What is BrowserIO?
BrowserIO is an unreliable application that you can get accidentally because we have received a user report that it can enter your PC after clicking a fake Social Security website link. This program is not malicious per se, but we find it untrustworthy as it does not do anything useful and can end up on your PC without your knowledge or consent. Therefore, we recommend that you remove it from your computer at your earliest convenience. We are not saying that it can put your PC at risk, but there is just no point keeping a gimmicky application on questionable origin. For more information, please continue reading.
Where does BrowserIO come from?
BrowserIO was digitally signed by Architecture Software, a shady company responsible for releasing at least one browser hijacker called Searchincognito.com, which is a malicious search engine distributed in a malicious manner to replace your browser’s homepage address secretly. BrowserIO is based on the Chromium engine (Version 57.0.2987.110), and it is a browser extension that should work on Google Chrome. It has a dedicated distribution website at Browserio.com that claims that this extension is “fine tuned to help you surf the web your way,” “access your mail swiftly and readily,” “access the internet quickly and reliably,” and “help keep you safe from network attacks.” However, all of these supposed features are described vaguely, and it is unclear what this program actually does. Furthermore, although Browserio.com features a download button, the button does not work. Therefore, it is believed that this program is distributed using rather deceptive tactics. We have received one user report that says that it can infect a computer as a consequence of clicking a fake Social Security website link. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that this links could potentially be promoted by browser hijackers.
What does BrowserIO do?
When you get BrowserIO on your computer, it adds YouTube, Facebook and Twitter shortcuts to a user’s desktop. All these shortcuts redirect the user through Mp.browserio.com. However, the reason for doing so is not known, but it might have something to do with collecting anonymous information. Furthermore, this extension adds a search bar to your browser that uses Search.browserio.com. This search engine was designed specifically to go along with BrowserIO. If you use this search engine, there is no telling what might occur. According to its terms of service, this search engine or the extension may present advertisements or promotional materials on or through the Website and/or the Browser IO Application. So it can show you all kinds of ads, but we did not see any pop-up ads or coupons shown by BrowserIO while testing it. Therefore, it is possible that the company that developed it might favor more subtle advertising techniques that include having promoted links listed in the search results. There is no telling whether to promoted links are safe, so we advise against using that search engine.
How do I remove BrowserIO?
Given how useless and unreliable BrowserIO, we recommend that you remove it because there is no telling what content it and its featured search engine might subject you to. If you want to uninstall this extension but do not know how, then please see the guide below. This particular extension is different because it is not only featured in Chrome’s extensions list but also works as an independent application. Thus, you have to uninstall it from Control Panel and Chrome.
How to uninstall this application
Windows 10
- Right-click the Start menu.
- Go to Programs and Features.
- Find BrowserIO.
- Double-click it and click Uninstall.
Windows 8/8.1
- Simultaneously press Windows+R keys.
- Type Control Panel and click OK.
- Go to Uninstall a program.
- Find BrowserIO and right-click it.
- Click Uninstall.
Windows 7 & Vista
- Open the Start menu.
- Select Control Panel.
- Click Uninstall a program.
- Find BrowserIO and click Uninstall.
Windows XP
- Click Start and go to Control Panel.
- Click Add or Remove Programs.
- Find BrowserIO and click Remove.
Remove the extension from Chrome
- Open the web browser.
- Press Alt+F.
- Choose More tools and click Extensions.
- Locate BrowserIO and remove it.
tested removal of BrowserIO* 100% FREE spyware scan and
Stop these BrowserIO Processes:
chrome.exe
SearchBar.exe
setup.exe
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