What is Silver Wave?
Silver Wave represents a particularly insidious form of malware, classified both as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) and adware. It typically infiltrates systems without the user’s knowledge or consent, often piggybacking on the installation processes of free software. This malware is notorious for its stealthy operations and the extensive array of issues it introduces to affected systems.
Infiltration Techniques of Silver Wave
Silver Wave employs several common but effective methods to invade personal computers:
- Bundled Software Installations: It often comes packaged with free applications, where during the installation process, users inadvertently agree to install Silver Wave by not opting out of additional bundled software.
- Spam Email Attachments: Opening attachments from unsolicited or suspicious emails can trigger the installation of this PUP.
- Corrupted Website Links: Clicking on links from compromised websites can also lead to its installation.
Malicious Activities and Risks Associated with Silver Wave
Once installed, Silver Wave engages in various harmful activities:
- System Performance Degradation: It runs numerous tasks in the background, which can significantly slow down system operations, including delaying restarts and shutdowns.
- Compromised System Security: Silver Wave damages system files and registry entries, which can lead to a security collapse. This weakening of security protocols allows for further infections by other types of malware, such as PUPs like Sync Search, and more aggressive threats like BGZQ Ransomware.
- Privacy Threats: By corrupting registry files and exploiting security vulnerabilities, Silver Wave facilitates unauthorized remote access to the system. This can lead to personal and financial information theft, as remote attackers can gain control over the system, encrypt files for ransom, or directly siphon off funds from compromised accounts.
Silver Wave Removal Steps
Remove Silver Wave from Windows
Remove Silver Wave from Mac
Silver Wave Removal Steps for Windows
Step 1 – Terminate Malicious Processes
- Open Task Manager: Simultaneously press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. This brings up the Task Manager.
- Identify Suspicious Processes: Look for processes with odd names, high resource usage, or no description.
- End Suspicious Processes: Right-click the suspect process and choose End Task. Exercise caution to avoid stopping essential system processes.
Step 2 – Uninstall Malicious Programs from Windows
Windows 10/11:
- Access Settings: Click Start, then the settings icon (looks like a gear).
- Go to Apps: Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps.
- Find and Uninstall: Scroll to find any unfamiliar or suspicious programs, click on them, and press Uninstall. Follow prompts to remove the program.
Windows 7:
- Open Control Panel: Click Start > Control Panel.
- Programs and Features: Select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Uninstall: Look for any programs you don’t recognize. Click on them and then on Uninstall. Follow through the uninstallation steps.
Step 3 – Remove Malicious Extensions from Web Browser
Google Chrome:
- Extension Settings: Open Chrome, click the three vertical dots > More tools > Extensions.
- Review Extensions: Identify any you didn’t install or that seem out of place.
- Remove: Click Remove to delete suspicious extensions.
Microsoft Edge:
- Open Extensions: In Edge, click the three dots > Extensions > Manage extensions
- Find and Eliminate: Locate any unknown or unnecessary extensions. Click Remove to erase them.
Mozilla Firefox:
- Access Add-ons: Open Firefox, click the three horizontal bars > Add-ons and themes > Extensions.
- Inspect and Remove: Find any extensions that weren’t installed by you or look suspicious. Click Remove to delete them.
Step 4 – Use SpyHunter Anti-Malware to remove any malware and threats from Windows
To get rid of Silver Wave and any possible infections may deeply hide in your computer (e.g. Malware, Adware, Trojan, Browser Hijacker or Ransomware), in this step we will we will install SpyHunter Anti-malware to scan the infected system.
SpyHunter is a reputable and professional Anti-malware application designed to scan for, identify, remove, and block malware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and other threats. It is capable of keeping your PC Clean and Protected. Follow steps below to scan your computer:
Download SpyHunter for Windows by Clicking Here:
Download SpyHunter For Windows (Free Trial)*The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. * Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial Offer , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy.
Install SpyHunter:
Once downloaded, Double-click “SpyHunter-Installer.exe” start the installation process.
(Note – Sometimes web browser may warn that “This type of file can harm your computer…” .Do not worry, such warning may appear when user download EXE file. Just free to click “Keep” to allow it.)
Then Follow the prompts on the screen, agreeing to the terms and choosing your preferred installation options. And complete the installation by following the on-screen instructions.
Run SpyHunter:
After installation, launch SpyHunter from your desktop or the Start menu.
On the first run, SpyHunter may need to download updates. Allow it to do so to ensure it can detect the latest threats.
Scan for Malware:
Once updated, click on the “Start Scan Now” button to begin the malware detection process.
SpyHunter will scan your system for all types of malware, including viruses, trojans, ransomware, and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
Review Scan Results:
After the scan completes, review the threats detected by SpyHunter. It provides detailed information about each threat, including its location and type.
Take Action:
To remove the detected malware and other threats, follow SpyHunter’s recommendations.
You need to register and activate SpyHunter remove the malicious files detected. You can activate the 7-Day Free Trail first if you do not consider purchasing the full version of SpyHunter now.
(Optional) Step 5 – Reset Web Browser to Eliminate Malware Traces and Avoid Re-infection
If you activate SpyHunter, it will help remove traces of any hijacker or adware from web browsers. That will make sure that same or similar malware won’t infect your computer again.
If you do not want to activate SpyHunter, you need to manaully reset web browsers. Follow steps here:
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome Settings: Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window, then select “Settings”.
- Advanced Settings: Scroll down and click on “Advanced” to expand the advanced settings options.
- Reset and Clean Up: Find the “Reset and clean up” section, then click on “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
- Confirm Reset: A dialog box will appear, warning you that your settings will be reset. Click on “Reset settings” to confirm.
Microsoft Edge
- Open Settings: Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window, then select “Settings”.
- Reset Settings: On the left sidebar, click on “Reset settings”.
- Restore Settings to Their Default Values: Click on “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
- Confirm Reset: A confirmation dialog will appear. Click on “Reset” to confirm.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Menu: Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the browser, then select “Help” (represented by a question mark or the word “Help”).
- Troubleshooting Information: In the Help menu, click on “Troubleshooting Information”. You can also type
about:support
in the address bar and press Enter to go directly to this page. - Refresh Firefox: On the Troubleshooting Information page, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button.
- Confirm Refresh: A confirmation window will appear. Click on “Refresh Firefox” to proceed.
Silver Wave Removal Steps for Mac
Step 1 – Delete Malicious Apps from Mac
- Open the Finder: Click on the Finder icon in your dock to open a new Finder window.
- Navigate to Applications: In the Finder sidebar, click on “Applications” to view all installed applications on your Mac.
- Identify and Select Malicious Apps: Look through your applications for any that you did not intentionally download, that you do not recognize, or that seem suspicious.
- Drag to Trash: Click and drag the malicious app to the Trash icon in the dock. Alternatively, you can right-click (or control-click) on the app and select “Move to Trash.”
- Empty Trash: Right-click on the Trash icon in the dock and select “Empty Trash” to permanently delete the app from your Mac.
Step 2 – Remove Malicious Files from Mac
1. Use Spotlight Search: Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, and enter the name of any known malicious files or folders you wish to find.
2. Check Common Locations: Manually check common locations where malware might hide, such as /Library/LaunchAgents/
, ~/Library/Application Support
, ~/Library/LaunchAgents
, and /Library/LaunchDaemons
. Use Finder’s “Go to Folder” (Shift + Command + G) to navigate directly to these paths.
3. Delete Suspicious Files: If you find any files or folders that you identify as malicious or don’t recognize, drag them to the Trash. Be cautious not to delete system files or legitimate documents.
4. Empty Trash: After moving the malicious files to the Trash, empty the Trash to permanently remove them from your Mac.
Step 3 – Uninstall Malicious Web Browser Extensions from Mac
Google Chrome:
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right corner to access the menu.
- Select More Tools > Extensions.
- Look for any extensions you didn’t install yourself or that seem suspicious.
- Click Remove next to the malicious extension to delete it.
Safari:
- Open Safari and select Safari > Preferences in the menu bar.
- Click on the Extensions tab.
- Select the extension you want to remove and click Uninstall.
Firefox:
- Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner to open the menu.
- Click Add-ons and Themes > Extensions.
- Find and click Remove on any extension that looks unfamiliar or suspicious.
Step 4 – Use SpyHunter Anti-malware for Mac to Re-check Computer
In this step we will use SpyHunter to scan your Mac to detect and remove tracks of Silver Wave and any possible threats .
Download SpyHunter for Mac by Clicking Here:
Download SpyHunter For Mac (Free Trial)*The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. * Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial Offer , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy.
Install SpyHunter for Mac and Scan for Malware
Once downloaded, Double-click “SpyHunter-Installer.dmg” start the installation process.
Then Follow the prompts on the screen, agreeing to the terms and choosing your preferred installation options. And complete the installation by following the on-screen instructions.
To remove the detected malware and other threats, follow SpyHunter’s recommendations.
You need to register and activate SpyHunter remove the malicious files detected. You can activate the 7-Day Free Trail first if you do not consider purchasing the full version of SpyHunter now.