Allowlucks
Allowlucks is a potentially unwanted Windows browser add-on for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox that forcefully promotes different sites on users’ screens. Allowlucks will introduce unwanted modifications to the affected browsing program in order to enable itself to spam ads and page redirects.
The Allowlucks.com virus
The presence of a browser hijacker on a computer, while not directly threatening to the safety of the machine, could, in the long run, lead to certain serious security issues. That is the reason experts strongly recommend the removal of this potentially unwanted app from the computers it is installed on.
Usually, it doesn’t take long before one notices the presence of Allowlucks. As soon as this app is added to the browser, it begins to tamper with the settings of its toolbar and search engine. It also replaces the address of the default homepage of the browser in order to promote a certain site by making it the new homepage. All of the changes made to the browser are usually introduced without requesting the user’s approval. The fact that this app is able to do this is one additional reason to regard it as unwanted. A general term used to talk about apps that take over the browser in such a way and make unwelcome changes in it without the Admin’s permission is “browser hijackers”. Considering everything we’ve told you thus far about Allowlucks, we believe it’s appropriate to categorize this app as a browser hijacker. This, however, shouldn’t scare you – even though the term “browser hijacker” may sound unnerving, the truth is that the apps that comprise this software category are not particularly dangerous or harmful, at least not by themselves. Their main goal is to promote the sites that sponsor them and, in this way, make money from commissions that are paid on a Pay-Per-Click or Pay-Per-View basis.
The Allowlucks.com Virus
The true danger when talking about hijackers like the Allowlucks.com virus comes from what their ads may be promoting. While the Allowlucks.com virus itself lacks the damaging abilities of a Trojan horse virus or a Ransomware infection, the content it promotes may sometimes expose your PC to real viruses, including the aforementioned Ransomware and Trojan horse threats.
One of the biggest concerns experts have with regard to hijacker apps is that their advertising services are oftentimes employed for the promotion of sites and products that wouldn’t otherwise get much exposure because they are either illegal or, at the very least, unreliable. This, in turn, greatly increases the danger of getting automatically redirected to web locations that may potentially be detrimental to the safety of your computer. A key thing to remember here is to never click on any online ads, pop-ups, and banners for as long as the hijacker stays on your computer. Also, should you get automatically redirected by Allowlucks, close the newly-opened site immediately as you cannot know what potential dangers may be hiding on its pages.
Obviously, the best (and easiest) solution here is to uninstall Allowlucks. However, since this type of apps usually have difficult uninstallation processes, you may need some help. For that reason, we suggest you try out the removal steps that the instructions below will guide you through in order to quickly and securely dispose of the undesirable browser hijacker.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Allowlucks |
| Type | Browser Hijacker |
| Danger Level | Medium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk) |
| Symptoms | Browser hijacker always try to tamper with he browser’s settings without your permission and fill your screen with ads and page redirects. |
| Distribution Method | These apps are mostly distributed as bonus components added to the installers of free or cheap programs. |
| Detection Tool |
Remove Allowlucks virus
To try and remove Allowlucks quickly you can try this:
- Go to your browser’s settings and select More Tools (or Add-ons, depending on your browser).
- Then click on the Extensions tab.
- Look for the Allowlucks extension (as well as any other unfamiliar ones).
- Remove Allowlucks by clicking on the Trash Bin icon next to its name.
- Confirm and get rid of Allowlucks and any other suspicious items.
If this does not work as described please follow our more detailed Allowlucks removal guide below.
If you have a Windows virus, continue with the guide below.
If you have a Mac virus, please use our How to remove Ads on Mac guide.
If you have an Android virus, please use our Android Malware Removal guide.
If you have an iPhone virus, please use our iPhone Virus Removal guide
Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.
Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).
WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!
Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab (the “Details” Tab on Win 8 and 10). Try to determine which processes are dangerous.
Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:
After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders.
Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections.
Hold together the Start Key and R. Type appwiz.cpl –> OK.
You are now in the Control Panel. Look for suspicious entries. Uninstall it/them.
Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:
Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer or otherwise look suspicious.
Hold the Start Key and R – copy + paste the following and click OK:
notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts
A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:
If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.
Open the start menu and search for Network Connections (On Windows 10 you just write it after clicking the Windows button), press enter.
- Right-click on the Network Adapter you are using —> Properties —> Internet Protocol Version 4 (ICP/IP), click Properties.
- The DNS line should be set to Obtain DNS server automatically. If it is not, set it yourself.
- Click on Advanced —> the DNS tab. Remove everything here (if there is something) —> OK.
- After you complete this step, the threat will be gone from your browsers. Finish the next step as well or it may reappear on a system reboot.
Right click on the browser’s shortcut —> Properties.
NOTE: We are showing Google Chrome, but you can do this for Firefox and IE (or Edge).
Properties —–> Shortcut. In Target, remove everything after .exe.
Remove Allowlucks from Internet Explorer:
Open IE, click 
—–> Manage Add-ons.
Find the threat —> Disable. Go to —–> Internet Options —> change the URL to whatever you use (if hijacked) —> Apply.
Remove Allowlucks from Firefox:
Open Firefox, click 
——-> Add-ons —-> Extensions.
Remove Allowlucks from Chrome:
Close Chrome. Navigate to:
C:/Users/!!!!USER NAME!!!!/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data. There is a Folder called “Default” inside:
Rename it to Backup Default. Restart Chrome.
Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter.
Inside, press CTRL and F together and type the threat’s Name. Right click and delete any entries you find with a similar name. If they don’t show up this way, go manually to these directories and delete/uninstall them:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—–Random Directory. It could be any one of them – ask us if you can’t discern which ones are malicious.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—-Windows—CurrentVersion—Run– Random
HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—Internet Explorer—-Main—- Random
If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!
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