tool – MiniTool ShadowMaker for you to safeguard your data. Have a nice day!